Governance

Governance Research and Advisory

Evidence for Effective, Accountable and Inclusive Institutions

Somali Researchers Association (SRA) provides research, evaluation, institutional assessment and policy-advisory services to organisations working to strengthen governance in Somalia.

We support government institutions, development partners and civil society organisations to understand governance challenges, assess institutional performance, evaluate programmes and develop practical recommendations.

Our work considers Somalia’s political, social and institutional context, including federal and local governance arrangements, public-service capacity, citizen participation, accountability and equitable service delivery.

Our Governance Research Areas

SRA can support research and assessments in areas including:

  • Public administration and institutional development
  • Federalism and intergovernmental relations
  • Decentralisation and local governance
  • Public-service delivery
  • Institutional capacity and organisational performance
  • Transparency and accountability
  • Public financial management
  • Rule of law and access to justice
  • Citizen participation and social accountability
  • Civil society and civic engagement
  • Peacebuilding, stabilisation and social cohesion
  • Elections and democratic participation
  • Anti-corruption systems and institutional integrity
  • Human rights and inclusion
  • Digital governance and public-data systems
  • Gender, youth and marginalised-group participation

How We Support Governance Programmes

Governance and Institutional Assessments

SRA assesses the structures, systems and capacities of public institutions and programmes. Assessments may examine mandates, staffing, coordination, decision-making, accountability, resources and service-delivery performance.

Citizen Perception and Satisfaction Research

We conduct surveys and consultations to understand citizens’ experiences and perceptions of public institutions and services. These studies can examine accessibility, responsiveness, trust, fairness, participation and satisfaction.

Programme Monitoring and Evaluation

SRA supports baseline studies, mid-term reviews, final evaluations and third-party monitoring of governance, public-administration, justice, peacebuilding and institutional-strengthening programmes.

Policy and Regulatory Research

We analyse existing policies, laws, strategies and institutional arrangements to identify gaps, overlaps and implementation challenges. We also support stakeholder consultation and the development of evidence-informed policy options.

Political-Economy and Stakeholder Analysis

SRA examines the formal and informal factors that influence institutions, decisions and programme implementation. This helps clients understand stakeholder interests, relationships, incentives, risks and opportunities for reform.

Capacity and Systems Assessment

We assess organisational systems, staff capacity, coordination arrangements and operational procedures. Findings can inform institutional-development plans, training programmes and management reforms.

Our Methods

Depending on the assignment, SRA may use:

  • Public perception and citizen-satisfaction surveys
  • Institutional and organisational assessments
  • Key informant interviews
  • Focus group discussions
  • Stakeholder and political-economy analysis
  • Policy, legal and document reviews
  • Process and service-delivery mapping
  • Administrative-data analysis
  • Community consultations
  • Case studies and comparative analysis
  • Validation workshops and policy dialogues

Governance research is conducted using politically neutral, conflict-sensitive and inclusive methods. SRA protects confidentiality, explains the limitations of available evidence and seeks to represent different stakeholder perspectives fairly.

Typical Deliverables

Our governance assignments may produce:

  • Governance and institutional-assessment reports
  • Baseline, mid-term and final evaluation reports
  • Citizen-perception and satisfaction studies
  • Political-economy and stakeholder analyses
  • Policy and regulatory reviews
  • Institutional capacity-development plans
  • Public-service delivery assessments
  • Governance scorecards and dashboards
  • Policy briefs and decision-maker presentations
  • Practical reform and implementation recommendations

Local Knowledge and Nationwide Reach

SRA combines governance research expertise with a nationwide field network. Our locally recruited researchers and enumerators understand community structures, local institutions, languages and operating conditions in different parts of Somalia.

This enables us to engage government representatives, civil society organisations, community leaders and citizens at national, state, district and community levels.

Work With SRA

Whether you need an institutional assessment, citizen-perception survey, governance programme evaluation, political-economy analysis or policy review, SRA can provide practical and context-sensitive research support.

Contact SRA to discuss your governance research and advisory requirements.