Page 50 - 80 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER IMPACT WITH FAO

Food security Working towards a world without hunger

Mohamed Aw-Dahir

BUILDING BRIDGES TO END HUNGER

With 15 years of service at FAO, Mohamed Aw-Dahir knows that “FAO’s story is one of hope, resilience, and innovation.
partnerships are essential to ending hunger. As Partnerships Officer
at FAO’s Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, he helps coordinate It reminds us that food is not just sustenance; it’s
strategic alliances with governments, regional bodies and development dignity, opportunity and peace.”
partners. “The essence of FAO’s partnership work lies in its commitment
to building strategic alliances that drive the organization's mission to
eradicate hunger and malnutrition,” he says.

46 Mohamed coordinates the Hand-in-Hand Initiative in Eastern Africa,
FAO's flagship programme to mobilize investment in the agrifood
value chain in the fight against poverty and hunger. He also supports
FAO offices in over 25 African nations to turn their plans for working
with other UN agencies into concrete action—from shaping policies to
delivering support on the ground.

A key part of his role is supervising and mentoring a UN Volunteer.
“I provide daily guidance, connect him with strategic networks,
and introduce him to policy trends shaping Africa’s food systems’
transformation,” he explains. The UN Volunteer has helped organize
a high-level partners’ dialogue with the African Union and other
institutions, and supported resource mobilization in Djibouti, Eritrea,
Somalia and South Sudan. “UN Volunteers bring technical expertise
and local insight,” Mohamed says. “Their adaptability makes them an
impactful resource, especially in complex environments. They are vital
partners in FAO’s work.” Mohamed Aw-Dahir, Partnerships Officer at FAO’s Subregional Office for Eastern Africa,
is based in Ethiopia. [Mohamed Aw-Dahir, 2025]