Programs & Methods
STATELABS adopts a multifaceted programmatic approach to achieve its mission, translating its research and ideas into practical impact. The Institute’s programmatic focus can be summarized in several key areas of activity:
Policy Research & Analysis
At the heart of STATELABS’s work is rigorous policy research. The Institute designs and implements research projects that delve into its core thematic areas, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to generate actionable insights. This includes field studies, surveys, case studies, and comparative analyses. Each research project is geared toward addressing a specific policy question or development challenge, with findings compiled into reports, policy briefs, or working papers. By grounding recommendations in evidence, STATELABS ensures its outputs carry weight with policymakers and stakeholders.
Dialogue Forums & Public Engagement
STATELABS actively translates research into dialogue. It organizes forums, roundtable discussions, workshops, and conferences that bring together stakeholders to discuss research findings and debate policy options. These events provide a neutral space for frank, open, constructive exchange between different sectors – government, opposition, civil society, private sector, traditional elders, and international partners. Through facilitated discussions and town-hall style meetings, STATELABS’s dialogue initiatives help build mutual understanding and consensus on contentious issues. Public engagement is further fostered through media outreach, press briefings, and community consultations associated with the Institute’s projects.
Capacity Building & Training
Capacity Building and Training: To amplify its impact, STATELABS incorporates capacity-building components into its programs. This may involve training workshops for government officials on topics like evidence-based policymaking, decentralized planning, or leadership in governance. STATELABS also mentors young researchers and analysts, building local expertise in policy research methodologies. Training programs include digital governance, data literacy and the use of technology in evidence-based policy making.
Knowledge Dissemination & Advocacy
Ensuring that research findings reach the right audiences is a major programmatic focus. STATELABS produces user-friendly knowledge products (policy briefs, infographics, summary brochures) tailored for decision-makers and the general public. The Institute actively disseminates its research through online platforms, social media, and stakeholder networks. When appropriate, STATELABS engages in advocacy based on research results – for example, briefing parliamentarians on recommended legal reforms or campaigning for policy changes that enhance decentralization. The STATELABS prioritizes language accessibility by translating policy briefs, summaries, and other materials into Somali language to help address the communication gap between policy actors and broader public. While remaining non-partisan, STATELABS uses its intellectual output to constructively influence the public policy agenda in Somaliland.
Advisory Services & Pilot Projects
(Linking research to action) STATELABS often provides direct advisory services to government agencies, development partners, and community organizations. In some cases, the Institute helps design and pilot innovative solutions on the ground – such as a model decentralization scheme in a select region, or a new mechanism for citizen feedback in service delivery. These pilot initiatives serve as proof-of-concept projects that demonstrate the practical benefits of STATELABS’s recommendations. The lessons learned are documented and can be scaled up by the government or partners, thereby translating research into tangible improvements in governance and service provision.
Across all its programs, STATELABS emphasizes an iterative cycle of research, dialogue, action, and learning. Insights from one project inform the next, and stakeholders are kept engaged throughout the process, ensuring that STATELABS’s work remains relevant and responsive to Somaliland’s needs.
