About Methods Education Research Contact
Nairobi, Kenya · 2026

Abdullahi
Hassan

Data Scientist & Development Economics Researcher

Working at the intersection of causal inference and evidence-based policy, focused on poverty reduction through global health solutions and applying AI for social good.

6+
Years Field Experience
Somalia & Kenya — M&E, data systems, humanitarian programmes
MIT
MicroMasters® DEDP
Data, Economics & Design of Policy — J-PAL | MIT
2
Active Research Roles
The Unjournal & SPAR — global health, AI governance
01

About

I work at the intersection of global health, AI safety, and data-driven development, applying quantitative research and machine learning to address poverty, reduce suffering, and improve decision-making in climate change, education, and agriculture. My focus is on building scalable, cost-effective solutions that translate rigorous analysis into real-world impact.

My methodological orientation centres on the credible identification of causal effects through randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental methods, and the careful application of econometric theory to field data. I place strong emphasis on measurement validity and decision-making under uncertainty, ensuring that evidence is robust, policy-relevant, and embedded in programme design from the outset. I work extensively with R and Python, and apply machine learning tools alongside advanced statistical techniques to generate actionable insights.

Across field and research roles, I have managed data systems, designed measurement frameworks under operational constraints, and conducted quantitative analysis to inform adaptive management, funding allocation, and strategic planning. My work prioritizes cost-effectiveness analysis and evidence-based resource allocation.

I am also the founder of EA Somalia, building a community committed to effective altruism principles and evidence-based action.

Causal InferenceRCTsEconometrics Development PolicyGlobal HealthAI Safety Welfare EconomicsPolitical EconomyEffective Altruism
Experience
2025 – Present
Research Affiliate
The Unjournal
2025 – Present
Founder | Organizer
Effective Altruism Somalia
Sep 2025 – Jan 2026
Research Fellow
SPAR (Supervised Programme for Alignment Research)
Sep 2022 – Jul 2025
M&E Officer & Data Analyst
Upwork · Kenya & Somalia
Oct 2019 – Aug 2022
Data Analyst & Project Officer
Sadar Development and Resilience Institute · Somalia
Jul 2017 – Sep 2019
Enumerator & M&E Support
Yustan Seafood Processing · Somalia
02

Methods & Skills

Experimental & Causal Design
  • Randomized evaluation design
  • Sampling frameworks
  • Power calculations
  • Stratification & clustering
  • Instrumental variables
  • Endogeneity analysis
  • Identification strategies
Measurement & Field Research
  • Questionnaire design
  • Survey implementation
  • Measurement validity
  • Data collection systems
  • Research ethics
  • Reproducibility standards
  • KoboToolbox / ODK
Statistical Foundations
  • Probability theory
  • Joint & conditional distributions
  • Sampling theory
  • Central Limit Theorem
  • Estimation & inference
  • Confidence intervals
  • Hypothesis testing
Econometrics
  • Linear & multivariate regression
  • Omitted variable bias
  • Fixed effects models
  • Difference-in-differences
  • Nonparametric regression
  • Regression discontinuity
  • Causal inference frameworks
Data Science & Computing
  • Data analysis in R
  • tidyverse / ggplot2
  • Python for data science
  • Data cleaning & transformation
  • Machine learning fundamentals
  • Data visualization
  • Reproducible workflows
Policy & Development
  • Development policy design
  • Political economy analysis
  • Cost-effectiveness analysis
  • Programme evaluation
  • M&E framework design
  • Humanitarian contexts
  • EA research methods
03

Education

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Economics

East Africa University
January 2015 — June 2019

Foundation in economic theory, quantitative methods, and analytical reasoning, applied to development and public policy contexts.

"Measurement validity matters as much as identification strategy, and policy relevance must be embedded in research design, not appended after."
Google / Coursera
Data Analytics Professional Certificate
Google / Coursera
Project Management Professional Certificate
Meta / Coursera
Front-End Developer Professional Certificate
J-PAL / MIT
Designing and Running Randomized Evaluations
04

Research

● Active AI Safety · Policy Design · SPAR Research Fellowship 2025–2026

Market Incentives for Responsible AI

Developing an auditable, metrics-based scoring system for responsible AI market conduct. The project synthesises policy and academic literature on market-shaping instruments, translates qualitative governance frameworks into quantitative metrics, and operationalises them into a reproducible evaluation tool.

Research Question
How can market incentives for responsible AI conduct be made auditable and measurable?
Methodology
Systematic literature synthesis; scoring framework design; stakeholder validation
Key Output
Auditable scoring system; policy design recommendations for market-shaping instruments
Working Papers
2026
A. Hassan — Independent Research
Modeling Drought Vulnerability in Somalia: A Data-Driven Framework

This study proposes a quantitative framework to assess drought vulnerability in Somalia. Using a dataset from FAO-SWIMS, the paper develops a composite index designed to support evidence-based decision-making for drought preparedness and response planning. The framework aims to strengthen early warning systems, improve resource targeting, and enhance strategic planning for anticipated drought events.

05

Contact

Open to research collaborations, M&E consulting, and academic discussion in development economics, causal inference, and AI safety. Also actively exploring PhD opportunities.

Location & Availability
Nairobi, Kenya
Available globally for remote collaboration. Open to fieldwork in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Response within 2–3 business days.
Open To
  • PhD opportunities in development economics
  • Research collaborations on RCTs and impact evaluations
  • M&E consulting in fragile and humanitarian contexts
  • AI safety and governance projects
  • Effective altruism research networks