Today, I was formally conferred with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics at the University of Glasgow.
Deepest gratitude to my supervisors—Dr. Arjunan Subramanian, Professor Anwen Zhang, and Dr. Alberto Ciancio—for their exceptional guidance throughout this rigorous journey.
My PhD research examined the role of remittances in fragile and conflict-affected settings, using Somalia as a case study, drawing on nationally representative household surveys, high-frequency administrative data and advanced econometric techniques.
The journey has been both challenging and transformative, marked by setbacks and breakthroughs that deepened my analytical skills and reinforced the value of evidence-informed policymaking in fragile contexts.
My sincere appreciation goes to my family, friends, and colleagues for their unwavering support.
Alxamdulillaah for this milestone—and thanks to all who contributed to it. Onward to new horizons of research, service and impact.
We launched the Somalia Household Shocks & Responses Report, highlighting 36% were impacted by food price inflation, 35% by droughts, & 11% by livestock losses. The report underscores the importance of data utilization & development of research-driven policies to build resilience
I am glad to announce that @NBS_Somalia has produced the first Joint Monitoring Report #JMR under the #FSCPP on Food Security and Nutrition!
This milestone marks a significant step towards enhancing our understanding and response to food security challenges in the region.
#FSCPP
Quality Data is key for evidence based planning. Thank you @SNBS, DG @SharmarkeFarah and team for discussion and engagement. We are looking forward to our continued partnership !
@_shakurdiriye@EdinburghUni congratulations Diriye, infact EO for agriculture (livestock)is on the agenda for @NBS_Somalia in collaboration with other gov. stakeholders
“We used to have nothing in winter, depending only on rain to grow low-yield summer crops. Now that we are trained in #Agricultural best practices, we can provide for our families by selling the surplus to nearby markets,” Omer Osman Medani, a member of a Farmer Field School.
"Thrilled to share that OpenStreetMap Somalia is collaborating with the National Bureau of Statistics Somalia for an upcoming event focused on leveraging data and partnerships for national development. Join us in driving change.
#powerofdata@NBS_Somalia
Thrilled with @UNStats' decision to create a new statistical domain on food security & nutrition! This pivotal decision empowers government statistical agencies, @FAO, @UNICEF, @WHO, and members, including Somalia, to bolster efforts in tracking and improving food security and nutrition data. Food security & nutrition is essential for our nation's development, this move underscores the critical role of reliable statistics in making informed decisions and policies. #FoodSecurity #NutritionStats #SomaliaProgress #UN55SC
@FAOSomalia@unicefsomalia@WHOSom
@gatien_falc@CGIAR@CIMMYT It seems that the agroecology initiative is paying off despite the heavy drought.
interested to see the end of the success story.
I am thrilled to witness the incredible progress in statistics in Somalia under the leadership of @SharmarkeFarah. Kudos to the DG for driving this transformative journey. The power of data is truly unlocking new horizons for sustainable development in Somalia!
#data4development
Participating as a panellist in the Power of Data Side Event, I'm proud to highlight the remarkable rise in the profile of statistics in Somalia over the past three years, thanks to concerted efforts by @NBS_Somalia and partners. The Power of Data Initiative injects crucial momentum into @NBS_Somalia's efforts to elevate our statistical capabilities.
With the Power of Data Initiative gaining momentum, we're poised to accelerate these efforts further. This month, we're convening a national convention, with H.E. @SalahJama opening and championing the event. With participation from government MDAs and partners, this initiative holds immense promise for Somalia. It will provide the necessary impetus to boost our statistical capabilities, crucial for implementing the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS). Specifically, it will propel forward initiatives like the planned population and housing census, agriculture statistics enhancement, MICS, and bolster the coordination and analysis of administrative data.
Together, let's harness the power of data to drive sustainable development and progress in Somalia. #StatisticsAdvocacy #NSDS #DataForDevelopment
@Data4SDGs@UNDPSomalia@unicefsomalia@UNFPA_SOMALIA@FAOSomalia
Transferring all GIS activities to Somalia's National Bureau of Statistics is a strategic move that promises significant benefits for the nation. It streamlines data coordination, enhances resource allocation, promotes transparency, and facilitates international collaboration.
🌍 The productive two-day conference on GIS and Mapping for development in Somalia has concluded with significant achievements and commitments!
🔍 Stakeholders unanimously acknowledged the paramount importance of GIS for development, recognising its potential to drive progress and improve decision-making processes.
💼 Government MDAs including @MoH_Somalia, @SoDMA_Somalia, @MoIFARSomalia, and UN agencies including @FAOSomalia, @UNFPA_SOMALIA, @UNHabitat_Som, @WHOSom, @IOM_Somalia, @OCHASom, made enlightening presentations on their GIS efforts. Academic institutions, private data producers and individual experts were represented in panel discussions. It was eye-opening to witness the breadth and depth of work already underway.
🤝 This was the first time many saw each other's work, and all were pleasantly surprised by the wealth of available data. It highlighted the need for coordination and data sharing among stakeholders to maximise the impact of GIS initiatives.
📈 There was an en masse commitment to support the government's GIS centre initiative and the development of Somalia's first base map since the 1980s. I thank Minister @HonBeenebeene for the leadership that enabled the conference, and I would also like to extend my appreciation to @NBS_Somalia GIS Unit for their expert organisation of the conference.
👏 Special thanks to @SwissEmbassyKE for supporting this productive conference and all the participants for their active engagement and contributions.
💬 Moving forward, @NBS_Somalia reaffirms its commitment to the journey towards a unified approach to GIS in Somalia. With a centralised GIS centre scheduled for launch in March 2024, we are poised to collaborate, share data, and build a stronger, more unified Somalia through the power of GIS.
📌 Key takeaways:
- Importance and use of GIS in development and humanitarian interventions
- Recognition of fragmented and siloed GIS efforts
- Emphasis on coordination and data sharing among stakeholders
- Establishment of GIS Center at SNBS for a unified approach and the national base map development.
Let's continue this momentum and work together towards a brighter future for Somalia! 🌟
#GISforDevelopment #SomaliaProgress
🌟 Exciting News! 🌍 The latest @WorldBank Global Statistical Performance Indicators (SPI) Report is out, showcasing monumental progress for Somalia! 🚀 From 19.6 in 2019 to a remarkable 48.4 in 2022, our SPI has soared by 146.94%, propelling us to the 39th spot in continental rankings - a leap from being 2nd to last in 2019! 📈
This incredible journey began with the amendment of the Somali Statistical Act in 2020, marking the establishment of the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics (@NBS_Somalia). This pivotal moment set the stage for a comprehensive turnaround in Somalia's statistical landscape, with an ambitious goal to reach the fifth quintile (80-100) by 2025. 🎯
The SPI growth reflects our steadfast commitment and the diligent efforts of the @NBS_Somalia team. It's a testament to the power of collective endeavour, underscoring the vital support and collaboration from our government's National Statistical System (NSS), Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), international donors, and partners. Together, we've embarked on a transformative journey, reinvigorating Somalia's statistical capabilities with the aim of providing accurate, timely, and reliable data for policy-making and development planning. 🤝
As we celebrate this milestone, our sights are set on the future. We eagerly anticipate the 2023 report, confident that our trajectory will lead us to exceed an SPI of 80 by 2025. 🌱
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved - your commitment, expertise, and partnership are shaping a brighter future for Somalia. Here's to continuing our journey towards excellence in statistical performance. Onwards and upwards! 🌟
#Somalia #SPI #StatisticalExcellence #Development #Partnership #Progress
@TheVillaSomalia@SomaliPM@mpf1somalia@AfDB_Group@IMF@SwissEmbassyKE@UKinSomalia@SwedeninSomalia@US2SOMALIA@UNDPSomalia@unicefsomalia@UNFPA_SOMALIA@UNWomen_Somalia@FAOSomalia@Data4SDGs
Access the full report and data explorer👇:
https://t.co/0BvdNG961P
https://t.co/qELnplY9zP
"Camels are not just animals in Somalia; they're a lifeline. 🐫 Adapting to arid lands, they offer milk, meat, & transport, sustaining nomadic lifestyles. Their economic role is profound, symbolizing wealth & driving trade. Truly, camels are the desert's treasure. #IYC2024"
In 2024, I invite you to join @FAO in observing the #YearofCamelids to commend these remarkable animals. #IYC2024 is an opportunity to raise awareness of the economic, social and cultural importance of camelids to livelihoods, food security and nutrition around the world.
it also helps in addressing the data gaps and weaknesses in the existing statistical system. additionally, the strategy enables evidence-based decision-making at both national and sub-national levels.
despite the challenges @NBS_Somalia faces in relation to data quality, coverage, timeliness, and availability. this national strategy provides a framework to overcome these challenges by setting clear objectives, defining priorities, and allocating resources effectively.