Houssein Aden

Former senior civil servant with 15+ years' experience framing complex policy questions, setting strategic direction and translating evidence and stakeholder perspectives into feasible recommendations, delivery arrangements and monitoring frameworks. Combines results-based policy development with participatory methods: defining intended outcomes, mapping affected groups and institutions, testing assumptions through consultation, coordinating implementation and adapting plans as evidence changes. Experienced in leading workstreams, facilitating multi-stakeholder processes and advising ministers, senior officials, international organisations and civil-society partners.

Independent Consultant - Governance & Strategic Affairs - Selected diaspora organisations - Paris / London

(2023-01)

Occasional advisory assignments connecting policy analysis with stakeholder research, strategic positioning and decision support.

• Scope sensitive governance and public-integrity questions, conduct secondary research, map institutions and interests, and turn findings into recommendations and sequenced engagement plans for legal, European and multilateral audiences.
• Provide targeted support to African diaspora organisations on public governance, institutional risk, accountability and stakeholder engagement.

Legal Assistant - Sarastro Law Firm - Paris

(2024-09 - 2024-12)

Short-term legal role supporting complex international-crimes and human-rights matters under counsel supervision.

• Supported two Assize Court trials involving universal jurisdiction through legal, historical and geopolitical research, evidence chronologies, hearing notes and structured case summaries delivered to procedural deadlines.
• Contributed to a submission to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention by analysing facts and procedure, drafting observations and coordinating inputs from associated counsel; linked legal strategy with stakeholder information and media support.

Technical Adviser to the Minister - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) - Djibouti

(2022-01 - 2023-12)

• Prepared decision briefs on sensitive institutional matters and coordinated inputs from ministry departments, diplomats, parliamentarians and external partners for ministerial consideration.

Director of Education and Research - National Independent Commission for the Prevention and Fight against Corruption (CNIPLC) - Djibouti

(2016-01 - 2022-12)

Led a new directorate responsible for evidence, education and prevention, combining policy analysis, strategic design, facilitation and implementation leadership.

• Built the directorate from mandate to operation: assessed institutional and capability needs, recruited three seconded staff, allocated responsibilities, established annual planning, indicators, reporting and partner coordination.
• Converted evidence into policy priorities by validating the first UNCAC review, coordinating the national Cycle II self-assessment, gathering institutional contributions and comparing identified gaps with institutional risks, stakeholder needs and implementation capacity.
• Scoped the national anti-corruption strategy process with UNDP: defined the intended outputs and work direction, prepared the concept, draft MoU and consultant terms of reference, supported selection, mapped stakeholders and designed consultation workshops and governance arrangements.
• Developed policy and regulatory solutions, including a 57-article internal regulation adopted by the Commission and around 40 proposed amendments to the civil-service code of ethics; briefed government institutions on procedural and implementation implications.
• Facilitated implementation across prevention, education and institutional culture: established a network of ethics officers in oversight bodies, delivered six national campaigns with public, private and civil-society partners, and used annual reviews to test progress and revise work plans.
• Advanced a specialised financial and anti-corruption prosecution initiative by combining political advocacy, capability assessment for investigators and the financial intelligence unit, partner and funding mobilisation through a COMESA programme, and technical cooperation with the Basel Institute's ICAR.

Lecturer & Policy Researcher - University of Djibouti / MAECI Centre for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies - Djibouti

(2012-01 - 2015-12)

Combined public-law teaching with direct delivery of a policy study commissioned by public authorities.

• Taught constitutional law, administrative law, philosophy of law and international relations across undergraduate levels, translating complex legal and institutional concepts into structured teaching and assessment.
• Delivered a defence-policy study commissioned by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence: analysed policy, legal and doctrinal sources and translated the findings into four recommendations covering a national defence policy, White Paper, force doctrine and APSA-aligned resource planning.

Civil Administrator / Policy Officer, progressing to Deputy Director for Scientific & Technical Cooperation - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) - Djibouti

(2006-01 - 2012-12)

Progressed from policy support to responsibility for scoping and coordinating assistance portfolios at the interface of sector ministries, embassies, UN agencies, donors and universities.

• Framed development-cooperation assignments by clarifying policy problems, intended outcomes, stakeholder responsibilities and evidence needs; translated ministerial priorities into assistance frameworks, terms of reference, agreements and monitoring arrangements.
• Helped reform the national aid-management system through a UNDP-supported programme: clarified the policy-steering role of sector ministries, distinguished it from project-management units, and embedded Paris Declaration principles, results-based management and OECD DAC evaluation criteria.
• Led the CCA/UNDAF and National Development Cooperation Report processes, from evidence requirements and interdepartmental contributions through analysis, policy dialogue, implementation monitoring and reporting; contributed to the national social-development strategy and its results framework.
• Facilitated interdepartmental consultations supporting national positions for the Accra High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness and Djibouti's decision to join the African Peer Review Mechanism; produced briefs, draft instruments, speeches and institutional options.
• Commissioned and steered sector technical assistance, including an assessment of the portfolio and an NGO directory with analysis of operational capacity; participated in the Human Development Report scientific committee on skills-employment alignment.
• Coordinated revision of the drought-related Consolidated Humanitarian Appeal by consolidating sector evidence and briefing ambassadors, supporting diplomatic and financial mobilisation of more than US$40 million.

Doctoral research - Public Law & Political Science - Université Bordeaux IV / CERDRADI (2011-01 - 2015-12)

Diploma - Public Administration - Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA/INSP) (2009-01 - 2011-12)

Master's - Strategic & Defence Policy Studies - EHEIP (2001-01 - 2006-12)