Nimo Ahmed Ismail Ismail

Nimo Ahmed Ismail is a development practitioner from Somaliland, currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. She is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Oxford and a member of Lady Margaret Hall. Nimo is committed to advancing good governance, gender equality and inclusive development, particularly in fragile and underrepresented contexts.

She holds an LLB from the University of Stirling and a BA in Politics with a specialisation in International Relations from Oberlin College. Nimo has held senior roles in both civil society and government. She previously served as Deputy Director of the Abaarso Network, a non-governmental organisation supporting inclusive and high-quality education in Somaliland. Most recently, she has worked as Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister of Planning and National Development in Somaliland, contributing to policies that prioritise local needs and strengthen institutional capacity. Her professional focus includes ensuring the inclusion of women and marginalised groups in development and decision-making processes, and promoting accountable service delivery.

At Oxford, Nimo looks forward to engaging with peers who share a vision for equitable development and a self-sufficient Africa. She is especially excited to learn from global policy perspectives and, as an avid reader, explore Oxford’s renowned libraries.