
Sababi is a research institute founded in Somaliland in 2022. Our goal is to improve the quality of research conducted in understudied areas of the Horn of Africa and East Africa. We approach this goal from three main directions:
Delivering quality research and data collection services
We conduct research on behalf of both academics and international development organizations. Our work in the development sector includes quasi-experimental impact evaluations, highly contextual qualitative studies, and everything in between. Our more scholarly work is primarily social scientific. In all our research, we are committed to producing contextually-nuanced, high-quality research. We specialize in developing creative approaches to data collection challenges and measuring latent, socially-stigmatized, or otherwise difficult-to-measure outcomes. We bring years of experience conducting primary data collection in the region, a background in survey design, and a team of experienced local researchers to ensure we collect the highest-quality data possible.
Improving the information ecosystem
The context in which we work can best be described as “data scarce.” Sababi is committed to improving the information ecosystem that we operate in by collecting and publishing new data, and collating or improving access to information that is not yet digitized, assembled, translated, or publicly available. We advocate for the publication of data and research that is held privately and we work with governments and international organizations to collect new sources of administrative data that serve both governmental and research purposes. Using our networks of researchers, policymakers, media personnel, and development practitioners, Sababi also aims to promote primary and secondary data collection in regions where accessibility is a challenge.
Building local and international research capacity
Collectively, the Sababi team has managed more than 100 research, evaluation, and data-collection initiatives. We work with full-time researchers and have spent years building their their capacity to collect data, perform quality control, and manage projects. We continue to build local capacity in this way and through active collaboration with local researchers with topical expertise. We also use our experience to support other local researchers to develop skills necessary for high-quality data collection. Finally, we aim to build interest in working in the region among international researchers through collaboration, publishing descriptive research to motivate theorizing by specialists, and through academic outreach and engagement.