About us

About CERI

The Climate and Environmental Research Institute (CERI) is an independent, non-profit research institution headquartered in Mogadishu, Somalia. Established to address critical knowledge and capacity gaps in climate science and environmental governance across the Horn of Africa, CERI serves as a bridge between rigorous scientific inquiry and actionable public policy.

CERI conducts multidisciplinary scientific research, evidence-based policy analysis, and community-focused initiatives designed to support sustainable development, climate resilience, and environmental protection. By integrating cutting-edge research methods with field-level engagement, the Institute transforms complex scientific findings into practical solutions that empower communities, inform governments, and contribute to a sustainable future for Somalia and the broader region.

As an independent body, CERI operates with full scientific impartiality, adhering to internationally recognized standards of research ethics, data transparency, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.

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Delivering sustainable solutions that empower vulnerable communities
No matter the environmental challenges communities face, we work to deliver sustainable and lasting solutions.

ABOUT MORE

OUR

Vision and Mission

Vision

To become a leading center of excellence in climate, environmental, and marine research in Somalia, while engaging communities and promoting sustainable development.

Mission

To advance climate and environmental research, deliver evidence-based insights for policy and practice, and engage communities through collaborative initiatives that promote sustainability, innovation, and long-term environmental stewardship.

Core Values

CERI’s work and institutional culture are anchored in the following foundational principles:

Scientific Integrity

All research outputs adhere to rigorous methodological standards, peer-review norms, and full transparency in data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Innovation & Excellence

CERI continuously invests in new research methods, technologies, and interdisciplinary approaches to tackle complex environmental challenges.

Transparency & Accountability

CERI maintains open communication with all stakeholders, clearly reporting on activities, findings, and use of resources.

Inclusivity & Community Engagement

Research agendas are co-designed with affected communities, ensuring that marginalized and vulnerable groups — including women, youth, and IDPs — have a voice in shaping knowledge and solutions.

Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility

CERI models the principles it advocates: all institutional operations are designed to minimize environmental footprint and promote long-term sustainability.

OUR Team Member

CERI – Team

Omar Aweis Ali - Executive Director

PhD candidate in Natural Resources Management at State University of Mato Grosso do Sul. MSc degrees in Water Resources Management and Biotechnology, specializing in water quality modeling, machine learning, GIS, remote sensing, environmental analytics

Abdiaziz Yusuf Abdullahi - Deputy Director

Msc In Integrated Water Resource Management. Bsc Environmental science and Lecturer at SNU Area of expertise Environment, water, climate change, and agriculture

Amina Aden Mohamed - administrative assistant

BSc in Marine Science; specializing in marine biology, marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, biodiversity protection, and sustainable ocean resource management.

Deka Ahmed Siad - Administrative Coordinator

MSc in Integrated Water Resource Management. Area of Expertise : Animal Husbandry • Water Resource Management • Food Security • Research & Training. Lecturer at Somali National University

Abdiaziz Sudi Alasow - Strategic advisory Board

M.Sc. In Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) at Somali National University (SNU) B.Sc.. In Civil Engineering at Dhaka International University (DIU) Diploma In Building Design at CADD Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Salma Abdulkadir Mohamoud – Training Coordinator

MSc in Integrated Water Resource Management. Area of Expertise :Environmental Chemistry • Water Quality • Pollution Analysis • GIS • Laboratory Research. Lecturer at Somali National University

Prof Hassan Ali Hussein - Research Advisor

Senior Consultant at ATLAS Mineral Resources, Somalia/Somaliland; Managing Director at East Africa Center for Research, Training and Development; Affiliated Researcher at Khalifa University, UAE; Technical University of Berlin; Freiberg University, Germany

SAID OKIEH KAMIL - Head of Environment & Climate-Smart Agriculture Department (ECA)

PhD in Environmental Sciences and Remote Sensing at the University of Orleans, France Area of expertise GIS, Spatial Analysis, Remote sensing, Land Use and land Cover Change,

Prof Sidnei Eduardo Lima-Junior - Senior Scientific Advisor

Full Professor at State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, specializing in aquatic ecology and environmental sciences, researching human impacts on aquatic ecosystems, including water quality, pollution, biodiversity conservation

Abdirisaq Abdullahi Hassan - Head of operations

B.Sc. in Fisheries Science (Nautical and Fisheries Sciences), Professional Background: Fisheries Research & Marine Resource Management. Technical Skills: SPSS (Statistical Analysis), GIS (Basic), Data Collection & Fisheries Field Surveys, Scientific Reporting & Research Writing

Abdirasak Naaji - Head of Communications and Media

PhD Candidate in Computer Engineering at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Brazil, He is a Software Engineer, Full-Stack Web Developer, and Computational Researcher with expertise spanning bioinformatics, ICT systems.

Md Khadeem - Head of Geospatial and Data Analytics Department

BSc in Geography and Environment, Advanced Diploma in Geographic Information Systems Expertise in ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, Python, R, Climate Data Analysis, GIS and Remote Sensing, spatial modeling

Abdiaziz Hassan Nur - Research Associate

M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension – (HSTU), Bangladesh B.Sc. in Agriculture Areas of Specialization Agricultural Extension Systems, GIS and Remote Sensing Applications, Climate-Smart Agriculture, and Disaster Risk Management (Drought, Flood, Soil Erosion).

Abdikani Hashi Muhumed - Head of Water Resources and Hydrology Department

M.Sc in Water Supply and Sanitation Engineering B.Sc in Civil Engineering Area of expertise Water Resources Management, Groundwater, Sanitation Engineering, GIS Applications and Environmental Data Analysis using Python, and Rstudio,

Mohamed Hassan Mohamed - Head of Marine and freshwater sustainability Department

Master’s Student in Fisheries Türkiye Area of expertise Aquaculture, Fish Welfare, Fish Immunology, Fish Processing and Packaging, Fisheries Management, Laboratory Analysis, and Basic Data Analysis using SPSS.