Samira Gaid is a leading regional security analyst with over two decades of professional experience in the Horn of Africa, including a decade in the security sector working at the highest levels in Somalia. Samira served as the Principal Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia. She led the extensive transformation and reform efforts of the Somali Security Sector, one of the key priorities for Somalia, by leading, coordinating, and implementing Somalia’s four-year Security Sector Reform (SSR) Strategy and Roadmap (2017-20). She oversaw the payroll and HR reform for all Somali National Security Forces and organizational change management efforts that enhanced the accountability and performance of the forces. She is currently an independent consultant and expert with Somalia’s Ministry of Internal Security and the immediate former Executive Director of the Hiraal Institute, a leading Somalia-based security think tank.