The SPA Learning Lab (previously SPA Center for Learning and Development between August 2020 and February 2025) is a training and capacity development facility run by Somali Public Agenda (SPA). Its aim is to connect the civil servants, policy makers and non-profit sector workers with communities and provide administrations with the technical skills necessary to formulate and implement solutions for public service challenges. The SPA Learning Lab was established in August 2020 to help public and non-profit sectors better deliver social services.
Quality public policies and services cannot be implemented without an administrative cadre that can deliver them. The SPA Learning Lab offers short training courses to contribute to the building of competent administrative cadres that can deliver public policies and programmes to the community.
Moreover, the SPA Learning Lab offers training to Somali professionals who have desire and passion to join the public sector as well as professionals engaged in the civil service and non-profit sectors.
Based on the types of skills required, the SPALearning Lab utilizes its pool of network members, experts and fellows to help develop tailored training modules and train public servants as well as civic institutions and youth with the necessary skills. Modules and syllabi for each of the professional training programmes are developed and delivered by experts.
The thematic areas for the professional training programmes are:
Deputy Director & SPA Learning Lab Director
Communications & Learning Coordinator
It was incredibly significant for us to take advantage of this opportunity. The most important thing is to find the motivation to overcome fear. The mentorship session was extremely valuable for us. Our mentors inspired and encouraged us.
The learning method during this course was amazing. I was among those who were very afraid of writing. Before this training, my biggest challenge was erasing everything I wrote due to a lack of confidence. But now, I have written three blogs, which means a lot to me. Thank you, SPA.
Over the past ten years of my professional work, I’ve observed that one of the biggest challenges Somali youth faces is limited writing skills. They need training to be able to conduct research and produce written work. I am aware that in 2020, Somali Public Agenda began offering training for Somali youth on writing and research. I want to encourage Somali Public Agenda to continue this important work—it is vital not only for young people but for the country as a whole.
In January 2022, my arrival coincided with a blog writing and personal branding training organized by Somali Public Agenda’s Center for Learning and Development. Upon hearing the news of the training, I registered my interest and requested to be given an opportunity. Little did I know that I was already counted in. The training was interesting. The lessons were great. We attended the class twice a week; every Saturday, lessons were given, and every Thursday, we had the opportunity to meet with a professional blogger. Everything about the course was very helpful, and I was able to publish my first blog post. In a short time, I was able to generate stories and write about them. It was like the giant writer in me was awoken.
Somali Public Agenda is a non-profit public policy and administration research organization based in Mogadishu. Its aim is to advance understanding and improvement of public administration and public services in Somalia through evidence-based research and analysis.
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