Heritage Institute for Policy Studies

The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS) is a think tank based in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Overview
The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan research center which aims to inform and influence public policy and practice through field-based research, informed analysis and innovative solutions in the form of reports, policy briefs and public debates.

Established in Mogadishu, Somalia in January 2013, the HIPS has begun writing reports and policy papers to advise the nascent Somali government, international organizations, and other local actors. In its first six months, HIPS has provided commentary and guidance on topics as diverse as educational opportunities in Somalia, displaced nationals, and domestic diplomatic initiatives in Kismayo and the self-declared state of Somaliland. Notable speakers include Asha Haji Elmi, Mohamed Nur "Tarzan" and Mohamed Ali Ameriko.

As part of its mission, the HIPS will also promote a culture of learning and research in Somalia. It aims to do so by launching a series of public libraries across the country, organizing summer book fairs and offering research courses and fellowships to postgraduate students and aspiring researchers.

HIPS is headed by Afyare Elmi.

Controversy
In 2013, the UN Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group alleged in a report that HIPS and its Director Abdi Aynte were complicit in financial mismanagement by Somali government officials. The Heritage Institute published an official response on its website, where it dismissed the allegations as false and suggested that the claims undermined the UN's commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity.

On July 27, 2023 a renowned SSC-Khatumo activist, Mohamoud Gaildon, urged SSC activists and leaders not to attend the Heritage Institute annual symposium in Djibouti scheduled for October. He cited the institute's track record on the Somaliland question, expressing concerns about its stance on the preservation of Somali unity and sovereignty. Gaildon also criticized Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, accusing him of being a key ally of Muse Bihi and providing support to Somaliland forces in Las Anod with ammunition and access to international arms markets.