Governance & Structure
STATELABS’s internal governance and organizational structure are designed to ensure strong leadership, accountability, and effective management. The Institute is governed by a Board of Directors (or Trustees) that provides strategic direction and oversight. The Board is composed of respected professionals and academics with expertise in governance, public policy, and development, including representation from both Somaliland and the international arena. This governing body meets regularly to review STATELABS’s strategy, financial health, and program performance, thereby ensuring the Institute remains true to its mission and maintains high standards of operation.
Day-to-day management of STATELABS is entrusted to an Executive Director (or Chief Executive) who leads the Institute’s staff and programs. The Executive Director, appointed by the Board, is responsible for executing STATELABS’s strategic plan, overseeing research quality, managing partnerships, and ensuring smooth administration. Under the Executive Director, STATELABS is organized into functional units or departments that reflect its core work areas – for example, Research Department, Programs/Projects Department, and Operations/Finance. Within the research team, staff may be further assigned to thematic focal areas (governance, decentralization, etc.), led by senior researchers or program managers.
Organizational Structure
Key elements of STATELABS’s structure include
Research Fellows and Analysts
Advisory Council (if applicable)
Operations and Support Staff
Policies & Accountability
Conflict of interest
Data Ethics
Quality Assurance
Financial Controls
Reporting to Partners
The governance framework emphasizes checks and balances: the Board governs at the strategic level, management runs the organization day-to-day, and independent audits or evaluations are conducted as needed. This structure allows STATELABS to be both accountable and agile – accountable through oversight mechanisms, and agile in deploying its team to respond to emerging governance issues. Importantly, STATELABS’s structure and size are continually assessed to ensure it remains fit for purpose, scaling up expertise or adjusting roles as the Institute grows and its portfolio expands.
