Policy and Advocacy Masterclass

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Thank you all for attending the first session of the Masterclass on Policy and Advocacy.

All the session materials are available at the link below! Make sure you watch the recording before attending session 2, and complete the first half of the assessment template!

Resource Hub Enroll for Session 2 Download the Assignment Template

About the Session

The first session of the Policy and Advocacy Masterclass hosted by Knowledge for Great Green Wall Action (K4GGWA) and the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) opens an intensive, practical learning journey for development practitioners who want to drive real change through policy.

Too often, well-researched findings and promising field initiatives fail to translate into policy action. The pathway from evidence to policy is not simply a matter of presenting data — it requires strategy, storytelling, stakeholder navigation, and an understanding of how power works. This masterclass is designed to close that gap.

Session 1 sets the foundation. Participants will explore what policy advocacy with evidence actually means, how to distinguish it from lobbying, awareness-raising, or enforcement, and what an effective advocacy approach looks like in practice. Drawing on real-world case studies from Great Green Wall countries, learners will begin to see where their own work fits into the policy landscape — and how to sharpen their approach.

Note: Participants are expected to complete a short pre-course assignment before attending.

Before the Session

To get the most out of Session 1, participants are asked to:

Watch this short pre-recorded video introducing the core concepts of policy advocacy with evidence.
Reflect on one advocacy issue you are passionate about in your current work or community context.
Share your reflection in this Campus discussion forum.

What to Expect

Clarify what policy advocacy with evidence is — and what it is not
Distinguish advocacy from related concepts such as lobbying, awareness-raising, and enforcement
Explore real case studies of advocacy in action across multiple levels (local, national, regional)
Begin applying a structured framework for building a policy advocacy approach
Engage with peers through facilitated discussion and reflection exercises
Get a chance to network and share experiences with peers across Africa

📅 Program Overview

Duration	Format	Topic / Activity
Part 1 – Opening
10 min	Plenary	Welcome & agenda review. Quick poll: "What one word do you associate with advocacy?"
5 min	Breakout / Menti	Experience sharing: What work do you do that could be considered advocacy? What issues are you passionate about?
Part 2 – Concepts & Cases
15 min	Expert Presentation	Defining policy advocacy with evidence: Core concepts, scope, ethics, and how it differs from lobbying, enforcement, and awareness-raising.
10 min	Menti Reflection	Critical reflection: Has your understanding shifted? What new challenges are you envisioning in your context?
25–30 min	Case Studies	Two case studies from GGW countries (15 min each). Guided questions explore pathways, avenues, and what does — and doesn't — constitute advocacy.
Part 3 – Framework & Tools
25 min	Expert Presentation	Tools for advocacy: Introduction to the evidence-based advocacy framework developed by CIFOR-ICRAF colleagues. Step-by-step approach with practical activities and the advocacy plan template.
5 min	Q&A	Open questions from participants.
Part 4 – Closing
10 min	Case Reflection	Advocacy challenges from GGW countries. Facilitator presents common issues — participants begin ideating solutions.
5 min	Closing & Assignment	Next steps: Participants are asked to begin filling in the advocacy template — brainstorming solutions to one or more of the challenges presented.

Key Concepts

Policy Advocacy vs. Other Approaches: Advocacy is a strategic process — distinct from lobbying (which targets specific interests), awareness-raising (which informs without seeking change), and enforcement (which relies on authority). Understanding the difference is essential to knowing when and how to act.
Evidence as a Pathway: The evidence base is not just a background resource — it is central to how advocacy is framed, who it reaches, and how it lands. Evidence gives legitimacy and direction to a policy ask.
The Policy Landscape: Policy change happens at multiple levels — local, national, and regional. Understanding the space: who holds power, what rules are in play, and what windows of opportunity exist, is a core advocacy skill.
A Structured Framework: The evidence-based advocacy approach developed by CIFOR-ICRAF colleagues breaks the process into practical steps — exploration, stakeholder mapping, institutional analysis, and implementation planning — each with concrete tools learners can apply immediately.
Cases That Matter: Advocacy is learned best through examples. Session 1 uses case studies to show what success — and failure — looks like in GGW country contexts, and what made the difference.

Who Should Attend

Young professionals working in NGOs, CSOs, or farmer-based and youth organisations
Researchers and practitioners who want to translate their work into policy impact
Professionals required to engage in advocacy as part of their role
Anyone working in or around Great Green Wall countries with an interest in evidence-based policy change
Those backed by an existing policy case or initiative — this masterclass works with real challenges, not hypothetical ones

DISCLAIMER:

This instance of the masterclass will take place only in English. We are striving to make a French version possible in the near future.

Policy and Advocacy Masterclass - Session 1