Facilitators:

Naved Chowdhury - ODI

Flethcher Tembo - ODI

The Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN) and Overseas Development Institute (ODI) from the 4 th to 5 th April 2007 hosted a Policy analysis, engagement and advocacy capacity building workshop. The workshop was part of ODI's CSPP, a programme that aims to create working relationships with CSOs in different regions directly as well as partners with think tanks and organisations that support these CSOs through capacity building, grants, etc.

SARPN promotes debate and knowledge sharing on poverty reduction processes and experiences in Southern Africa, and has been implementing policy related work in the region which has exposed limitations in effective policy influence arising from lack of capacity in policy analysis, engagement and advocacy.

The main objective of the workshop, which was facilitated by Naved Chowdhury and Dr. Fletcher Tembo, was to share knowledge and information for civil society in southern Africa to better link its advocacy activities to research. To this end, selected participants presented their experiences in policy related work. The presentations articulated the policy issues that each are engage in and the tools been used in the processes. Tools shared ranged from targeted lobbying, media, public discussions, community based campaigns and marches among others.

Arising from the presentations were challenges related to the capacity to articulate policy issues, challenges with competing interest groups on policy issues, engaging on already established policies, engagement in highly polarised and politically sensitive environments, deciding the exit points in policy processes, ensuring implementation where policy formulation has been achieved, understanding the policy process and budget formulation nexus, strategic use of the media, and how confrontation can be used effectively in policy processes.

The specific goals of the workshop were to:

• Clear understanding of the RAPID framework and how it can enhance Southern Africa CSOs' objectives.
• General understanding of practical tools that could be used to enhance policy influencing in different contexts and around different policy themes.
• Clear direction on what needs to happen between SARPN and ODI to strengthen policy analysis engagement and advocacy in southern Africa.