Somali Public Agenda
Somali Public Agenda (SPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent public policy and administration research and action organization based in Mogadishu. It aims to advance understanding and improvement of public policy and services in Somalia through evidence-based research and analysis, dialogue,podcasts, policy and service design, and training.
At Somali Public Agenda, we believe that all Somalis deserve better public services, including access to affordable education, healthcare, housing, security, and justice delivered by transparent and accountable authorities.
SPA’s vision is that Somali citizens can access public services that are responsive, evidence-based, and inclusive.
Our mission is to increase the capacity of Somali governance institutions, civil society, and international partners to deliver effective public services to Somali citizens.
Brief history of SPA
Founded on January 10, 2018, in Somalia as an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit think and action tank, Somali Public Agenda began its analytical work with monthly commentaries published in both English and Somali in 2018. Throughout 2018, we produced one commentary each month.
SPA’s work and focus have expanded gradually over the years. In early 2019, Somali Public Agenda introduced Governance Briefs; our first Governance Brief, analyzing the Somali youth employment crisis, was published in March 2019. In 2020, SPA began conducting in-depth studies across Somalia and introduced Research Reports as its third type of publication. In 2022, Somali Public Agenda introduced Policy Papers as the fourth type of publication. In its first five years, from January 2018 to December 2022, Somali Public Agenda published a total of 66 publications: 35 commentaries, 19 governance briefs, 4 policy papers, and 8 research reports.
To realize SPA’s objective of co-designing policies and services with public and civic institutions and building capacity in the public sector, two centers were introduced in August 2020. The SPA Policy Lab was launched as an action research center to help public institutions design human-centered public policies and services. The center has a director and has been conducting action research and co-designing projects on transitional justice and addressing the displacement crisis in Somalia.
Moreover, the SPA Center for Learning and Development was launched in August 2020. The center has a director and introduced a flagship blog writing training and research methods training primarily benefited by the Somali youth. Since July 2020, over 100 youth graduated from the blog writing and research training programmes.
Moreover, the SPA Center for Learning and Development was launched in August 2020. The center, led by a director, introduced flagship blog writing and research methods training, primarily benefiting Somali youth. Since July 2020, over 100 youth have graduated from the blog writing and research training programs.
The Public Agenda Forum created a much-needed space for dialogue among Somali stakeholders. Together with the Maamul Wanaag and Adeeg Wanaag podcasts, the Public Agenda Forum fosters discussions on key governance and public service matters in Somalia. SPA Podcasts began in mid-2019. In August 2021, our podcasts were rebranded; the previous name was changed, and the new Maamul Wanaag podcast was launched. This podcast delves into various governance matters in Somalia. On October 1, 2022, the Adeeg Wanaag Podcast was launched, focusing on discussions and analyses of service issues in Somalia.
To advance the understanding and improvement of public services and governance in Somalia, we employ policy-oriented and evidence-based research. We convene dialogues and podcasts to create a space for discussing key governance matters in Somalia. We co-design public programs and projects at both the service delivery and policy-making levels with public and civic institutions. We also conduct practical and sustainable training on governance and service delivery.
Research: Somali Public Agenda contributes to understanding and improving public administration in Somalia through research and analysis of various issues that affect public policies and the provision of public services. SPA regularly publishes research reports, policy papers, governance briefs, and commentaries, most of the time in both Somali and English. These publications often inform and influence citizens, policymakers, practitioners, and international actors on governance and public service issues in Somalia.
Dialogue: The Public Agenda Forum is a platform and space for discussions on governance and public service issues in Somalia. The Forum (including Gaxwo & Gorfeyn monthly meet-ups, bimonthly off-the-record discussions, and on-the-record public forums) serves as an avenue for examining public priorities. Various societal segments, including researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, are invited to meet and discuss issues on equal terms. The Public Agenda Forum convenes dialogue with policymakers and public figures and organizes workshops, seminars, and book/report launches. Often, the findings from these discussions help inform Somali Public Agenda’s research and analytical outputs.
Podcasts: Somali Public Agenda has two podcasts, Maamul Wanaag and Adeeg Wanaag. Somalia faces multiple governance challenges, recovering from years of conflict, lawlessness, and weak administration. Understanding and improving governance in Somalia is a core mission of Somali Public Agenda. Mahad Wasuge, SPA Executive Director, and his guests delve into governance issues in the Maamul Wanaag podcast. Public services in Somalia are limited due to the weakness of government institutions struggling to recover from the destruction caused by conflict. Even existing government services often fail to serve people effectively. Access to public services is a fundamental right for Somali citizens. Aweis Ahmed, the director of the SPA Policy Lab, and his guests intensely discuss public service matters in the Adeeg Wanaagpodcast.
Public Service Design: Based on the findings and policy recommendations from our studies, we design public policies, programs, and projects with the relevant public and civic authorities through our SPA Policy Lab. In collaboration with policymakers, public administrators, and the community, we design knowledge-based public services. Before the government invests resources in the designed policies, programs, and projects, we envision experimenting with public services at a small-scale level to test the efficacy of the services designed.
Training: Based on our research findings and co-design work, Somali Public Agenda, through its Center for Learning and Development, offers training courses to help build administrative cadres capable of delivering public policies and programs to the community. Additionally, the center offers training to Somali professionals interested in advancing their writing and research skills or those engaged in the public and non-profit sectors. The thematic areas for the professional training programs include:
SPA in numbers
Since its establishment in January 2018, SPA has produced 99 publications, including 30 governance briefs, 46 commentaries, 16 research reports, and 7 policy papers.
Our Public Agenda Forum has convened over 100 forums, including 35 Gaxwo & Gorfeyn meet-ups, 8 off-the-record discussions, and multiple dissemination and on-the-record forums.
Our two podcast programs have recorded and released 82 episodes on governance and public service issues.
Our Center for Learning and Development has trained over 100 youth in blog writing, trained over 35 in research methods, and provided internship opportunities to over 20 youth.
Outreach and impact
SPA’s online audience has been increasing over the years. Currently, our online audience including subscribers of our YouTube Channel and followers of social media platforms are over 73,500. We are regularly interviewed by international and local media outlets.
SPA’s online audience has been growing over the years. Currently, our online followers, including YouTube subscribers and social media followers, number over 73,500. We are regularly interviewed by international and local media outlets.
Our researchers and analysts are frequently invited to forums, workshops, and conferences. In 2023, for instance, we were invited to the Build Peace Conference in Nairobi; a digital democracy workshop in Nairobi; the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) grand meeting in Dar es Salaam, where we presented the findings of the Mogadishu Safety & Security Domain study and joined plenary and working group discussions on cross-city and cross-domain findings; a seminar on ‘Enhancing the Role of CSOs in Policy Advocacy for Financial Transparency & Accountability’ by The Horn Economic and Social Policy Institute (HESPI) in Addis Ababa; a workshop on strengthening the role of CSOs in IGAD member countries in mediation and peacebuilding processes by IGAD Mediation Support Unit in Rajaf, South Sudan; and a workshop on developing a national mediation strategy for Somalia by IGAD Mediation Support Unit in Garowe.
We began a monthly bulletin in October 2023. This newsletter covers SPA activities from the past month, including reports or briefs released, forums held, design projects undertaken, important meetings or conferences attended, and media appearances and SPA citations/quotes. It is sent at the end of each month to update our growing mailing list on SPA’s work.
Our work shapes policymaking in Somalia. For example, SPA’s analysis and recommendations on the National Consultative Council (NCC) election agreement in 2023 led to high-level dialogue among current and former Somali leaders. Our Policy Paper critically examined the 5 core points of the NCC election agreement, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Our recommendation for increased political dialogue was subsequently adopted by the federal government. The fact that SPA’s recommendations led to significant high-level dialogue among Somali leaders reflects the value of balanced analysis and constructive recommendations on key political and policy matters in Somalia.
Somali Public Agenda has had a positive impact on policymaking in Somalia and has amplified public voices. Here are quotes from policymakers and practitioners on SPA’s work:
“I fully agree with you on all counts of your brilliant analysis [on the constitutional review process]. I will take your input and place it within policy deliberations platforms.” Abdi Hosh, the late Minister of Constitutional Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia.
“The article [on local governance] is very interesting and makes a strong case for investment in Somalia’s local governments. I read the recommendations with particular interest, especially the potential of local governments to attract young graduates and thereby contribute to addressing the problem of youth unemployment.” IsatouBatonon, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Somalia.
“Development doesn’t come by accident. It’s based on research, a deeper understanding of the issues/challenges, and well-thought-through solutions that are acceptable and workable to all stakeholders. Your research institution comes in handy in terms of helping members of the public, civil societies, and the government to find solutions to key governance challenges in Somalia.” Simon Mulongo, Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia – AMISOM.
“I have read your critical analysis of the electoral bill. I am a member of a 15-member parliamentary select committee tasked to review the bill. Your analysis very objectively addressed some of the ambiguities of the bill, and I agree with the conclusions drawn from the analysis. When we start deliberations on the bill, we will contact you to get your insights and input to improve the bill with the intention of holding a fair and free election that contributes to democracy and good governance.” Abdirisak Omar, Member of the Somali Federal Parliament and Former Minister of Internal Security of the Federal Government of Somalia.
“Somali Public Agenda, in collaboration with Radio Ergo, issued a quite rare report on the distribution of aid following the floods in Hiiraan. The report highlights challenges regarding coordination, accountability, transparency, and inclusion concerning the distribution of aid in flood-affected areas. While the respondents and debaters were quite limited in number, the findings have a kind of ‘truth value’ that merits attention.” Albert Soer, Portfolio Manager Economic Recovery and Institutional Development, UNDP Somalia.
“I thank the members of the parliamentary Oversight Committee for their hard work over the last five days, and the former committee members who assisted us in understanding the work done by the eighth and ninth parliaments. I would also like to thank the experts from the Somali Dialogue Platform and Somali Public Agenda who presented us with research papers and studies on the contentious political issues that need to be agreed upon politically and constitutionally.” Hussein Idow, Chair of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee.
“Very glad to participate in the well-organized event as a guest speaker. During the Q&A session, I provided comprehensive clarification and explanations regarding the proposed constitutional amendments to chapters 1-4 of the constitution. I was impressed by the thoughtfulness and critical thinking displayed by the participants. Their questions not only highlighted their interest in the subject matter but also their commitment to shaping the future of our constitution. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the organizers, Somali Public Agenda, for their dedication and hard work in ensuring the success of this event. Their commitment to promoting civic engagement and facilitating meaningful discussions is truly commendable.”Burhan Adan Omar, Chairperson of the Independent Constitutional Review Commission (ICRIC).
