Advocacy and Lobbying Skills Training Course

Participants can convert a broad concern into a focused, actionable policy ask.

• Problem statements separating symptoms, root causes and policy consequences
• Issue trees linking causes, affected groups and desired institutional action
• SMART policy asks specifying decision, owner, deadline and implementation expectation
• Policy options assessed for feasibility, cost, political acceptability and impact
• Theory of Change linking advocacy activity to intended policy outcomes
• Assumptions, risks and external dependencies recorded within advocacy planning

Participants can identify influence patterns and prioritise stakeholder engagement.

• Power-Interest Grid prioritising stakeholders by authority, interest and likely position
• Stakeholder Salience Model assessing power, legitimacy and urgency claims
• Influence maps showing formal authority, trusted advisers and network connections
• Position analysis distinguishing supporters, persuadables, neutral parties and opponents
• Decision-maker dossiers covering mandates, priorities, constraints and stated positions
• Political intelligence gathered ethically from public records and direct engagement

Participants can assemble credible evidence into concise policy briefing materials.

• Evidence hierarchy: administrative data, research studies, practitioner insight and lived experience
• Source appraisal using relevance, reliability, timeliness, independence and methodological quality
• Costed policy arguments linking proposed action to operational consequences
• Comparative examples selected for institutional similarity, not superficial resemblance
• Policy brief structure: issue, evidence, recommendation, implementation and decision request
• Citation logs and evidence registers supporting scrutiny and internal sign-off

Participants can create messages that connect policy proposals to audience priorities.

• Message house structure: core proposition, supporting pillars, proof and responses
• Problem-evidence-solution-benefit framing for policy and regulatory audiences
• Audience segmentation by mandate, motivation, knowledge level and likely objections
• Values framing without exaggeration, partisan language or unsupported claims
• Narrative examples combining individual experience with verified system-level evidence
• Message testing against clarity, credibility, relevance, risk and call-to-action

Participants can plan, conduct and follow up decision-maker meetings professionally.

• Meeting objectives linked directly to a defined decision or next step
• Briefing packs covering attendees, interests, evidence, asks and anticipated objections
• Opening statements establishing relevance, credibility and the purpose of engagement
• Active listening techniques for uncovering concerns, constraints and decision criteria
• Handling objections through acknowledgement, evidence, alternatives and agreed follow-up
• Contact reports recording commitments, intelligence, approvals and next actions

Participants can build coalitions with clear roles, shared messages and governance.

• Coalition partner selection based on credibility, reach, expertise and strategic fit
• Shared objectives distinguishing common ground from non-negotiable member positions
• Governance terms covering decision rights, spokespersons, funding and confidentiality
• Third-party validators: professional bodies, researchers, community leaders and service users
• Joint statements aligned through agreed language, evidence standards and approval routes
• Managing coalition conflict through escalation paths, mediation and documented decisions

Participants can align public communications with direct advocacy objectives and timing.

• Channel selection across direct engagement, media, events and stakeholder communications
• Media angles grounded in public interest, evidence and legitimate news value
• Opinion articles structured around a policy position and practical recommendation
• Spokesperson preparation using bridging, flagging and concise evidence-led responses
• Digital advocacy content matched to audience behaviour and campaign objectives
• Communications calendars coordinated with consultations, hearings and decision milestones

Participants can apply ethical and compliance controls to advocacy and lobbying activity.

• Lobbying registration and disclosure requirements checked for applicable jurisdictions
• Conflict-of-interest declarations covering financial interests, affiliations and personal relationships
• Gift, hospitality and political donation rules within organisational conduct policies
• Approval workflows for policy positions, public statements and external meetings
• Data protection controls for stakeholder records, contact lists and meeting notes
• Reputational risk assessments addressing transparency, accuracy, fairness and public trust

Participants can manage advocacy activity against milestones, indicators and review points.

• Advocacy workplans sequencing research, engagement, communications and follow-up actions
• RACI matrices assigning responsibility for decisions, delivery and stakeholder contact
• Milestone plans aligned with legislative calendars, consultations and budget cycles
• Influence indicators measuring access, message uptake, support and policy movement
• Engagement logs capturing contacts, commitments, intelligence and relationship progression
• Ninety-day application plans identifying priorities, owners, risks and review dates