Y-ACT Advocacy Course on Tobacco Control

Training Overview

Welcome to the “Youth in Action Advocacy Training Program”. This is a training for youth advocates and any other advocate who wants to gain skills in policy advocacy. In this module, learners will be taken through the key information that they will need to know about the program before starting the process of planning and developing an advocacy strategy. 

Goal of the Training Program 

The goal of the training program is to build advocacy skills. The training will provide learners with the skills needed to conduct strategic advocacy  to achieve policy objectives as efficiently and effectively as possible. The training focuses on the advocacy planning process with an emphasis on advocacy strategy development, advocacy communications and messaging, advocacy tactics such as campaigning and social accountability, resource mobilization and budget advocacy, and advocacy monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL). The first module focusses on tobacco control to give learners a foundation on 'Why Advocacy for Tobacco Control'.

Who should Take the Training?

The Youth in Action Advocacy Training program is designed for youth advocates in Africa. However, regardless of where learners are from in the world or how old they are, they will benefit from this training if they are currently involved in advocacy or are aspiring to become advocates. Most importantly, anyone interested in engaging in strategic advocacy will learn something through participation in this training.

What you will Learn

The training focuses on strategic advocacy planning process with an emphasis on advocacy strategy development, communications and campaigning, monitoring, evaluation and learning and resource mobilisation. Part 2 of Module Nine (9) on Resource Mobilization and Budget Advocacy will focus on enlightening advocates from South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Zambia on budget calendar tracking.

Training Structure

The training has nine modules. Module 1 provides an overview of tobacco control and the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Modules 2 - 8 include the core content that informs development of your advocacy strategy.

It is important for learners to take the time to read through the training content, listen to the audios and complete the exercises and templates; individually or with peers as they work through the modules. This will ensure they gather the information needed to complete their strategic advocacy plan.
 
It is suggested that learners complete the modules within three months; however, materials will be available via the remote platform for six months. Previous surveys have shown that 84% of the past participants have spent about 2- 3 months to complete the entire course. On average, it will take 10 hours per week for one to commit to complete the course within a period of 10 -12 weeks.

Evaluation and Assessment

Before learners begin the first module, there is a Pretest that aims at evaluating the learner’s knowledge in advocacy and the advocacy planning and development process. Learners’ knowledge will be assessed at the completion of each module through quizzes found at the end of each module. On each module, a pass mark of 70% has been allocated.  After successfully completing the training, learners will be awarded with certificates of completion.