Aisha is HALO's Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) Project Manager for North Africa. She joined HALO in April 2023 as a Field Officer, training and working on mine action programmes in Cambodia, Afghanistan and Colombia. In August 2024 she joined HALO's WAM team and is currently responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of projects in the North Africa region.
In May 2025 Aisha participated in HALO's annual WAM Project Managers course, generously supported by the Government of Canada under HALO's Women Managing Weapons initiative. The training is designed to equip participants with the essential skills to effectively deliver WAM projects, thereby enhancing technical management capabilities and fostering career advancement opportunities. Aisha shares some reflections from her three-week intensive training:
"Before starting the WAM PM course, I saw it as a useful way to sharpen the management skills I already use in my role and refresh some of my previous technical training learned through mine action and explosive ordnance disposal. What I didn't anticipate was how much it would shift my perspective, especially around the importance of technical confidence and strategic thinking for women working in the WAM space. It really underscored how essential those strengths are for leading effectively in environments where women’s voices are still underrepresented.
I see the Women Managing Weapons initiative as more than just a training programme – it's about shifting the landscape to enable more women to lead, innovate and shape the future of this sector.
One of the most impactful parts of the course was the opportunity to work directly with our technical experts. We weren't just learning frameworks, we were applying them to real-world scenarios, the kind we would often face in the field. This hands-on experience enables confidence in navigating technical conversations and making informed decisions, which is essential in a sector where technical credibility often shapes how your voice is heard. Spending time with colleagues from across our directorate, many of whom I'd only ever worked with online, was another highlight. Being able to connect in person created space for meaningful conversations. We shared experiences, challenges, and insights from different contexts, and those exchanges helped build the kind of trust and understanding that makes collaboration stronger and more effective.
The course also gave me a clearer view of what leadership looks like in our sector. It's not just about managing timelines and deliverables; it's about engaging with the technical landscape and supporting others to do the same. Building that capability helps ensure women aren't just present but actively contributing to and shaping the conversations that influence the direction of our work.
What stood out most was the learning environment itself. It was open, practical, and grounded in the realities of our work. We could ask questions, test ideas, and learn from each other in a way that felt both challenging and supportive. That kind of space is rare and valuable.
I see the Women Managing Weapons initiative as more than just a training programme – it's creating real opportunities for women to step into technical and leadership roles with confidence. It's not only about individual development, but also about shifting the landscape to enable more women to lead, innovate and shape the future of this sector."
