Mohamed Sharif

is a peacebuilding and development practitioner and policy researcher with over eight years of extensive experience in research and programs development and implementation in the areas of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, local governance, civic engagement, policy research, access to justice, and human rights. He currently serves as the Somalia Peacebuilding Programme Advisor at the Life and Peace Institute, an International Centre for Peace Research and Action headquartered in Uppsala, where he supports peacebuilding and reconciliation initiatives in Somalia, focusing on capacity development for local Somali civil society organizations to deliver impactful civic engagement, policy dialogue, advocacy programs, and research at both the local and national levels. He is also a certified trainer and fellow of the Generation Change Fellowship Program of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Previously, Mohamed has worked with numerous national and international institutions in various capacities. He possesses a broad background in policy research and analysis as well as the political, conflict, and security dynamics in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region. Notably, he worked as a researcher and policy analyst at Somali Public Agenda and the Somali Dialogue Platform at the Rift Valley Institute in Nairobi. He contributed significantly to the research and analytical components, engaging with national and regional policymakers and producing policy briefs and publications. Furthermore, he has managed and led multi-sector and multi-stakeholder programs and studies covering wide thematic areas with a variety of international and local organizations, including IDLO, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), and USAID-funded programs such as Expanding Access to Justice (EAJ). Academically, Mohamed holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the City University of Mogadishu and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Security, Conflict, and International Development at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. His research interests include post-conflict state-building and transformation, peacebuilding, democratization and good governance, public service delivery, human rights, politics of identity, and social justice. Mohamed is a fellow with IRAD and contributes to our research, analysis, and capacity-building portfolios.