During September 5 and 6, 2011, as part of the project “Capacity Building of Agricultural Businesses in the Field of Drought Adaptation in BiH” funded by USAID, a professional training in the field of Public Advocacy was held for representatives of farmer’s associations and agricultural cooperatives from northeastern Bosnia,. The conference was attended by representatives of 6 cooperatives: ZZ Brka, Brka-Brčko; ZZ Agrokoraj, Koraj; ZZ Voćar, Glumina-Zvornik; ZZ Gračanka, Gracanica; ZZ PMG VIP, Gradačac and Prunus, Zvornik. The training was held by mr.sc. Adis Arapović, certified trainer and public advocacy consultant.
The first day of the training included the following program units: Background of public advocacy; Introduction to public advocacy; Elements and dynamics of public advocacy; Three types of advocacy; Three principles of advocacy; Identification and definition of problems/ topics; “List 16” for problem selection; 4 Foundations of Public Advocacy (PCMT); Stages in advocacy campaigns; Target group and users; Power mapping; Goal setting- SMART.
On the second day of the training, the following program units were covered:
Target determination;
Diagnosis of tactics;
Media and messaging;
Negotiation and lobbying-
techniques and methods; Coalition advocacy-cost/ benefit analysis; Adhoc advocacy campaigns;
Presentation of the Strategy Table;
Presentation of the Action Plan. During both days, all important topics were covered using the methods of group exercise and practical group work on simulations of elements of the campaign plan. In summary, the representatives of farmers’ organizations who underwent training showed a high level of interest in the topic, the methodology of public advocacy and the opportunities that this type of action opens to them in the function of protecting and improving the position of their own interest group. On the other hand, it is necessary to further strengthen the capacity of this group in order for the real existing potential to be used in the right way.
