Somali Public Agenda (SPA) has, in June 2026, launched Wada-hadal Qaran: Strengthening Evidence-Based National Dialogue and Cooperative Governance in Somalia, a new two-year initiative that seeks to strengthen evidence-informed public dialogue and civic engagement on governance issues through research, dialogue, capacity development, and public engagement. The project officially commenced on 15 June 2026 and will run until June 2028. The initiative is led by SPA in partnership with the Rift Valley Institute (RVI), which provides technical support and quality assurance for the programme’s research and dialogue activities.

Funded by the Civic Engagement Facility (CEF), the project comes at a critical moment for Somalia as the country continues to grapple with complex governance challenges, including political tensions surrounding elections and constitutional reforms, as well as longer-term issues related to federalism, intergovernmental relations, and public service delivery. Through a structured, Somali-led approach, the programme aims to create trusted civic spaces where policymakers, researchers, civil society, and other civic actors can engage constructively, exchange evidence, broaden public dialogue, and contribute informed perspectives to public policy discussions. 

Over the next two years, the project will deliver a comprehensive programme of activities across SPA’s core platforms, including SPA Research, SPA Dialogue, SPA Policy Lab, SPA Learning Lab, and SPA Podcasts. The initiative will produce in-depth research reports, policy papers, governance briefs, and expert commentaries to inform public debate and contribute to more evidence-informed decision-making. These research outputs will be complemented by national governance conferences, policy roundtables, research dissemination workshops, public forums, off-the-record discussions, online dialogues, podcasts, and multimedia products designed to broaden participation in public dialogue and make governance and policy discussions more accessible to wider audiences.

The initiative places strong emphasis on collaboration. SPA will work closely with Somali research institutions, civil society organisations, professional networks, and other civic actors to produce research, facilitate dialogue, and amplify diverse perspectives on governance challenges. The programme seeks to strengthen Somali ownership of civic dialogue on public policy while encouraging broader participation from women, youth, and traditionally underrepresented groups.

The project is expected to strengthen opportunities for civic participation in discussions on governance and public policy, increase the use of evidence in public dialogue and public policy discussions, enhance cooperation among Somali civic actors, researchers, and public institutions, and improve the capacity of Somali institutions and civic actors to address both immediate political challenges and longer-term governance priorities.

Through Wada-hadal Qaran, SPA reaffirms its commitment to generating high-quality research, facilitating inclusive dialogue, strengthening evidence-informed public debate so that a wider range of Somali voices can contribute to discussions on the country’s governance and public policy challenges.