From the moment I joined SPA, I was warmly welcomed by HR department officer Idil Omar, who introduced me to the organization and inducted me into different departments, including Sadio Ma’ow from the Finance department; Qamar Osman from the Procurement and Logistics department; Abas Mohamed and Jacfar Mohamed from the Communications department; Ruweida from the IT department; Ibrahim Osman from the SPA Learning Center; Ibrahim Jibril and Farhia from the Research department; Aweis Ahmed, head of SPA Policy Lab and host of Adeeg Wanaag Podcast; Mohamed Adam, head of SPA Forums; Farhan Isak, Deputy Executive Director and my supervisor during my internship period; and lastly, Mahad Wasuge, the Executive Director of SPA and host of Maamul Wanaag Podcast.

I spent the initial weeks in induction and closely engaged with both the operations office and the SPA Learning Lab. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, I gained exposure to key aspects of research, administration, and policy discussions, which significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth. Within that same time frame, I was approached by Idil Omar from the HR department, who suggested that I join the blog writing training course that was about to commence in the coming days. With a big, glowing smile on my face, I agreed to join the course to further enhance my blog writing skills, which was one of my career goals. There was an abundance of highly professional mentors throughout the blog training course, including Mr. Abdishakur Awil, Shakir Mohamed, Mowlid Ahmed, Sucad Jama, Fadumo Alimaad, and Mahad Wasuge. It was the first time I had seen a course structured in such a way that every mentor delivered their area of specialization in blog writing.

During my time at SPA, I learned a lot about teamwork, leadership, and how organizations are managed. Being part of SPA’s Forums helped me meet new people and get more involved in organizational activities. One of the highlights was working closely with Mr. Farhan Isak, Deputy Director of SPA, Director of the SPA Learning Lab, and my mentor, on a research project on Benadir Regional Administration taxation (BRA). This study allowed me to conduct interviews, collect valuable information, analyze data, and supporting the research team. My role included serving as a note-taker during focus group discussions and key informant interviews, as well as transcribing the FGDs.

Somali Public Agenda’s commitment to continuous learning was another highlight of my internship. I had access to an extensive collection of research reports, books, and online courses, which broadened my knowledge in areas such as governance, public administration, and policy research. Although my time at SPA was brief, I took full advantage of these resources to strengthen my research and analytical skills. I also had the opportunity to network and interact with different personalities within SPA and externally. This experience also helped me build confidence in engaging in intellectual discussions and presenting my ideas effectively.