Anisa and Mohamed work at the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and international cooperation (MOPEDIC) in Garowe, Puntland. Having both graduated with Bachelor degrees in statistics, they subsequently chose to pursue a Master’s degree in the same field.

Mohamed explained that his passion in particular was driven by the fact that “in Somalia there is a greater demand of statisticians equipped with suitable knowledge”. When they embarked on their master’s project, they both decided to use data from the Somali Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS).

The SHDS, conducted between 2018 and 2019, marked the first time such data has been produced in the history of Somalia. It provided, and provides still, information required by policy- and decision-makers, and all other relevant stakeholders, to make evidence-based programme and policy decisions that deliver effective services to Somalis.

Anisa and Mohamed, explained that the SHDS is the most updated source and the only dataset they could have used for their projects: most importantly, it gave them all the variables they needed to conduct their analyses.

The two students both chose to focus on factors affecting children under the age of five: mortality and malnutrition, respectively. Mohamed explained that the main reason for choosing malnutrition among this group was because “malnutrition is a major health issue amongst Somali children, as it is an underlying factor and has been ranked among the top 10 causes of under-five mortality in Somalia (WHO, 2019). In addition, he says “there were no other studies that had found out what the determinants of child malnutrition are in Somalia”.

They both wish to further develop in their statistical careers and hope that wish to see more young Somali professionals and students enter the statistical field.

While Mohamed is waiting for his paper to be published, Anisa’s paper was recently published in the Tanzania Journal of Development Studies. They both wish to further develop in their statistical careers and hope that wish to see more young Somali professionals and students enter the statistical field.

Anisa shares her advice to young Somali professionals and students: “The main reason for producing SHDS is not only for policy-makers to aid them in their planning and decision-making, it can also help students. I advise students to use SHDS to help them find more information and data on the topic they want to pursue, I know first-hand that it can help them very much.

Mohamed wishes to encourage students and young professionals to improve their skills and focus on their education, and to be part of the rebuilding and development of Somalia.