Nima Ali Hussein
Founder & CEO
Leads the organization's vision and institutional direction.
The organization
About Somali Women Awards
A recognition initiative dedicated to celebrating the achievements, leadership and contributions of Somali women, wherever they live and work.
- 10
- Fields of recognition
- 4
- Editions since 2023
- 13
- Women recognized in 2024
- 20
- Sponsors & partners in 2023
Overview
A platform for meaningful recognition
Somali Women Awards (SWA) recognizes women of Somali heritage whose professional achievements, leadership, innovation and service have made a meaningful contribution to their fields and communities. Open in purpose to accomplished Somali women wherever they live, SWA seeks to make their work more visible, preserve their achievements, and inspire future generations.
Now in its fifth edition, SWA recognizes merit across professional fields, public life and community service. Its purpose is to give deserving achievements greater visibility and to encourage future generations through the examples of women making a difference.
- Leadership
- Education & research
- Science & technology
- Health
- Humanitarian service
- Enterprise
- Sustainability
- Sport
- Journalism
- Digital media
Fifth edition
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2026
Mission
To recognize Somali women whose achievements and contributions deserve to be seen and celebrated.
Somali Women Awards brings greater visibility to leadership, professional excellence and meaningful service. Through recognition and storytelling, we honor accomplishments across generations, fields and borders — and encourage the next generation to imagine what is possible.
Vision
Every achievement has a story. Every contribution matters.
Recognition across leadership, education, science, public service, culture and other fields of contribution — grounded in credible achievement and meaningful contribution, not visibility or popularity.
How we recognize
Three distinct forms of merit
A candidate need not demonstrate all three. Historic “first woman” or rare-title claims require independent confirmation.
- 01
Pioneering achievement
Breaking credible professional barriers or holding substantive, historically rare positions.
- 02
Professional excellence
Distinguished expertise, sustained achievement and responsibility in a demanding field.
- 03
Transformational contribution
Meaningful improvements in institutions, services, knowledge, communities or opportunities.
What is new in 2026
The fifth edition marks an important step forward
Defined award categories
Ten focused fields of achievement, each with an official definition and authorized criteria.
Confidential professional referrals
Candidates are identified through invitation-only referrals from institutions and professional networks, not public nominations.
Structured merit-based assessment
Evidence is verified and approved nominees are assessed independently against category criteria.
A regional leadership forum
The SWA 2026 Inaugural Forum connects recognition with a high-level dialogue on women's leadership and opportunity.
Our story
Editions of recognition
Somali Women Awards enters its fifth edition in 2026, building on four previous editions dedicated to recognizing the contributions and achievements of Somali women — from #SWA2023 in Somalia, to Mogadishu in 2024, to Nairobi in 2025.
- 2023
Somalia
#SWA2023 was presented as a celebration held for the first time in Somalia, supported by twenty sponsors and partners.
- 2024
Mogadishu, Somalia · Jazeera Palace Hotel
The 2024 edition brought Somali women leaders, professionals and guests together in Mogadishu on 18 October 2024 and recognized thirteen women across thirteen awards.
- 2025
Nairobi, Kenya
The 2025 edition took Somali Women Awards to Nairobi, Kenya, on 14 November 2025, with a sponsored photo wall, red-carpet arrivals and an evening ceremony.
- 2026
Fifth edition — Beyond Borders
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Mid-November to early December 2026.
People
Leadership
Morash Dirie
Director of Program
Leads program strategy and development for SWA 2026.
Kowthar Mohamud Bulle
Director of Growth
Leads audience development, media visibility, and partnership outreach.
Abdullahi Qulle
Director of Operations & Institutional Relations
Directs high-level donor engagements, global event logistics and post-gala expansion programs.