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Critical Choices: Assessing the Effects of Education and Civic Engagement on Somali Youths’ Propensity Towards Violence (Mercy Corps, 2016)

Understanding what works to reduce violence, including violent extremism, is a key priority for many policymakers. Despite this need, to date there is very little research evaluating the effects of development programs on violence reduction. To address this knowledge gap, Mercy Corps undertook a rigorous impact evaluation of a 5-year stability-focused youth program in Somalia known as the Somali Youth Leaders Initiative (SYLI).

The research compared the impact of two components of the SYLI program on youth propensity towards political violence: formal secondary education and civic engagement activities. Using survey data from Somaliland–where the program has been implemented the longest—the authors compared attitudes and reported violent behaviors among youth in the program and outside of it. In addition, they conducted in-depth interviews with teachers, community leaders, government officials and youth.

The study found that although the provision of secondary education through the SYLI program reduced the likelihood of youth participating in violence by 16%, it increased support for political violence by 11%. However, the combination of both secondary formal education and civic engagement through the SYLI program reduced the likelihood of youth both participating in (by 13%) and supporting (by 20%) political violence.

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“Voice of the voiceless”: Learning from SORADI’s project to strengthen accountability in Hargeisa (IAAAP Paper, 2018)

Citizens’ ability to seek accountability from Hargeisa Local Council is highly constrained, SORADI’s evidence-based, coalition-building model provides some clues as to what an effective approach might look like. Diverse, highly-networked, inclusive groups of citizens can work together to design and implement advocacy strategies, creating positive momentum for change. However, the development of capable, accountable and responsive authorities requires a step-change in the quality of the Councillors, who are responsible for leadership and oversight.

The paper draws on 22 key informant interviews who have been involved in the project, including members from both accountability fora.

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Baseline study on the working conditions of Somali women journalists (IMS, 2018)

The Baseline Study on the Working Conditions of Somali Women Journalists was conducted during September and October 2016, with
the aim of improving understanding of the conditions for female journalists in Somalia via substantive, actionable datasets. The study was initiated by the Somali Women Journalists (SWJ) Association in collaboration with IMS-Fojo, in recognition of the absence of a single, centralised body of data on the status of women in the journalism profession.

The collapse of the central government following the country’s prolonged civil war had devastating consequences for national infrastructure, media included. As Somalia begins to emerge from the ravages of civil war, the need for a comprehensive and gender inclusive media development strategy has been identified as an important component of the nation building process.

Accordingly, this study was designed to identify existing gender disparities affecting the working conditions for journalists. The study seeks to provide key stakeholders with a clear perspective on the status quo, and inform responses to gender imbalances in Somali journalism.

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Somali women’s political participation and leadership-evidence and opportunities (DFID research paper, 2017)

This report synthesises findings from an 11 month qualitative research project (August 2016 – June 2017), carried out by Social Development Direct and Forcier Consulting, and funded by the Research and Evidence Division (RED) within the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID).

The research aims to provide evidence on the principal enabling and constraining factors for Somali women’s participation and leadership in government and political structures, and offers insight on the strategies and circumstances under which Somali women have, and have not, accessed and influenced within these spaces.

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Digital Development: What is the role of international NGOs? ICT4D programmes and opportunities in the Horn, East and Central Africa (Oxfam paper 2017)

Development is going digital and INGOs like Oxfam have a vital convening role to play. This paper draws on ICT for Development in Oxfam’s programmes in the Horn, East and Central Africa to consider what this role is.  In order to realise the opportunities associated with the digital landscape, Oxfam will need to build internal and external capacity to implement ICT in programmes to enhance quality, accessibility, and efficiency.

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