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A new research center launched in Mogadishu

Somali institute for research and policy studies was launched on Tuesday in the capital Mogadishu to join a number of higher learning institutions that operate here as the city witnesses a revival of its fortunes.

The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS) is a researcher center which aims to inform and influence public policy and practice, say leaders of the new think tank during its launch in Mogadishu.

"The absence of meaning (sic) policy discourse and credible Somali voice that can articulate a national narrative have contributed to the plight of Somali people during two decades of civil war," Abdi Aynte, director of the institute said.

The research institute is the first of its kind to be launched and based in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Officials of the center say the institution will conduct a "field based research, informed analysis and innovative solutions in the form of reports, policy briefs and public debates".

Aynte said the Institute intends to fill the gap left by the lack of what he called credible Somali voice by enhancing the public's understanding of complex policy matters through research and analysis and by providing options to country's policymakers.

The Heritage Institute said as parts of its mission it will promote a "culture of learning and research" in Somalia by launching a series of public libraries across the country, organizing summer book fares and offering research courses and fellowships to postgraduate students and researchers.

Somalia's capital Mogadishu has lately been witnessing a resurgence of economic and social activities as a number of universities and institutions launched while businesses and construction has seen a boom as a result of the improved security in the seaside city.

Somali government has welcomed the launching of the research center.

The launch event was attended by Somali government officials, representatives from local universities, civil society institutions, business leaders as well as foreign diplomats in Mogadishu.

Xinhua, January 15, 2013

So what is the background on HIPS?
who is pulling the strings here

Talo alle udaa wrote:So what is the background on HIPS?
who is pulling the strings here

Ogaadeen

Somali intellectuals.

I love the name. Sounds like a knock off of one of the most conservative, premier think tanks, Heritage Foundation.

Sounds a little cliche. Somali-American trying to take a little of America there but in a gimmicky way. I thought there was already a well founded and applauded think tank CRD led by the Jabriil guy?

And if Aynte was going to come up with something at least he should have named it differently than the most hated conservative think tank in America the Heritage Foundation.

Republic,

CRD was never the same after the death of Yahye (AUN). Aynte is a cool guy but a major pusher of the AhluSheik group.

I would like to see a think tank which produces reports that are not the same old same old reports but offer differing, well researched positions even those that fly in the face of what others want for Somalia.

I met this white guy in 2000 who said that qabiil was no longer going to be the major force in Somalia but Islamism was the wave of the future. I didn't believe him but he said that the time for Islamists had come especially with the failure of the secularists post TNG. He still sticks to that assertion stating that the TFG and its progeny are simply a bump in the road towards Islamist Somalia and that the West would eventually have to accept that Islamists are going to be the ruling class and instead cherry pick whom among that block they can work with.

Relieved to hear nobody shouting HAG HAG HAG or some shit like that

This is good step,we need more like this to shape the public policy as well as raise the social/political awareness of the somali public opinion.Welcome HIPS and i am willing to join this Forum in the near future and contribute as much as i can.

I'm glad Aynte is spearheading this. My only question on this is how will the researchers best use their findings to influence policy?

TheblueNwhite wrote:I'm glad Aynte is spearheading this. My only question on this is how will the researchers best use their findings to influence policy?

Most likely be an independent non profit advisory platform to the different governmental institutions. Basically where you go to look for good ideas.

TheblueNwhite wrote:I'm glad Aynte is spearheading this. My only question on this is how will the researchers best use their findings to influence policy?

They hope to be a clearing house of data and commission surveys on social and political issues. For example, do opinion polls on public issues such as security, what issues should be priorities for the government. The only issue with any think tank is who funds it. You tend to be known for your ideological slant based on who funds you or buys your reports i,e, conservative think tanks are funded by conservatives etc. The real important data will be the public opinion stuff. No more rumor or perception driven policies. For example, the public could end up saying that they are against federalism and instead prefer a strong centralist authority which flies in the face of the assumption that devolved government and federalism has broad support.

Anything is possible I guess. We will just wait and see what HIPS pulls out of the bag.