West Africa Civil Society Institute wacsi.org

Advanced Policy Advocacy and Engagement

Application deadline: August 1, 2013

This course gives participants a thorough understanding of theories of change and how to influence processes in their own context to achieve social, political and policy change. Participants will build on existing skills to help plan and deliver effective advocacy strategies and build capacity and confidence in the ways in which relate to different audiences. Participants will also have a more thorough understanding of power dynamics and the operating space for civil society.

This particular course has been designed to raise awareness of the various aspects of challenges of civil society actors in conducting effective policy advocacy. The course will help participants to sharpen their vision, language and tools to advance the respective goals of their organization’s and as well enhance their individual skills in policy advocacy and engagement.

Objectives of the course
At the end of the course participants will be able to:
• Gain insight into the public policy perspective central to framing policy advocacy-oriented communication tools;
• Understand how policy papers, as the main example of policy communication tools, can support an evidence-based decision-making process;
• Build insight into a strategic approach to planning an advocacy campaign
• Analyse and reflect upon strategies for increasing the likelihood of achieving desired policy influence in the writing and using of policy papers;
• Build insight into the structure and advocacy purposes of the two main types of policy papers: the policy study and policy brief;
• Compare the differences between traditional academic writing and applied real world policy writing;
•Deepen understanding through analysis of relevant policy case studies & real world policy papers;
• Determine a suitable focus and objective for an advocacy campaign targeting the local policy context;
• Build insight into the nature of persuasive advocacy messages.

Course Methodology
• Presentations
• Case studies
• Group work
• Discussions

Target audience
This course is intended for civil society practitioners who have experience in doing advocacy and would like to explore some of the more complex and challenging aspects in a more discursive context.

Course Fees

The course contribution fee is 800 Ghana Cedis (excluding bank transfer charges if applicable)

Participants will bear their transportation and accommodation costs.

Language of instruction: English

26-29 August, 2013

Apply online