Arusha, Tanzania

"Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) now appreciate that service delivery work will not on its own engender a just and equitable society. Long term change in the condition of the poor requires that governments make concerted efforts to address the structural constraints to poverty eradication and to the fulfilment of peoples’ rights more generally. Consequently, the attainment of these two broad goals requires an enabling political, economic and social development environment. "

According to the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation, CSOs have a unique opportunity to propose practical policy and programme solutions - through evidence-based research, programmes and policy advocacy work - to problems of poverty and the promotion of human rights. However, an effective advocacy role places new demands on CSOs in terms of relevant knowledge, skills and the spaces available to engage strategically with governments and other development actors. This course therefore aims to develop the capacities of development practitioners in policy advocacy work through deepening their understanding of the public policy making process, enhancing their capability to engage with this process at national, regional and global levels.

The overall objective of this course is to equip civil society organisations and other actors with the skills necessary for influencing public policy effectively to achieve good governance and poverty reduction.


Course Content:

• Advocacy definitions and concepts
• The policy-making context
• Understanding public policy-making
• Policy analysis: importance, budget analysis, and gender analysis
• Advocacy tools: research, communication, coalition building, monitoring, evaluation, and organisational capacity building
• Practical advocacy strategy development

This course targets middle and senior level staff in civil society and other organisations interested in building their capacity for public policy advocacy.

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Fees (including tuition and full board):
Single room US$ 980

Shared double US$ 830.

Click here to apply online.

Click here to download application form in PDF format.