Live Online Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course
Live online, instructor-led · next cohort Oct 26, 2026 · from USD 800
Laws, budgets and regulations shape the lives of the communities that NGOs, associations and businesses serve, yet good evidence alone rarely changes them. Influence comes from knowing who decides, when decisions are made and what persuades them. Across five days, participants build that understanding step by step. Sessions cover problem and solution trees, power mapping and stakeholder analysis, advocacy theories of change, the policy and budget cycle, and SMART advocacy objectives. You learn to turn research into policy briefs, position papers and memoranda for parliamentary committees and public participation forums.
The second half focuses on influence in practice: lobbying meetings with officials and legislators, media and digital campaigning, coalition and network building, and partnerships with government, the private sector and development partners. You also manage advocacy risk and track results using outcome harvesting and policy influence logs. Advocacy and policy officers, NGO and faith-based programme managers, government relations staff, trade association executives and researchers who want their findings used will gain most. Afterwards you can produce a costed advocacy strategy for a real issue. Classroom, online and in-house formats all carry a CPD-accredited certificate.
At a Glance
How Live Online Training Works
Live online training, led by a trainer in real time, for participants anywhere.
More about live online training →- Format
- Live online, instructor-led
- Duration
- Mon - Fri (5 Days)
- Fee
- USD 800 (KES 80,000)
- Next start dates
- Oct 26, 2026, Nov 23, 2026, Dec 21, 2026
- Certificate
- Certificate of Completion
- What you need
- A computer with a reliable internet connection, a webcam and a headset
About this course
Policy decisions on health financing, land, climate, social protection, trade and service delivery are being made constantly at local, national and regional levels. Organisations that understand those processes and engage early can shape the outcome; those that arrive with a statement after the decision has been made usually cannot. Effective advocacy today blends evidence, relationships, timing and public pressure, and increasingly depends on working through alliances rather than alone.
The Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course takes participants from issue analysis to a complete advocacy plan. Early sessions define the problem, identify targets and influencers, and set out a theory of change. Participants then develop evidence and messages for different audiences, practise direct engagement with policymakers, and explore media and online campaigning. Partnership modules cover forming coalitions, negotiating shared positions, governing joint campaigns and collaborating with government and business without losing independence. The final day addresses monitoring, learning and adapting strategy as the political context shifts.
The approach is practical throughout. Participants work on a live advocacy issue from their own organisation, test messages through simulated meetings with decision-makers, and finish with a strategy, a policy brief outline and a coalition plan.
Training Objectives
At the end of the five days, participants should be able to:
- Analyse a policy problem and define realistic advocacy goals and objectives.
- Map power, decision-makers and influencers using stakeholder and power analysis tools.
- Develop an advocacy theory of change linked to the policy and budget cycle.
- Craft evidence-based messages and policy briefs for different audiences.
- Plan and conduct effective meetings with officials, legislators and other targets.
- Build and govern coalitions and partnerships around shared advocacy positions.
- Monitor advocacy progress and evaluate policy influence outcomes.
What you'll learn
Key Takeaways
Each participant completes the course with:
- A power map of the decision-makers and influencers on their chosen issue.
- An advocacy strategy with goal, objectives, targets, tactics and timeline.
- A message house and a one-page policy brief outline.
- A coalition plan setting out roles, governance and shared positions.
- An advocacy monitoring framework with practical indicators of influence.
Training Methodology
The course combines frameworks with plenty of rehearsal. Participants learn through:
- Work on a live advocacy issue chosen by each participant or team
- Simulated lobbying meetings and media interviews with feedback
- Case studies of advocacy and coalition campaigns from Africa and beyond
- Group exercises in power mapping and message testing
- Peer critique of strategies and policy briefs
Day 1: Advocacy Foundations and Issue Analysis
- Advocacy, lobbying, campaigning and policy influence compared
- Problem and solution trees for policy issues
- Understanding policy, legislative and budget processes
- Setting advocacy goals and SMART objectives
- Building an advocacy theory of change
- Exercise: framing a priority issue
Day 2: Power, Targets and Evidence
- Power analysis and the power cube
- Stakeholder and influence mapping
- Identifying primary and secondary targets
- Generating and packaging evidence for policymakers
- Writing policy briefs and position papers
- Practical: drafting a brief for a decision-maker
Day 3: Messaging, Lobbying and Public Campaigning
- Message development for different audiences
- Planning and conducting lobbying meetings
- Engaging parliamentary committees and public participation processes
- Working with journalists and the media
- Digital and social media campaigning
- Simulation: a meeting with a senior official
Day 4: Coalitions and Strategic Partnerships
- Why and when to work in coalitions
- Building alliances and agreeing shared positions
- Governance, decision-making and conflict in coalitions
- Partnering with government, business and development partners
- Maintaining independence and managing reputational risk
- Case study: a coalition campaign from start to finish
Day 5: Managing, Monitoring and Adapting Advocacy
- Advocacy risk assessment and mitigation
- Monitoring influence with outcome harvesting and policy influence logs
- Learning and adapting strategy as context changes
- Resourcing and sustaining advocacy work
- Presenting the final advocacy strategy
- Action planning and course review
The programme is aimed at professionals who need to influence policy or practice on behalf of an organisation or constituency:
- Advocacy, policy and campaigns officers in NGOs and civil society organisations
- Programme managers seeking to scale results through policy change
- Government relations and public affairs managers
- Executives of trade associations, professional bodies and chambers of commerce
- Researchers and think tank staff working on research uptake
- Communications officers supporting campaigns
- Partnership and network coordinators
- Leaders of faith-based and community organisations
Each participant who attends every session and presents an advocacy strategy is awarded a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion issued by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.
Choose Where You Want to Learn
Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course Venues
KenyaNairobiNext Nov 9· 13 dates$1,500- KenyaMombasaNext Oct 26· 13 dates$1,600
- KenyaNaivashaNext Nov 2· 13 dates$1,500
- KenyaKisumuNext Oct 26· 13 dates$1,500
- KenyaMachakosNext Nov 2· 13 dates$1,600
UgandaKampalaNext Nov 2· 13 dates$1,900
RwandaKigaliNext Oct 26· 13 dates$1,900
TanzaniaArushaNext Nov 9· 13 dates$1,900- TanzaniaDodomaNext Oct 26· 13 dates$1,800
- TanzaniaDar es SalaamNext Oct 26· 13 dates$2,000
- TanzaniaZanzibarNext Nov 16· 13 dates$2,600
NigeriaLagosNext Nov 16· 13 dates$2,800- NigeriaAbujaNext Nov 9· 13 dates$2,800
South AfricaPretoriaNext Nov 2· 13 dates$3,200- South AfricaJohannesburgNext Nov 2· 13 dates$3,400
- South AfricaCape TownNext Oct 26· 13 dates$3,800
UAEDubaiNext Oct 26· 13 dates$3,800
GhanaAccraNext Nov 16· 13 dates$4,500
Scroll sideways to see all 18 cities →
Frequently Asked Questions About Live Online Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course
Everything you need to know about this course before you register.
By the end of the Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships programme, you'll be able to analyse a policy problem and define realistic advocacy goals and objectives, map power, decision-makers and influencers using stakeholder and power analysis tools, develop an advocacy theory of change linked to the policy and budget cycle, and craft evidence-based messages and policy briefs for different audiences. The full breakdown of topics is covered session by session in the Course Outline tab above.
The programme is aimed at professionals who need to influence policy or practice on behalf of an organisation or constituency: Advocacy, policy and campaigns officers in NGOs and civil society organisations, Programme managers seeking to scale results through policy change, Government relations and public affairs managers, Executives of trade associations, professional bodies and chambers of commerce, Researchers and think tank staff working on research uptake, Communications officers supporting campaigns, Partnership and network coordinators, and Leaders of faith-based and community organisations.
Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course typically runs as 5 Days. It's available as in-person classroom, live virtual, and in-house corporate training — every course can also be delivered on-site for your team on dates that suit you.
Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course is scheduled in-classroom in Nairobi, Kenya, Mombasa, Kenya, Naivasha, Kenya, and Kisumu, Kenya, and 14 other locations, plus a live interactive virtual classroom you can join from anywhere. Check the schedule panel above for exact upcoming dates and fees in each location.
The next live virtual cohort of Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships starts October 26, 2026, with new classroom cohorts also running on a rolling basis. Pick a date and location in the schedule panel above, then click "Register for the Course" — it takes a few minutes and your seat is confirmed once payment or a signed purchase order is received.
Yes — delegates who meet the attendance requirement receive a Certificate of Completion for Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course from Vision Reach Global Consultancy, issued in the name you register with, so double-check the spelling at checkout.
Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course is pitched at intermediate professionals. If you're unsure whether it's the right fit for your current role or background, message our training advisors before you register and they'll help you confirm.
Fees for Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course vary by delivery location and format and are shown in real time in the schedule panel above once you pick a date. Register 3 or more delegates on the same course together and a 5% team discount is applied automatically — larger cohorts can request a custom corporate quote.
Yes — Applied Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course can be delivered on-site at your offices (or virtually for distributed teams), with case studies and examples tailored to your industry and the specific challenges your team is working through. Switch to the "In-House" tab in the schedule panel above to request a proposal.
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