August 3, 2026
August 3, 2026
The year 2025 marked a turning point in my life. After spending seven years studying and working in Türkiye, I returned home to Somalia. I spent nearly five months searching for a job before my sister told me about the Somali Public Agenda (SPA), an organization she had previously visited. Curious to learn more, I explored the SPA website and its Facebook page. That simple act of curiosity ended up changing the course of my year.
I applied to the SPA Learning Lab internship programme and went through a series of writing assessments, a practical computer skills test, and an interview. Soon afterward, I received a congratulatory email informing me that I had been selected for the SPA Internship Programme. I was overjoyed.
A few days later, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across an announcement for a blog-writing training programme. I applied on 4 January and was accepted shortly afterwards. Those two emails marked a fresh start to 2026, opening new opportunities to develop my skills and continue learning. Before officially beginning my internship, I completed the blog-writing course, which gave me a valuable foundation for the work ahead.
My first two weeks were dedicated to getting to know the team, learning the organisation’s culture, and settling into my new role. Ibrahim Osman, Director of the SPA Learning Lab; Abdiaziz Hussein, a former intern; and Idil Omar from Human Resources welcomed me warmly. Idil introduced me to colleagues across the organisation, including Mahad Wasuge, Executive Director of SPA and host of the Maamul Wanaag Podcast; Farhan Isak Yusuf, Deputy Executive Director; Aweis Ahmed, Director of the SPA Policy Lab and host of the Adeeg Wanaag Podcast; Farhia Mohamud and Ibrahim Jibril from the Research Department; Sadia Ma’ow from Finance; Hafsa Abdirahman from Procurement and Logistics; Ruweida Shidane from IT; and Abukar Abdiwahab from Communications.
Although my internship lasted only three months, it became an intensive period of academic and professional growth. Through my own commitment and the resources available at the SPA Learning Lab, I completed courses in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, project management fundamentals, Microsoft 365 fundamentals, climate and social justice, and effective note-taking. These courses strengthened both my theoretical understanding and practical skills, enabling me to contribute more effectively to meeting documentation, research support, and library management.
SPA’s organisational culture left a lasting impression on me. Every month, a staff member delivers a book presentation that encourages meaningful discussion and the exchange of ideas. Even more inspiring was the collaborative environment, where colleagues consistently supported, respected, and learned from one another.
During my internship, I worked closely with the Research Department on several ongoing projects. My responsibilities included collecting data through key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs), transcribing interviews, and supporting research analysis. One project focused on the value of the Somali shilling, for which I conducted interviews in Bakara Market and transcribed the conversations. I also supported SPA Dialogue through its monthly forums by assisting with event organisation, coordinating logistics, and taking detailed meeting notes.
In addition, I contributed to the SPA Polls programme by supporting a multi-stakeholder convening on digital harms in Somalia. The initiative examined the social and political impacts of digital harms while exploring appropriate policy and regulatory responses.
One of the most memorable aspects of my internship was SPA’s highly supportive, female-led operations team. Working alongside accomplished women created an environment where women’s voices were genuinely valued and amplified. As a young woman beginning my professional career in Somalia, this atmosphere of encouragement and empowerment meant more to me than words can fully express.
SPA genuinely fosters a culture of continuous learning and professional development. Through access to learning resources, mentorship, and an intellectually stimulating work environment, the organisation made it easy for me to build new skills, gain confidence, and grow professionally.
My internship journey at SPA was shaped by the warmth, generosity, and guidance of the entire team—from entry-level colleagues to the Executive Director. Everyone welcomed me wholeheartedly, and for that reason, my gratitude belongs to the organisation as a whole rather than to any one individual. Every colleague contributed to my professional growth in meaningful ways. I am deeply grateful for the trust, mentorship, and knowledge they shared with me, and above all, for showing me what professionalism, collaboration, and community-driven work truly look like.
What made my internship even more meaningful was receiving a phone call just one day after it concluded, offering me a full-time position at SPA. It was one of the proudest and most rewarding moments of my professional journey. I gladly accepted the offer and deeply appreciate the trust and confidence that SPA has placed in me. I look forward to continuing my professional journey with the organisation and contributing to its mission of advancing evidence-based public policy and better governance in Somalia.
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, policy and service design, and training.
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What an inspiring and well-written reflection. Your journey demonstrates how curiosity, perseverance, and a commitment to continuous learning can open remarkable opportunities. Wishing you continued success as you grow professionally and contribute to SPA’s important work. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement!