The effective participation and contribution of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in policy and law-making process is expected to grow buoyed by the Health Development Initiative (HDI) intensive capacity-building programme on policy influencing and evidence-based advocacy with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The 9 days intensive training program, which concluded on June 11th, equipped CSOs active in the human rights and justice sector with hands-on skills to participate and contribute to policies and laws through conducting effective evidence-based advocacy with the view to promote human rights. Current advocacy gaps A pre-assessment study, commissioned by HDI, indicated that 92% of the CSOs surveyed have advocacy capacity gaps. According to the study, about 64 per cent of respondents affirmed that their organisations had limited capacity in monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of their advocacy initiatives, tactics and strategies. Additionally, 68 per cent of the CSOs had limited skills in documentation and knowledge management of advocacy campaigns while 58 per cent had gaps in effective advocacy pathways. On the other hand, 57 per cent of the surveyed CSOs revealed they had an advocacy skills gap (communication strategies) while 53 per cent had advocacy capacity gaps in terms of coalition-building and sustainability. Slightly less than a half (47%), revealed gaps in the collection and packaging of evidence for advocacy issues and amplifying advocacy messages to the media. Solutions Acknowledging the gaps in advocacy, the training is composed with three cohorts, whereby each cohort will bring together 20 CSOs staff for intensive training that aims at bridging the gaps. John Mudakikwa, who facilitated the training, said that the participants have been equipped with modern skills in advocacy, as opposed to relying on awareness campaigns. “One of the issues which was raised among the CSOs was the lack of communication strategies since most of them have been conducting awareness-raising campaigns instead of advocacy,” he said. “So we have dealt with how to make a good communication and advocacy strategy and which policymakers or duty bearers to target in order to influence change in policies or laws.” Guest speakers from Civil society, Ministry of Justice and Parliament were invited to help the trainees put what they have learnt into practice. Aaron Clevis Mbembe, the Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy at HDI noted that the organizations were trained on policy analysis, building advocacy strategies and how to establish good relations and engage in a constructive way with government entities. “Some organizations have complained that their research is not considered by the government, but now we have trained them on how to cooperate and involve the government in all phases of the research for mutual ownership and enhance its credibility,” he said. “And you have seen that the government authorities promised mutual cooperation to serve citizens and impact the communities they serve.
