SRA sits between two networks. On one side are Somali researchers, senior and junior. On the other are the institutions that need research: government ministries, UN agencies and businesses. SRA’s job is to connect them. When the Ministry of Planning wanted young researchers, it came to SRA.
Researchers
- Senior and junior researchers
- Guests of the Cilmi iyo Cod podcast
- Authors in our journal, HAJOS
- Enumerators across Somalia
Institutions
- Federal and state ministries
- UN agencies and NGOs
- Banks, telecoms and other businesses
- Universities and hospitals
The opportunity
The Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development launched a platform to bring young researchers closer to government. Its aim: give early-career researchers a chance to present policy-relevant evidence to decision makers, receive feedback, and compete for small research grants for two of them, who would also present at the Ministry’s M&E conference.
The Ministry knew that SRA keeps a pool of senior and junior researchers, so it asked SRA to put junior researchers forward.
How SRA delivered
Request. The Ministry’s M&E Department asked SRA for junior researchers.
Match. SRA selected researchers from its pool, most of them Cilmi iyo Cod guests, whose work fitted the Ministry’s priorities.
Submit. Six junior researchers, four men and two women, from several universities, entered the competition.
Present. Four were shortlisted, including both women, to present to officials, academics and partners.
The result
Every researcher in the competition came from SRA’s network, so the two research grants will go to SRA researchers. Both the Ministry and the researchers thanked SRA for its work.
Why it matters
For young researchers
A direct route to decision makers: their evidence is heard by government, they get feedback, and they gain visibility and support for their next study.
For government and partners
A quick, trusted way to find capable researchers with ready evidence on national priorities, from health to governance.
Need researchers, a study or an evaluation? SRA connects ministries, UN agencies and businesses with the right researchers.