EUCAP People – Maritime Assistant Fardus

EUCAP People - Maritime Assistant Fardus

Together with her European colleagues, EUCAP Somalia employs 45 national staff members in its Headquarters and Field Offices. One of them is Fardus Mohammed, a graduate in International Law. She has been working for a year in the Field Office in Somaliland and is pleased with her role.

According to her job description, Fardus works as a maritime assistant. However, that only tells part of the story, as she has the opportunity to apply her skills across a wide range of tasks. Thanks to her education, she also collaborates closely with the legal advisor and is involved in gender-related work.

- When I saw the recruitment announcement, I noticed that EUCAP's work aligns in many ways with the work I had already done in women's security. I considered it a great opportunity to meet new people and gain new experiences. Since my previous experience and education were a good fit, I decided to apply, and here I am, she smiles.

After a year in the office, Fardus enjoys working at EUCAP and appreciates her colleagues. She is particularly happy that EUCAP programs are always gender mainstreamed. When organizing training for authorities, women are always encouraged to participate, and there are also trainings specifically for women.

- These trainings for women are very important for the future. They encourage women and bring their perspectives to the community, Fardus concludes.

Fardus has worked closely on gender issues throughout her career.

- Previously, I was working for Mines Advisory Group (MAG) as the gender focal point. There, we empowered women by providing training and community policing. The community policing involved providing women and children with risk awareness training. This helped them to participate in decision-making within their communities.

Gender work is very personal to her. For those who regard it as unnecessary or a Western idea, she has a clear message:

- Let's hear the voices of Somali women. If we don't listen to them, we won't understand their lives and the challenges they face.