Somali Public Agenda

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Somali Public Agenda
Founded2018
FounderMahad Wasuge
TypePublic policy
Location
Websitesomalipublicagenda.org

Somali Public Agenda (SPA) is public policy and administration research and action organization based in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Overview[edit]

Somali Public Agenda 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, policy and service design, and training.

History[edit]

Somali Public Agenda is an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit think and action tank based in Mogadishu, Somalia, that works to advance the delivery of responsive, evidence-based, and inclusive public services in Somalia. Founded on 10 January 2018 in Somalia, the Somali Public Agenda’s analytical work started with monthly commentaries published in both English and Somali languages in 2018.

SPA's work and focus expanded gradually over the years. In 2019, the Somali Public Agenda introduced Governance Briefs.[1] In 2020, SPA started conducting in-depth studies across Somalia. In 2022, the Somali Public Agenda introduced Policy Papers as the fourth type of publication. In six years, between January 2018 and December 2023, the Somali Public Agenda published a total of 85 publications: 42 commentaries, 26 governance briefs, 5 policy papers, and 12 research reports.

To realize SPA's objective of co-designing policies and services with public and civic institutions as well as building capacity in the public sector, two centers were introduced in August 2020. The SPA Policy Lab was launched to become the action research center that helps public institutions design human-centered public policies and services. The center has a director and has been doing action research and co-designing work on governance and service matters 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 for the Somali youth. The center also introduced research training and started to build capacity in the public sector.

The Public Agenda Forum created a much-needed space for dialogue among Somali stakeholders. The Public Agenda Forum together with Maamul Wanaag and Adeeg Wanaag podcasts creates a space for discussions and dialogue on key governance and public service matters in Somalia. ‘SPA Podcasts’ were started in mid-2019. In August 2021, our podcasts were rearranged; the previous name was changed and the new Maamul Wanaag podcast was launched. This podcast delves deep into various governance matters in Somalia. On October 1, 2022, Adeeg Wanaag Podcast was launched. The Adeeg Wanaag Podcast's episodes focus on discussions and analysis of service issues in Somalia.

Research[edit]

The Somali Public Agenda contributes to the understanding and improvement of 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,[2] policy papers, governance briefs, and commentaries (most of the time in both the Somali and English languages). These publications often inform and influence citizens, policymakers, practitioners, and international actors on governance and public service issues in Somalia.

Podcast[edit]

Somali Public Agenda has two podcasts namely Maamul Wanaag[3] and Adeeg Wanaag.[4] Somalia faces multiple governance challenges. The country is recovering from years of conflict, lawlessness, and weak administration. Understanding and improving governance in Somalia is one of the core missions of the Somali Public Agenda. Mahad Wasuge,[5] SPA Executive Director, and his guests delve deep into governance issues in Somalia in the Maamul Wanaag podcast.[6] [7]

Public services in Somalia are limited due to the weakness of government institutions struggling to recover from the destruction caused by conflict. However, even those government services that do exist 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 Somalia in the Adeeg Wanaag podcast.[8][9]

Public service design[edit]

Based on the findings and policy recommendations of our studies, we design public policies, programmes, and projects with the relevant public and civic authorities through our SPA Policy Lab.[10] In collaboration with policymakers, public administrators, and the community, we design knowledge-based public services. Before the government invests resources in the policies, programmes, and projects designed, we envisage experimenting with the public service at a small-scale level to test the efficacy of the services designed.

Training[edit]

Based on the findings of our research and our co-designing work, Somali Public Agenda through its Center for Learning and Development[11] offers training courses to contribute to the building of administrative cadres that can deliver public policies and programmes to the community. Moreover, the center offers training to Somali professionals who have the desire and passion to advance the art of writing and research as well as those interested in joining the public sector or are engaged in the non-profit sector.

Publications[edit]

Somali Public Agenda was founded to become a voice for the public and put citizens’ views and ideas on the policymaking tables so that they make sound policy decisions that improve the lives of citizens. SPA has been successful in producing balanced and evidence-based analysis and research in the past years. Over 80 publications in the form of commentaries, governance briefs, policy papers, and research reports informed policymaking and enhanced citizens’ understanding of complex governance and service matters in Somalia.

You can check our four types of publications here:

  1. Research Reports here[12]
  2. Policy Papers here[13]
  3. Governance Briefs here[14]
  4. Commentaries here[15]


References[edit]

  1. ^ https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/role-45-democratization-and-governance-somalia-implications-and-considerations-way-forward-may-2023
  2. ^ "Somalia's opioid overdose: Young, female and addicted". Somali Public Agenda. 2022-12-27. Retrieved 2024-02-13. According to the research body, Somali Public Agenda, it has also led to the recent phenomenon of street gangs, known as "Ciyal Weero", which have been striking terror across Mogadishu.
  3. ^ https://somalipublicagenda.org/maamul-wanaag-2/
  4. ^ https://somalipublicagenda.org/adeeg-wanaag/
  5. ^ "Somali President: Civil Servants Mostly 'Ghost Staff' on Government Payroll". Voice of America. 2022-12-27. Retrieved 2024-02-13. Mahad Wasuge is executive director of Somali Public Agenda, a research institution focusing on governance. He says ghost workers should be removed from public service, which should be reformed.
  6. ^ Wanaag, Maamul. "Maamul Wanaag". Google Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  7. ^ "Maamul Wanaag on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  8. ^ Wanaag, Adeeg. "Adeeg Wanaag". Google Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  9. ^ "Adeeg Wanaag on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  10. ^ https://somalipublicagenda.org/spa-policy-lab/
  11. ^ https://somalipublicagenda.org/center-for-learning-and-development/
  12. ^ https://somalipublicagenda.org/research-reports/
  13. ^ https://somalipublicagenda.org/policy-papers/
  14. ^ https://somalipublicagenda.org/governance-briefs/
  15. ^ https://somalipublicagenda.org/commentary/

External links[edit]

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