STRATEGIC LOBBYING & COMMUNICATION FOR ADVOCACY INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA

With very little doubt we could argue that the main reason why Employers & Business Membership Organizations (EBMOs) were founded is the representation and upholding of their members’ interests and priorities. This in practice translates into positively advocating and lobbying for the best public policies for a sound and predictable business environment for companies to flourish and grow sustainably at the national level. Today, with the current economic crisis affecting the world, uncertainty gives way to social confrontation and where the space for social dialogue must be kept open. In this context, EBMOs must be prepared to respond the needs of their members, keeping within sight the overarching objectives of peace, stability and social cohesion. In this regard, the Employers’ Activities Programme of the ITCILO (ACT/EMP) has designed a training course focusing exclusively on advocacy and effective influencing OBJECTIVES For participants to acquire knowledge, skills and tools to strengthen their EBMOs capacity to effectively advocate and positively influence policy change. Through applying a more strategic/proactive approach, advocacy objectives should be clearer, actions taken more relevant, influential stakeholders identified, mapping of the political landscape determined, potential partnerships identified, resources allocated efficiently, targeted messages delivered, better results achieved. CONTENT • Topic 1: Knowledge and analysis to determine the issues: evidence is the key • Topic 2: Strategic advocacy & effective influencing. • Topic 3: Digital advocacy and reputation management • Topic 4: Digital communication for advocacy & relationship with the media NUMBER OF HOURS: 60