EST. 2024

African Institute for
Research and Leadership.

Fostering Good Governance through Research and Leadership in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

Our Vision

To be a leading research institute that informs and influences policy and practice in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

Our Mission

To conduct rigorous research, foster leadership, and promote sustainable development by addressing political, social, and economic issues in the region.

Core Values

Integrity
Excellence
Impact
Inclusivity

Strategic Plan

Executive Summary

The African Institute of Research and Leadership (AIR) is a non-profit institute dedicated to fostering leadership and governance in Somalia through research, development, and innovation. This strategic plan outlines the goals and action steps for the next five years (2024-2029) to strengthen the institute’s impact in leadership and research, ensure financial sustainability, and foster partnerships.

Established in 2024 with headquarters in Mogadishu-Somalia, AIR aspires to develop systems and strategies to train and develop leaders of tomorrow and change makers in Somalia to influence political systems and contribute to peace building and stability of the country.

Strategic Context

Strengths

• High caliber of competent researchers
• Capacity building and training
• Strong Brand name
• Structured research programs and dissemination platforms
• Partners/collaborators (local/ international)

Weaknesses

• Inadequate Funding
• Low number of qualified staff
• Weak coordination and administrative systems
• Weak legal frameworks

Opportunities

• Supportive Government policies
• Sustained Research funding
• Adoption of innovative research and training programs
• National, Regional and International engagements
• Public good will
• Political good will

Threats

• Weak research coordination
• Political interference
• Loss of highly skilled human resource
• Social media negative publicity

Strategic Direction

Research and Innovation

To conduct quality research, engage in policy development and leadership studies to support evidence-based policymaking in Somalia.

Develop a five-year research agenda focusing on governance, socioeconomic development, and climate change.
Collaborate with local and international research institutions to co-author and publish at least five research papers per year.
Establish research fellowships and internship programs to build local research capacity.

Leadership Development

To develop leadership skills in public and private sectors for the transformation of lives and organizations.

Launch leadership-training programs targeting new and mid-level managers across Somalia.
Develop an online platform for leadership development, offering e-learning and mentoring opportunities.
Establish a Leadership Excellence Award to recognize outstanding leaders who promote good governance.

Institutional Governance and Capacity Building

To strengthen internal governance and ensure the efficient management of the institute’s resources.

Develop and enforce internal policies, procedures, and by-laws in alignment with the constitution.
Strengthen the role of the Assembly Committee and the Executive Committee.
Provide continuous professional development for staff members.

Financial Sustainability

To secure sustainable funding streams for the institute.

Diversify funding sources through partnerships, joint research proposals, fundraising, and donations.
Introduce a membership subscription model.
Develop a business model that leverages consulting services.

Public Engagement and Advocacy

To create platforms for public discussion and policy dialogue on leadership, governance, and citizenship.

Organize annual leadership summits and policy forums.
Build a strong media presence by regularly publishing thought leadership articles.
Foster community engagement by organizing local workshops.

Implementation Framework

AIR shall adopt a performance management framework to successfully implement its Strategic Plan. The framework shall provide a basis for setting of performance targets, evaluation and rewarding or sanctioning of performance.

The management team shall develop strategy implementation team to coordinate implementation and make progress reports on a quarterly basis. The directorates, departments will take responsibility in their functional areas and report on a monthly basis.

Our Board

Board members information coming soon.

African Institute for Research and Leadership.