FAO Representation in Rwanda

Mr. Mohamed Aw-Dahir is the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rwanda.

He is a senior development economist with over 30 years of experience in agricultural economics, rural development, food security, and institutional capacity strengthening. Throughout his career, he has worked in more than 30 countries, with extensive experience across Eastern Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa, including fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

Prior to his appointment in Rwanda, Mr. Aw-Dahir held several senior leadership positions at the FAO and at partner institutions. He served as FAO Senior Programme and Partnership Officer for Eastern Africa and as FAO Regional Economist for the Near East and North Africa. He also worked with USAID’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) as Country and Regional Representative for Somalia and the Greater Horn of Africa. Most recently, he served as Officer-in-Charge of FAO Eritrea, where he strengthened institutional engagement and expanded strategic partnerships in support of national development priorities.

Throughout his career, Mr. Aw-Dahir has provided technical and strategic leadership in policy dialogue, programme formulation, investment planning, and resource mobilization. He has supported governments to align national agricultural and food security strategies with global and continental development frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa’s Agenda 2063.

Mr. Aw-Dahir holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Makerere University, Uganda, and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Somali University in Mogadishu, Somalia. He has also completed advanced professional training in economic policy, strategic planning, and development leadership in Africa, Europe, and the United States.