AHEAD for World Bank Advocacy is a EuroNGOs-supported project that aims to build the capacity of 48 RH Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in eight Sub Saharan African (SSA) countries and EuroNGOs members to conduct effective SRHR advocacy targeting national level World Bank and government decision makers. 

Overview

AHEAD for World Bank Advocacy will be presented in English and French through four monthly modules, the first of which is set to begin on 2 May 2011. Each month, a new module and a series of discussion questions will be introduced to participants. Each following week, supporting documents on specific themes will encourage participants to critically assess the discourse, concepts and implications of World Bank and other donor policy documents, and consider their relevance and added-value for RH advocacy. 

The following modules will form the core of this online training:

• Module 1: Meet the World Bank 
  2 May 2011 
• Module 2: SRHR and the World Bank
  30 May 2011
• Module 3: Strategies and Entry Points for Advocacy
  27 June 2011
• Module 4: The World Bank in your Country
  25 July 2011

With newly strengthened capacity, support and guidance under this grant, the 48 CSOs will develop advocacy strategies and carry out results-based advocacy actions. All EuroNGOs members will be provided access to the training materials and course work, to enable strengthened knowledge, improved North-South and South-South networking, knowledge sharing and more effective WB advocacy both in Europe and 8 SSA countries. This action can help EuroNGOs members and 48 SSA NGOs/CSOs to hold the Bank accountable through their work with media, parliaments, and regional consultative groups. This project will increase recognition of SRHR as a priority issue for WB policy, programming and financial support in Africa.

Project objectives and outcomes

• Objective 1 aims to increase the capacity of 48 CSOs in eight African countries (six CSOs per country) and EuroNGOs members in Europe to advocate for SRHR towards the World Bank and national decision makers. The outcome of this objective will be strengthened skills in advocacy and an increased knowledge of the WB’s structures, processes, RH commitments and RH Action Plan amongst the 48 CSOs in Africa and EuroNGOs members in Europe.
  
  
• Objective 2 is for the 48 CSOs to implement a series of effective and results-based advocacy actions and to engage in meaningful dialogues with WB country teams and country directors, as well as national government representatives. The outcome of this objective will be the increased recognition of SRHR as a priority issue for WB policy, programming and financial support in the eight target countries. 
  
  
• Objective 3 is to increase national, regional and global cooperation and knowledge sharing. The outcome of this objective is the improved collaboration and joint advocacy actions amongst the 48 CSOs in Africa and EuroNGOs members in Europe, as well as cross-border and cross-continental knowledge sharing in WB policy issues and consultation processes. 

Implementing strategy

One CSO per country will function as a lead organisation and will receive pre-training from DSW. The lead organisations facilitate the in-person interactive training events monthly over a four month period based the online course materials. By preparing the coursework together, the CSOs will motivate each other, initiate discussions and exchange ideas in an interactive learning environment.

Join us and participate!

To become a member of the forum and participate in discussions, please follow the links below to register an account on the ReProductive Aid online platform. The English and French courses will take place simultaneously. 

• To join the English-language course: http://my.ibpinitiative.org/reproductiveaid/ahead4wb_en
• To join the French-language course: http://my.ibpinitiative.org/reproductiveaid/ahead4wb_fr