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International Policy Advocacy (IPA) Course

30 May-28 June 2002

SIT's International Policy Advocacy (IPA) course takes place in two of the world's major international policy-making centers — Washington, D.C., and New York City — as well as on the SIT campus in Vermont. Throughout IPA's intensive four-week training program participants work together to strategize and practice essential skills in advocacy such as coalition building, media relations, and lobbying. Participants attend sessions on advocacy principles and meet with representatives from organizations such as the World Bank, United Nations, IMF, U.S. Congress, and international NGOs working to influence those agencies. Customized, on-site training is also available.

The International Policy Advocacy course is a participatory, experiential training program to help participants:

- Understand international policy-making institutions' decision-making processes and how civil society advocates can influence those processes
- Learn advocacy techniques such as policy research, strategic planning, coalition building, NGO-government collaboration, lobbying, and media relations
- Build contacts within the international NGO community and with international policy-making in
- Develop expertise in international policy issues relevant to the work of their organizations
- Enhance cross-cultural communication and networking skills
- Prepare strategic action plans to effect change

Level: professional

Location: Washington, DC, New York City, Brattleboro, VT, USA

Participants: Advocates from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society organizations throughout the world come to SIT to deepen their understanding of policy-making processes and increase their organization's influence on the international institutions that impact their work in poverty reduction, environmental conservation, the protection of human rights, and social justice.

Tuition, fee, lodging: The IPA course tuition of $4,900 includes all instruction, program materials, and ground transportation between Washington, D.C., New York City, and Brattleboro, Vermont. Participants must secure funding for lodging (group rates are available), food, and travel within Washington, D.C., and New York City, as well as personal expenses. Since these costs can vary significantly depending on choice of accommodation and lifestyle, we recommend that all course candidates and sponsors contact SIT for a list of estimated expenses in each city. Most IPA participants secure funding from their own organization and/or a donor agency. A very limited amount of funds may be available through SIT to partially subsidize the costs of tuition fees. Applicants who can demonstrate that they have attempted to secure third party sponsorship and have successfully raised some portion of their fees are eligible to apply. Deadline of application is 15 February 2002.

Contact Information:
Dart Thalman, Ph.D, Director of IPA
School for International Training (SIT)
Kipling Road, P.O. Box 676
Brattleboro, VT 05302-0676
USA
Phone: +1 (802) 257-7751
Fax: +1 (802) 258-3248
E-mail: info@sit.edu
Web: http://www.sit.edu/ipa/