Our Team
Fowzia Dahir Abdi
Director, Barrow Consultancy | Director, Ali & Barrow Solicitors | Somalia Country Expert | Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales
Fowzia Dahir Abdi is the Director of Barrow Consultancy and a qualified Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. She is a Somalia country expert with over a decade of combined legal, academic, and advisory experience relating to Somalia. She holds first-hand, in-country knowledge of Somali political, security, and humanitarian conditions, gained through roles with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Mogadishu, Internews International, and as a postgraduate lecturer on the LL.M programme at Somali National University.
Fowzia has produced several independent country expert reports for use in asylum and immigration proceedings, covering conditions in Somalia including Al-Shabaab activity, clan dynamics, state protection, and internal relocation. She combines deep cultural and linguistic fluency as a native Somali speaker with rigorous legal training and academic research methodology.
She holds an LL.M in International & European Trade and Investment Law from the University of Amsterdam, an LL.B (Hons) from London South Bank University, and is accredited as a Supervising Senior Caseworker by The Law Society. Fowzia is fluent in Somali, English, and Dutch.
Key Areas:
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Al-Shabaab: recruitment, territorial control & targeting of civilians
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Clan dynamics & minority clan vulnerabilities
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State protection & security conditions in Mogadishu
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Internal relocation feasibility & safety
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Humanitarian conditions, displacement & food insecurity
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Cultural credibility assessments for Home Office proceedings
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Human rights, rule of law & gender-based violence
Ana Grace M. Buhisan
Client Relations & Administrative Coordinator
Ana Grace Buhisan is the Client Relations & Administrative Coordinator at Barrow Consultancy, serving as the primary point of contact for English-speaking clients. She manages client communications, documentation, and scheduling to ensure a responsive, professional experience for all clients engaging with the consultancy's advisory services.
Ana brings a background in paralegal work,having assisted with UK visa applications, renewals, and immigration documentation at a UK solicitors firm,alongside experience as an executive secretary and registered psychometrician. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is skilled in client record management, document preparation, and quality assurance.
Her attention to detail, organisational ability, and commitment to client service ensure that the consultancy's operations run smoothly and that clients receive timely, accurate support throughout their engagement.
Key Areas:
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English-speaking client liaison & first point of contact
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Client onboarding, documentation & case file management
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Scheduling & coordination across international time zones
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Country Expert support, report formatting, correspondence & research coordination
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Data management, quality assurance & confidential record-keeping
Mohamed Aweys Yusuf
East Africa Operations & Liaison Coordinator
Mohamed Aweys Yusuf is the East Africa Operations & Liaison Coordinator at Barrow Consultancy, responsible for on-the-ground coordination, liaison with Somali and East African counterparts, and operational facilitation across the region. He acts as the consultancy's primary point of contact for Somali-speaking stakeholders, gathering information and facilitating tasks to support the Country Experts in delivering high-quality advisory services.
Mohamed brings over four years of progressive experience in logistics, procurement, and operations across Somalia and Uganda, including humanitarian work with Horn Risk Management in Garowe, Puntland. He holds a Master's degree in Supply & Procurement Management from Kampala International University and a Bachelor's in Procurement & Supply Chain Management from East Africa University.
His deep knowledge of the East African operating environment, strong local networks, and practical logistics expertise make him an essential link between the consultancy's international clients and on-the-ground realities.
Key Areas:
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Somali stakeholder liaison & coordination
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On-the-ground information gathering & intelligence
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Logistics & operational facilitation
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Procurement & vendor management
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Humanitarian operations (NGO/UN standards)