Nairobi, Kenya

The Center for African Family Studies (CAFS) is a regional collaborating centre of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its worldwide effort to improve the quality and scope of reproductive health. According to CAFS, advocacy has become a requisite tool for reproductive health and HIV and AIDS programme managers and service providers throughout Africa. As competition for scarce resources increases, advocacy skills become important tools in influencing the decision-making process regarding resource allocation.

This two-week course is designed to provide hands-on experience in designing, developing and setting indicators for monitoring and evaluating an advocacy campaign and strategy that aims to influence policy change.

The course aims to focus on the following:

• identifying problems, policy issues, and solutions;
• setting advocacy goals and objectives;
• identifying and researching audiences;
• developing and delivering advocacy messages;
• using data to advocate for health policy development and planning;
• formal and informal decision-making processes;
• building alliances, networks, and coalitions;
• self-development skills;
• effective presentations;
• resources mobilisation; and
• monitoring and evaluating advocacy efforts.

The course is designed to give participants the skills to be able to:

• apply advocacy skills as a tool for change;
• increase the effective use of data as evidence and a tool for advocacy;
• design and implement a strategy for resource mobilization;
• encourage a democratic process by providing people with the skills to make their voices heard; and
• influence policy.

Course fee is US$1,500. Tuition covers administrative and instructional costs, text, materials, supplies, health insurance, field trips, airport pick-up and drop-off, and certificate awards. Airfare, transit expenses, and per diem are the responsibility of the sponsoring organisation. Participants are responsible for meeting the costs of their accommodation, meals, and other incidentals. CAFS recommends that all participants stay at the course venue—half board rate (covering bed, breakfast, and lunch) is approximately US$80.

Applicants should complete the course application form in detail and send to the address below.

Click here to download the application form in Word document format.

Click here to download the application form in PDF format.