This course is meant primarily for representatitves of NGOs and community based organisations, and it aims at developing and improving their skills in the areas of advocacy and influencing policy development. Participants will acquire basic notions of advocacy campaign management, they will learn to identify stakeholders and set up communication channels with them. During the training, we will help civil society organisations develop plans for advocacy, lobbying and influencing government policy.

The post Advocacy Skills first appeared on The Advocacy and Policy Institute (API).

This training for advanced civil society advocates will enable participants to study this popular subject in depth and in an atmosphere conducive to reflection and analysis. In this intensive course we aim at applying general notions to the current Cambodian context and critically engaging participants through presentations, case studies, interactive group work as well as by sharing insights and experience.

The post Advanced Advocacy first appeared on The Advocacy and Policy Institute (API).

In this course, we are focusing on the distinction between lobbying and advocacy, we define the role of a lobbyist, we analyse stakeholders and power relations, and we develop a strategic communication plan. We also learn how to draft a talking point, a briefing note and a position paper, how to arrange a meeting with government representatives, and how to develop lobbying plans, methods and tools.

The post Lobby Skills first appeared on The Advocacy and Policy Institute (API).

This training focuses on the main concepts, skills and attitudes grassroots advocates should possess. By the end of the course, participants will become convincing when explaining their issues related to local services and will understand the roles of relevant stakeholders as spelled out in relevant local democratic development plans, laws and policies. Together, we will learn about methods and strategies for advocating at the sub-national level, we will develop advocacy plans and learn how to monitor advocacy actions.

The post Grassroots Advocacy Training first appeared on The Advocacy and Policy Institute (API).

The main goal of this course is to build capacity for advocates to better engage in the strategic policy dialogues, especially in the formulation and the implementation of policies and strategies. The training sessions are designed and conducted to answer questions like: Why do policies, policy implementation practices and gaps in policies matter at all? What are the priorities, problems and solutions related to a certain, concrete policy? Who are the key stakeholders involved in or affected by that policy? How to design an advocacy action plan for addressing the identified issues? What are the main concepts, frameworks, techniques, principles, and best practices used in advocacy? How to debate on critical issues, develop advocacy messages, and prepare advocacy briefing papers for policy makers, the media and the general public? How to develop tools for monitoring the results of the advocacy campaigns, especially the results of meetings with government officials? Which individual and interpersonal skills, which networks, which teambuilding measures are relevant for advocacy, and how to develop good leadership?

The post Public Policy Analysis first appeared on The Advocacy and Policy Institute (API).

Public officials currently still have a limited understanding of the right to access public information. Misconceptions about this topic are still widespread, generally being only based on superficial coverage during television and radio programmes or on social media. This training aims to build the capacity of sub-national government officials and local councillors on the key contents of the draft for an A2I law and other relevant legislation, as well as on the guidelines to be implemented in the field of information management and disclosure to support the open government initiative. During the course, our trainers will explain the positive impact of information release, and participants will share their experience and their current practices of information disclosure. As a result, they will become familiar with their roles and duties in disclosing information, the procedures of requesting and supplying information, the concept of confidential information, the complaint mechanisms available, and the sanctions the new draft law stipulates for non-compliance and failure to disclose public information. The course also aims at teaching public officials how to manage information in insightful ways, using modern technology.

The post Advocacy Expert Training first appeared on The Advocacy and Policy Institute (API).