17 April-2 July 2013 (E06213) | Closed
11 September-26 November 2013 (E06213-2) | Register for this course (page will open in new window)
This e-learning course provides human rights activists with a range of proven human rights advocacy methods and critical concepts as a means for them to reflect on and deepen their own work. The course will look at the theoretical foundations and critical issues of human rights advocacy, elements of advocacy planning, and strategies for action.
In this course, participants should deepen their knowledge about advocacy and its relationship to: Politics and Democracy; Citizenship and Rights; Power, Empowerment and Citizen Education and Action. Participants will gain basic skills and knowledge in: visioning; contextual analysis; problem/issue identification; analysis and prioritisation; power mapping; goal/objective setting; analysis of advocacy arenas and strategies; message development, reports and media; public outreach and mobilisation; lobbying and negotiation; advocacy leadership and coalition building; and assessment of success.
The certificate course involves approximately 50 hours of reading, on-line working groups, interaction with students and instructor/facilitator, webinars and assignments, and is offered over an 11-week period. The course is based on a participatory, active learning approach, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. Participants will do the required readings, prepare interim and final assignments and participate in group discussions. The main course text will be A New Weave of Power, People, and Politics: An Action Guide for Advocacy and Citizen Participation, by Lisa VeneKlaasen and Valerie Miller. The maximum number of course participants is 25. It is also possible to be an auditor of the course. Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Participation.
Course outline
Week 1. Politics, Advocacy, Democracy, Rights and Citizenship
Week 2. Power, Empowerment and Citizen Education and Engagement
Week 3. Advocacy Effectiveness: Factors and Measures of Success
Week 4. Overview of Planning; Analysis of Political and Social Context
Week 5. Identification, Analysis and Definition of Problems; Selection of Priority Issues
Week 6. "Open week"
Week 7. Analysis of Political Arenas and Advocacy Strategies; Selection of Policy Hooks and Angles
Week 8. Analysis of Forces, Friends and Foes; Review and Readjustment of Strategies
Week 9. Messages, Reports and Media
Week 10. Public Outreach and Mobilisation
Week 11. Lobbying and Negotiation; Advocacy Leadership and Coalitions
About the instructor
Valerie Miller has worked in advocacy, international development, gender and human rights for more than 30 years. She has collaborated with grassroots organisations, NGOs, and international agencies in many capacities -- as an organiser, trainer, advocate, evaluator, and researcher. Over the past 20 years, she has been policy advocacy director at Oxfam America, director of policy and exchange programs at the Institute for Development Research, and advisor and associate of a wide variety of organisations including the Global Women in Politics Program; Women, Law and Development International; and the Highlander Center. She has taught courses on advocacy under the auspices of the University of Brasilia and New Hampshire University. Dr. Miller holds a doctorate in adult education and she has published numerous articles and books on issues of advocacy, development, education, and politics. She has been an instructor for the Human Rights Advocacy e-learning course since 2002.
Who should apply
The course is intended for staff members of human rights/social justice organisations. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use. HREA aims to ensure equal gender and geographical distribution across the selected participants.
Costs
Tuition fee for participants: US$ 725. Early registration discounts: 20% when paying 8 weeks before the start of the course; 10% when paying 4 weeks before course start.
Tuition for auditors: US$ 275. Early registration discounts: 20% when paying 8 weeks before the start of the course; 10% when paying 4 weeks before course start.
Payments can be made online by major credit cards (Discover, MasterCard, Visa), PayPal and bank transfer. Bulk rates are available.
Registration
Sessions of this course are offered from 17 April-2 July 2013 (registration is closed), 11 September-26 November 2013 and 29 January-16 April 2014 (in Spanish).
Frequently asked questions about HREA's e-learning courses.
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