A mind for the nation?

By Liban Obsiye* & Abdullahi Warfa** Jan. 16, 2013

It was a pleasure to watch the launch of the new Somali think tank, the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies, in Mogadishu yesterday. The great and good gathered and some fantastic speeches were given. Is this not always the case in Somali meetings? Well yes, but this time the hope is that, it will not be politicians speaking but nationalists with ideas, thoughts and genuine policy contributions to make without either being an opposition seeking power or government desperately holding on to it. Despite some MP’s  speaking at the opening ceremony, the  think tank founders were adamant that it will be an independent body for thought, debate, education and a vehicle for influencing  policy makers at all levels. What makes this more unique than just been the first think tank in Somalia is that it aims to promote a Somali narrative and communicate a Somali led agenda argued Abdi Aynte, one of its key founding members and current Director.

While think tanks are a million a dozen globally, in Somalia the creation of the first is a revolution. For the first time, the hope is, ideas can take the place of nepotism, false knowledge and poor policy planning and advice provided by incompetent, ill-educated Political appointees in oversized suits. The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies is an enormous name and can be ridiculed as it attempts to share a purpose, goal and even the claim to teach, as part of its name (Policy Studies) suggests, with the likes of the world’s best Policy teaching institutions such as Bristol University and the LSE in England and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in America.  However, its ambitions with little funding and no apparent government links is breath taking and ought to be welcomed by all interested in the development of Somalia.Continued