Hamelmal is a development cooperation and humanitarian assistance expert with 17 years working experience in international non-governmental organizations in different contexts.

She has worked for over 5 INGOs on both humanitarian assistance and development initiatives focusing on livelihood, food security, gender, and community engagement related Strategy and Program development as well as implementation in East and southern Africa mainly in Ethiopia and including Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Mozambique and Malawi.

Throughout her years of experience, she developed vast experience on building and maintaining strategic relationships with key partners and donors, particularly government officials and community groups, implementing partner organizations and field staff, private sector and other stakeholders.

Hamelmal joined NRC in 2020 and worked for the Global office of NRC conducting a global review and developing a framework for Economic Inclusion of displacement-affected Communities. She is currently the Regional Livelihood and Food Security Advisor for East and Southern Africa working for NRC’s regional Office in Nairobi. She also Co-chairs the East and Horn of Africa Regional Economic Inclusion Working group together with UNHCR since late 2022.

Hamelmal has a master’s degree in social work, postgraduate diploma in project management and BA in public administration and development management and she is certified in leadership by Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).