Good evidence and strong programmes do not change policy on their own. Decisions about budgets, laws and services are shaped by people with power, and organisations that want a say need a deliberate plan for reaching them. Over five days you learn the core practice of influencing public policy, starting with problem and solution trees, the policy cycle and a clear theory of change for your issue. Stakeholder and power mapping, including the alignment, interest and influence matrix, show who decides, who influences them and where your allies are.
You then set SMART advocacy objectives, choose between insider and outsider tactics, and develop a message box, a two-page policy brief and an elevator pitch for a minister or county official. Partnership sessions cover coalition building, partnership agreements and memoranda of understanding, partnership health checks and managing shared risks. Monitoring advocacy with tools such as outcome harvesting and policy influence logs closes the week. NGO programme staff, community-based organisation leaders, communications officers, researchers and staff of membership bodies will gain a practical foundation. Classroom, online and in-house options are offered, and a CPD-accredited certificate is awarded.
Civil society organisations, research institutes, professional associations and private sector bodies all seek to influence the policies that affect the people they serve. Many, however, rely on goodwill and occasional meetings rather than a planned approach, and their efforts lose momentum when officials change or funding ends. Advocacy works best when it is grounded in evidence, focused on specific decision-makers and backed by partners who share the goal.
The Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course introduces the full advocacy cycle in a practical, accessible way. It begins with how public policy is made and how to analyse a policy problem, then moves through stakeholder analysis, objective setting and the choice of strategies and tactics. Participants practise turning evidence into persuasive messages for different audiences, preparing for meetings with decision-makers and using media and digital channels responsibly. The second half of the course focuses on working with others: forming coalitions and networks, structuring partnerships with government, donors and companies, and managing the tensions that arise. It closes with simple methods for tracking progress and learning from advocacy work.
Each participant works on a real issue from their own organisation throughout the week, so that by the final day they have a draft advocacy strategy ready to refine with colleagues.
Participants will be able to:
Participants complete the course with:
Learning is participatory and anchored in each participant's own issue. Methods include:
Day 1: Understanding Policy and Advocacy
Day 2: Analysing Problems, Power and Stakeholders
Day 3: Strategy, Messaging and Evidence
Day 4: Coalitions, Networks and Partnerships
Day 5: Managing Risk and Measuring Influence
The course welcomes people who are new to structured advocacy or want to put it on a firmer footing, including:
Every participant who attends throughout and completes the strategy exercises is awarded a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion issued by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.
Upcoming cohorts
CPD-Accredited
Official invoice & confirmation letter provided
Team discount for 3+ seats
Need help with this booking?
Our training team can help with group pricing, invoicing, or picking the right schedule.
Everything you need to know about this course before you register.
By the end of the Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships programme, you'll be able to explain how public policy is formulated, adopted and implemented, and where it can be influenced, analyse a policy problem using problem and solution trees and a theory of change, map stakeholders by power, interest and alignment to identify targets and allies, and set smart advocacy objectives and select suitable strategies and tactics. The full breakdown of topics is covered session by session in the Course Outline tab above.
The course welcomes people who are new to structured advocacy or want to put it on a firmer footing, including: NGO and CBO programme officers and coordinators, Advocacy, campaigns and policy officers early in their careers, Communications and public relations staff of civil society organisations, Partnership and resource mobilisation officers, Researchers and think tank staff seeking policy uptake of their work, Staff of professional associations, trade unions and business membership bodies, Faith-based and community leaders engaging local government, and Development partner staff supporting civil society programmes.
Fundamentals of 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.
Fundamentals of 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 Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships starts October 19, 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 Fundamentals of 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.
Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course is pitched at beginner 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 Fundamentals of 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 — Fundamentals of 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.
Related Training
Key Skills You'll Learn
Vision Reach Global
From $1,500 · KSh 115,000
Key Skills You'll Learn
Vision Reach Global
From $1,500 · KSh 115,000
Key Skills You'll Learn
Vision Reach Global
From $1,500 · KSh 115,000
Swipe to see more courses →
VRG brings strategic discipline to complex organizational challenges. Their approach is structured, data-driven, and outcome-focused.
Levis Wabwire
Managing Director
They facilitated our strategy review, we improved departmental KPI alignment by 35% and reduced operational bottlenecks significantly.
David Oketch
Strategy Lead
Employee engagement scores increased following the leadership training program. The difference in accountability culture is evident.
Wendy Albright
Program Manager