Call for Proposals: Advocacy Planning and Development Training Program

Date:

September 23, 2010

The International Budget Partnership, with support from the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundations’ Arab Regional Office, will conduct a three-month Budget Advocacy Planning and Development Program for civil society organizations in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon whose work includes budget monitoring and advocacy to further human rights, transparency, and accountability.

During the program, four to five selected organizations will work with IBP staff remotely over two to three months to design a research and advocacy plan for a budget-related research project the civil society organization is currently pursuing or intends to pursue in the near future. Following the remote technical assistance, participating organizations will attend a five-day advocacy and planning workshop where they will be guided through steps to develop and finalize their research and advocacy plans. Following the workshop, participants will consult with key stakeholders in their countries to continue to further develop their advocacy plans, with continued support from IBP. At the end of the process, participants will have developed detailed advocacy plans and messages using a variety of strategic analysis tools and advocacy strategies.

Organizations that successfully complete the program should be well placed to apply for grants from the Ford Foundation’s Cairo Office and the Open Society Foundations’ Arab Regional office.

Organizations applying for the training program commit to:

Commission or conduct and complete budget research that will be the basis for their advocacy plans. Priority will be given to applicants that have already begun research.
Assign a team of staff to dedicate their time to the selected project, and to the preparation of documents leading up to the workshop, the workshop itself, and the post-workshop activities.
Consult with stakeholders in their country to complete their draft budget advocacy work plan.
Adjust their budget advocacy plan as socio-economic and political opportunities arise.

Applications should consist of a two to five-page document including:

Project description
Background on the organization, including a description of previous experience in budget research and advocacy (if applicable)
An explanation of how participation in this program would advance the organization’s research and advocacy goals.

The application should specify at least two and up to four staff members the organization proposes to participate in the process leading up to and including the workshop, and their relevant experience and responsibilities in the organization and project. Ideally, staff attending the workshop will have experience in budget research, social policy research, advocacy, or project management.