Farah Yusuf

I am a Registered Nurse-Midwife and health systems leader with over 19 years of experience driving maternal, newborn, and SRHR initiatives across Somaliland. I specialize in the end-to-end management of complex health programs and evidence-based monitoring for UN agencies and international NGOs. My core strength lies in translating operational research into resilient policies and workforce development strategies that bridge the gap between clinical capacity and community needs. Having collaborated extensively with government institutions to strengthen primary healthcare frameworks, I am now seeking a senior leadership role in health program management or public health research to scale high-impact interventions.

1. SN

   Program Manager

   Present

   Somaliland Nursing & Midwifery Association (SLNMA)

   Jul 2018 — Present · 8 yrs

   • Manage end-to-end programme implementation, monitoring, and reporting against donor guidelines and strategic work plans.
   • Coordinate multi-stakeholder partnerships involving government ministries, UN agencies, development partners, and academic institutions.
   • Direct the implementation and multi-agency coordination of the SMILES project to advance health systems and gender-related outcomes.
   • Lead situation analyses, rapid health assessments, and KAP surveys to generate actionable evidence for policy and programming.
   • Supervise and mentor multidisciplinary programme teams, establishing supportive supervision mechanisms across regions.
   • Facilitate technical capacity building for midwifery education, clinical standards, and maternal health protection frameworks.
2. HP

   Research Manager

   Present

   Health Poverty Action

   Jul 2018 — Present · 8 yrs

   • Produce research briefs, technical project documents, progress reports, position papers, and high-quality funding proposals.
   • Coordinate primary data collection, including in-depth consultations, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions.
   • Synthesize complex research findings into clear, actionable evidence products to steer clinical and community interventions.
   • Manage research budgets, field work plans, and multi-location study teams while maintaining rigorous ethical and quality standards.
   • Oversee external technical consultants to ensure timely delivery and academic rigor of all commissioned studies.
3. HP

   Program Manager

   Health Poverty Action

   Jan 2016 — Dec 2017 · 1 yr

   • Executed full project lifecycles encompassing annual operational planning, budget management, and monitoring frameworks.
   • Enforced strict grant compliance, asset management controls, and financial integrity across regional program sites.
   • Delivered detailed, timely donor narrative and financial reports in adherence to international funding standards.
   • Led recruitment, onboarding, training, and ongoing performance management for project teams and community field workers.
   • Engaged local stakeholders and district health management teams to ensure community ownership and project sustainability.
4. HP

   EPHS Technical Adviser

   Health Poverty Action

   Jan 2015 — Dec 2015 · <1 yr

   • Strengthened regional health office capabilities in supportive supervision, quality assurance, and operational oversight.
   • Conducted comprehensive community health needs assessments and developed technical briefs and field case studies.
   • Supported primary health facility refurbishment, diagnostic equipment procurement, and supply chain logistics.
   • Established and reinforced emergency referral networks between remote communities and secondary healthcare centers.
   • Upgraded local health information management systems to enhance data quality and timely disease notification.
5. HP

   Senior Technical Officer – Reproductive Health & Nutrition

   Health Poverty Action

   Jan 2014 — Dec 2014 · <1 yr

   • Delivered technical direction and quality oversight for reproductive health and targeted nutrition intervention programmes.
   • Standardized Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) protocols across supported maternal facilities.
   • Led technical proposal drafting, research concept formulations, and active donor engagement meetings.
   • Mentored clinical midwives and nurses in modern family planning, antenatal care, and infection prevention methods.
   • Monitored facility-level maternal indicators to identify gaps and implement immediate quality improvement solutions.
6. MO

   Data & Clinical Support Officer – HIV Programme

   Ministry of Health

   Jan 2013 — Dec 2013 · <1 yr

   • Delivered technical support on HIV/AIDS and TB clinical treatment guidelines, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies.
   • Facilitated national rollout of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) protocols at regional health facilities.
   • Trained frontline clinical staff, laboratory technicians, and community counselors on standardized testing and treatment adherence.
   • Managed routine epidemiological HIV surveillance datasets and patient monitoring registries to track retention rates.
   • Utilized clinical and programmatic data to inform monthly reporting, inventory forecasts, and patient follow-up care.
7. WA

   Programme Coordinator – SGBV Advocacy

   Women Action Advocacy Progress Organization (WAAPO)

   Jan 2011 — Jun 2012 · 1 yr

   • Conducted institutional capacity assessments and technical training for civil society partners on SGBV and FGM prevention.
   • Supported the setup and operationalization of specialized clinical care units and community-level survivor referral networks.
   • Coordinated policy advocacy campaigns and legislative dialogues with government ministries and parliamentary committees.
   • Facilitated community dialogue forums to address social determinants, human rights, and protective legislation for women and girls.
   • Supervised field caseworkers and ensured confidential, compassionate handling of survivor documentation and referrals.