It is said that every ending is also a new beginning. In the case of Chief Technical Advisor Hussein Gadain, who will be ending his work at SWALIM to take on a new posting as FAO Representative in Egypt, we expect it will be a bright new beginning for all concerned. Mr. Gadain is a seasoned international professional in water resources engineering and management, with 25 years of work experience in East Africa, including a stint with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), before joining the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He has been working with SWALIM for more than ten years, the first six as Water Unit Coordinator and the last three as the CTA.  

Under Mr. Gadain’s leadership, SWALIM expanded its technical capabilities in support of the Somali people and institutions, providing partners and stakeholders with up-to-date information concerning their vital land and water resources, as well as helping to build the capacity of counterparts to eventually take over this work directly.

Jeremiah Njeru, in charge of Capacity Development and one of the longest-serving SWALIM staff, said, “It is not easy to navigate Somalia. It requires more than technical expertise and Hussein has done a good job in bringing all the facets necessary to deliver quality results in an extremely complex environment.”

Under Mr. Gadain, SWALIM has expanded the national agro-meteorological network in Somalia and set up monitoring stations on the major rivers, facilitating improved disaster-preparedness and ensuring timely early warning in the event of floods.  Due to the uncertain security situation in much of the country, SWALIM has developed an advanced remote sensing capability to track events through satellite imagery.

“Working with Hussein,” (as Mr. Gadain is familiarly known within the SWALIM family), “was a great professional experience as I could improve my skills both from the technical and the managerial point of view. It was had the chance also to appreciate his outstanding human relational skills and never-ending support,” remarked Ugo Leonardi, the SWALIM Remote Sensing specialist.

The tight-knit SWALIM team will surely miss his extensive professional experience in the Somali context, but perhaps even more his personal human guidance and leadership and his deep commitment to the project and the goals of development.

“I found Hussein unique in bringing together compassion and strength that solidify the team towards SWALIM’s high standards”, said Saleem Ullah, the Natural Resources Advisor of the project.

“I came to the project two years ago knowing very little about Somalia’s natural resources situation,” said David Dion, the Information Management Officer on the project. “Hussein brought me in to the SWALIM family and taught me how to navigate through the complexities of the Somali situation and the highly technical SWALIM work.”

As the Chief Technical Advisor to the project, Mr. Gadain managed and supported all aspects of SWALIM’s work, including the work in the SWALIM Liaison Offices in Hargeisa and Garowe.

“Hussein is so special, he has gift of memorizing names,” said Abdulle Osman, head of the Puntland office. “If you go with him to a ministry, he is able to recall the name of the driver, or the secretary or the Director of the department. He is able to make the environment friendly and conducive. That is why we gave him the nickname 'chiave inglese’ or ‘the Master Key'. He was able to open all doors and all locks.”

“I am one of those SWALIM members that have worked with Hussein for the longest period,” added Simon Mumuli, the Land Resources Officer. “Having been in SWALIM for over 10 years now, I have known Hussein as a ‘high sense of humour’ person. Hussein enjoys light moments in his active professional life. Professionally, I always remember him for the phrase, ‘Give it your undivided attention’, a phrase Hussein used whenever urgent delivery of work was required.”

While his experience and recognized leadership will no doubt be a great boon to the new FAO Country Office in Egypt, the staff at SWALIM, FAO Somalia as a whole, and all of our partners, counterparts and stakeholders will not soon forget the presence of our friend, our mentor and SWALIM’s leader.

“Apart from the leadership, communication and overall professionalism, the most important thing I have learnt from Hussein is how to be a good human being and taking tough decisions which have positive impact on the employees. His courage and energy will always be missed by the whole organization,’’ said Danson Ndirangu of the administrative and operational group of SWALIM.