Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course in Johannesburg, South Africa
Classroom training in Johannesburg · next cohort Nov 2, 2026 · from USD 3,400
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.
At a Glance
Training in Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg is South Africa's economic heart, home to the JSE and the head offices of Africa's largest companies.
More about training in Johannesburg →- Format
- Classroom, in Johannesburg
- Duration
- Mon - Fri (5 Days)
- Fee
- USD 3,400
- Next start dates
- Nov 2, 2026, Nov 30, 2026, Dec 28, 2026
- Certificate
- Certificate of Completion
- Airport
- O.R. Tambo International (JNB)
- Time zone
- South Africa Standard Time (UTC+2)
- Currency
- South African rand (ZAR). Fees are listed in USD.
- Business districts
- Sandton, Rosebank and Midrand
About this course
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.
Training Objectives
Participants will 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.
- Set SMART advocacy objectives and select suitable strategies and tactics.
- Develop evidence-based messages and a concise policy brief for decision-makers.
- Build and sustain coalitions and partnerships with clear roles and agreements.
- Track advocacy progress and capture lessons using simple monitoring tools.
What you'll learn
Key Takeaways
Participants complete the course with:
- A draft advocacy strategy for a live issue in their organisation.
- A completed stakeholder and power map identifying primary and secondary targets.
- A message box and two-page policy brief tested with peers.
- A partnership agreement outline covering roles, decision-making and exit.
- A simple monitoring log for recording policy influence and outcomes.
Training Methodology
Learning is participatory and anchored in each participant's own issue. Methods include:
- Short input sessions followed by immediate application to a live advocacy issue
- Power mapping and problem tree exercises in small groups
- Role plays of meetings with ministers, county officials and donors
- Peer review of messages and policy brief drafts
- Case discussions of advocacy campaigns that succeeded and stalled
Day 1: Understanding Policy and Advocacy
- What advocacy is and how it differs from campaigning, lobbying and awareness raising
- The policy cycle: agenda setting, formulation, adoption, implementation and review
- Formal and informal spaces for influence
- Rights-based approaches and public participation
- Ethics, legitimacy and representing communities
- Exercise: choosing and defining an advocacy issue
Day 2: Analysing Problems, Power and Stakeholders
- Problem and solution trees
- Building a theory of change for advocacy
- Stakeholder mapping and the alignment, interest and influence matrix
- Power analysis: visible, hidden and invisible power
- Identifying primary and secondary targets and allies
- Exercise: mapping power around a live issue
Day 3: Strategy, Messaging and Evidence
- Setting SMART advocacy objectives
- Insider and outsider strategies
- Choosing tactics: meetings, public hearings, media, petitions and digital campaigns
- The message box and audience-specific messages
- Writing a two-page policy brief
- Role play: a meeting with a decision-maker
Day 4: Coalitions, Networks and Partnerships
- Why partner, and when not to
- Coalition models, membership and governance
- Partnering with government, donors and the private sector
- Partnership agreements and memoranda of understanding
- Managing conflict, power imbalances and shared branding
- Exercise: drafting partnership principles
Day 5: Managing Risk and Measuring Influence
- Assessing reputational, political and security risks
- Planning, resourcing and budgeting an advocacy initiative
- Indicators and policy influence logs
- Outcome harvesting for advocacy results
- Learning and adapting strategy as context changes
- Presenting draft advocacy strategies and action planning
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
- Development partner staff supporting civil society programmes
Every participant who attends throughout and completes the strategy exercises is awarded a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion issued by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.
Choose Where You Want to Learn
Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course Venues
South AfricaJohannesburgNext Nov 2· 13 dates$3,400Viewing- South AfricaPretoriaNext Nov 2· 13 dates$3,200
- South AfricaCape TownNext Oct 26· 13 dates$3,800
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
UAEDubaiNext Oct 26· 13 dates$3,800
GhanaAccraNext Nov 16· 13 dates$4,500
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Frequently Asked Questions About Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course in Johannesburg
Everything you need to know about this course before you register.
Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course runs as classroom training in Johannesburg, South Africa, in Monday-to-Friday cohorts that start every four weeks. The venue, daily timings and joining details are sent in your Joining Instructions email ahead of the start date.
The next Johannesburg cohort starts on November 2, 2026, and a new intake follows every four weeks. Pick a date under "Upcoming sessions in Johannesburg" above and click Register; your seat is confirmed once payment or a signed purchase order is received.
The classroom fee for Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course in Johannesburg is USD 3,400 per delegate, covering tuition and course materials. Register 3 or more delegates together and a 5% team discount is applied automatically.
Yes. Besides Johannesburg, Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course runs as classroom training in Pretoria and Cape Town. It also runs as live online training you can join from anywhere in South Africa, and in-house at your organisation's own premises.
Yes — Fundamentals of Advocacy, Policy Influence & Partnerships Training Course can be delivered at your offices in Johannesburg or at a venue you choose, on dates that suit your team, with case studies tailored to your sector. Message our training advisors to request a proposal.
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.
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.
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