Hussein A. Zainulabdeen
Community Engagement & Liaison Officer
Summary
Humanitarian and human rights professional with extensive experience supporting international investigations and community-based initiatives. Proven track record of collaborating with United Nations mechanisms, engaging affected communities, and coordinating large-scale interviews and evidence collection related to international crimes. Demonstrated leadership in humanitarian response, psychosocial support programs, and human rights documentation in complex and post-conflict environments. Strong expertise in digital community engagement, NGO modernization, and strategic communication to enhance outreach and impact. Multilingual professional with UN-certified training in ethics, gender equality, information security, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
5
5
Certification
4
4
Languages
Work History
Digital Project Support & Community Engagement Assistant
Stichting Defenders for Human Rights
11.2025 - Current
- Provided multifaceted support for Stichting DHR, a Netherlands-based non-profit focused on digital human rights research, community participation, and awareness initiatives. Responsibilities included coordination of digital content, community outreach assistance, and support for project development across multiple platforms.
- Assisted in digital content creation and campaign visuals.
- Managed online forms and technical coordination for participant engagement.
- Supported outreach communications and stakeholder interaction.
- Contributed to branding and community support initiatives.
- Areas of Expertise: Arts and design, Communication, Human resources, Information technology, Social work, Volunteer management
- Type of organization: NGO
- Type of employment/Engagement: Volunteering (less than 50%)
Digital Projects Coordinator
Stichting NetImpact
06.2025 - Current
- Supported digital project development, website content, and registration systems.
- Contributed to crowdfunding campaigns and visual media production.
- Facilitated communication with participants and managed community engagement.
- Designed branding materials and improved the organization's digital presence.
- Provided technical support for forms, platforms, and online tools.
- Areas of Expertise: Community development, Arts and design, Human resources, Information technology, Volunteer management, Social work
- Type of organization: NGO
- Type of employment/Engagement: Volunteering (less than 50%)
Community Outreach and Liaison Officer
UNITAD
07.2021 - 04.2024
- Guided and advised the investigative team on inter and intra-community dynamics, cultural, religious, and political traditions.
- Recommended approaches for engaging with the Iraqi Turkmen community regarding investigations into ISIL/Daesh crimes.
- Organized and facilitated community outreach meetings, including preparing presentations, identifying and inviting participants, and interpreting, in coordination with the investigative team.
- Collected more than 250 evidence from open-source materials relevant to the investigations.
- Facilitated more than 300 investigation meetings and interview with witnesses and survivors.
- Strengthened relationships and coordinated more than 200 with Turkmen leadership groups and community members, including civil society, religious leaders, political representatives, and victims/family groups of Da'esh crimes.
- Developed more than 500 a broad network of interlocutors from Turkmen communities in Ninewa, Salah el-Din, and Kirkuk Governorates to assist investigations into ISIL/Daesh crimes against the community.
- Areas of Expertise: Communication, Community development, Health, Social work
- Type of organization: United Nations
- Type of employment/Engagement: Employment (full-time)
Coordinator and Community Engagement Officer
Turkmen Rescue Foundation
07.2014 - 07.2021
- Developed and implemented successful communication strategies that enhanced community engagement and raised public awareness.
- Supported displaced individuals affected by terrorism by providing psychosocial support and facilitating access to necessary resources through referrals.
- Documented human rights violations, managed and maintained electronic data archives, and oversaw and moderated social media platforms.
- Coordinated and delivered Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities, including providing psychological support to individuals affected by COVID-19, for nearly 5000+ people over three months.
- Conducted investigations in partnership with the Center for Justice & Accountability, uncovering in more than two cases and access to key evidence, and handed over all evidence to sharing with the relevant authorities.
- Areas of Expertise: Crisis and emergency response, Community development, Communication, Social work, Health, Arts and design, Legal affairs
- Type of organization: NGO
- Type of employment/Engagement: Employment (full-time)
Education
Bachelor's degree - Health (optical tech)
Dijlah university
07.2012
Skills
Adobe Photoshop and Canva Microsoft Office Suite Software proficiency WordPress and video editing
Certification
Computer software course - Advocacy campaigns and reporting (IWPR) - International investigations (CJA) - Microsoft office courses - TOT remote Psychological First Aid- RPFA (IOM) - Volunteering for the Sustainable Development Goals - HIV in the workplace (UN Cares) - I Know Gender - I Know Gender. An Introduction to Gender Equality for UN Staff. - Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) - Prevention of Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority - Preventing Fraud and Corruption at the United Nations - Ethics and Integrity at the United Nations - United Nations Human Rights Responsibilities for staff in DEVNET, INFONET, LEGALNET and POLNET - Preventing Sexual Harassment and Other Prohibited Conduct - SSAFE training - On 21-22 Feb 2022 - Information Security Awareness - Foundational - Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN Personnel [Version 2.0] - United to Respect: Preventing Sexual Harassment and Other Prohibited Conduct (Arabic)
DRIVING LICENSE
No
Timeline
Digital Project Support & Community Engagement Assistant
Stichting Defenders for Human Rights
11.2025 - Current
Digital Projects Coordinator
Stichting NetImpact
06.2025 - Current
Community Outreach and Liaison Officer
UNITAD
07.2021 - 04.2024
Coordinator and Community Engagement Officer
Turkmen Rescue Foundation
07.2014 - 07.2021
Bachelor's degree - Health (optical tech)
Dijlah university