Friends! The “United Voices in Action” team is launching another three-day “Advocacy Academy” training and invites representatives of public organizations, initiative groups, IDP groups, and host community groups, as well as activists who work with IDPs or IDP issues to participate. The Academy is open to applicants from Cherkasy and Kirovohrad oblasts. 

NOTE: Applicants from Cherkasy and Kirovohrad oblasts ONLY are invited to participate. The Academy for Cherkasy and Kirovohrad oblasts will be held in Cherkasy. 

What is the “Advocacy Academy”? 

This is a three-day intensive program that aims at developing and strengthening advocacy skills to promote the rights and interests of IDPs. You will learn about different advocacy tools to protect public interests, consider different approaches to advocacy, and understand how advocacy affects your activity. You will get a better understanding of how decisions are made by state authorities and how to influence these decisions to promote IDP rights and interests. The Academy will be very practical and will cover how to prepare an advocacy campaign, giving you developed plans that you can implement after the program. 

Who are our members? We invite the participation of teams composed of representatives of public organizations, initiative groups, IDP and host community groups, and activists who work with IDPs, have an advocacy background, or protect and promote IDP interests at the local or national level. Teams must consist of at least 2 and no more than 5 people. 

What if I don’t have a team? You can try to find a group of like-minded people and apply together, or submit an individual application and we will try to combine you into a team. 

What do we offer? 

• A rich and intensive three-day program with interactive sessions. 
• Awareness of how public administration bodies work and how decisions are made.  
• Improved understanding of advocacy as a tool to influence the decision-making of authorities in the modern context and in terms of promoting the rights and interests of IDPs.  
• The opportunity to develop an advocacy plan that will be ready for implementation. 
• The chance to become part of a network of active people who promote the rights and interests of IDPs in Ukraine and contribute to social change in the community. 

• An exchange of experience with participants from other areas. 
• The opportunity to be a changemaker and bring our country closer to victory. 

What are the selection criteria? 

• You work with the problems and challenges facing IDPs, have ideas on how to solve them, and are ready to implement those solutions. 
• You and your team have some experience in the field of advocacy, protection of human rights, protection of the interests of citizens or vulnerable groups, public representation, or self-governance. 

• You live in Cherkasy or Kirovohrad oblasts. 
• You have a strong desire and motivation to create proper conditions for the integration of IDPs. 
• You are always up to date with events in your community. 
• You want to improve your skills in advocacy, effective communication, social cohesion, leadership, and teaching others. 

And when is the deadline? Applications are due on or before April 4, 2023. The link to the questionnaire is available here.

Important: Participation in the full three-day program is mandatory! The “United Voices in Action” program provides participants with logistics and accommodation for the duration of the program. 

When? The Academy for Cherkasy and Kirovohrad oblasts will be held in Cherkasy on April 10-12, 2023! We will launch Academies in other regions of Ukraine soon. For more information on future Advocacy Academies, follow the announcements on our platforms. The “United Voices in Action” program reimburses participants for travel to the venue from other cities within the specified regions and accommodation for the duration of the program.