Layla Abubakar

• Lead project design and implementation across WASH, Education, Livelihoods, and Environment sectors using a protection and gender lens.
• Conducted detailed assessments of SGBV trends and patterns across Jubaland, integrating community feedback and local cultural understanding.
• Oversaw GBV/SGBV case management and referral pathways, ensuring culturally sensitive services and addressing stigma and social norms.
• Engaged with local government and community leaders to develop sustainable exit strategies for project continuity and local ownership.
• Designed and monitored a USD 3M multi-sectoral program, embedding AAP, inclusion, and conflict sensitivity across the project cycle.
• Ensured gender considerations were cross-cutting in all interventions, and led capacity-building initiatives for partners and field teams.

• Integrated protection and AAP mechanisms into humanitarian programmes
• Provided strategic policy advice on access constraints, political risks, and protection mitigation measures.
• Led the analysis of community feedback and protection data to inform the real-time program.
• Coordinated with protection, GBV, and AAP clusters, and engaged with local stakeholders.
• Spearheaded gender mainstreaming in the development of Country Strategic Plans.
• Led the implementation of the Gender Transformative Action Plan, building capacity across field offices, and ensuring gender-responsive programming and budgeting.

• Strengthened conflict-sensitive programming to ensure alignment across all operational areas.

• Developed and implemented a capacity-building agenda on Protection, AAP, Gender, and Inclusion for staff and partners.

• Facilitated the dissemination of corporate guidance, documented lessons learned, and promoted best practices in program implementation.

• Coordinated technical work streams through communities of practice, inter-agency forums, and cluster meetings.

• Provided technical support for advocacy and resource mobilization, integrating cross-cutting themes into proposals and reports.

• Built strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to advance protection, AAP, gender, and inclusion initiatives.