Aminah Jibril

A Somali engineer developing affordable water filtration systems to combat water scarcity in East Africa.

Aminah Jibril: Innovating Clean Water Access in Somalia

Aminah Jibril, a Somalian mechanical engineer, has pioneered low-cost water purification technologies, transforming lives in regions plagued by drought and conflict. Born in Mogadishu in 1992, she witnessed firsthand the devastation of waterborne diseases after fleeing to Kenya as a child. Her journey to MIT (2015–2020) was fueled by a passion to solve her community’s water crisis.

Jibril’s breakthrough came in 2021 with the invention of the Saaxil Filter, a portable device using locally sourced materials to remove contaminants from brackish water. The filter, costing just $15, can purify 20 liters daily—enough for a family of five. By 2023, her nonprofit Saaxil Water Initiative had distributed over 5,000 units across Somalia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.

In 2022, she launched the Horn of Africa Water Innovation Hub, training engineers and entrepreneurs to replicate her designs. This initiative has spurred local manufacturing partnerships, creating jobs in regions with high youth unemployment. Jibril also advocates for policy changes, lobbying governments to integrate decentralized water systems into national infrastructure plans.

Her work gained international recognition in 2023 when she received the UN Water Prize for her contributions to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). She frequently speaks at global forums, including the 2024 World Water Forum in Senegal, where she emphasized the link between water access and regional stability.

Beyond technology, Jibril empowers women in engineering. Her mentorship program, Girls in Gear, has trained over 300 Somali girls in STEM since 2020, fostering a new generation of innovators. Her story is a testament to resilience, proving that even in fragile states, grassroots innovation can make a profound difference.