BESCO, along with the American University in Bulgaria, is launching the Advocacy Academy, a pilot course scheduled to take place from April to June 2024 in Sofia.

The application link can be found HERE, with applications being accepted until February 29th.

The pilot program will include:

  • Representatives from business organizations/associations
  • Civil society
  • Institutional representatives

Their aim with this program is to share the expertise they have accumulated specifically in advocacy and the fight for legislative and institutional change. They believe that for a well-functioning state, it is crucial for more individuals and organizations to understand how this process works, thus enabling our institutions to perform more effectively.

The working language is English, with sessions comprising 8 modules covering topics such as:

  • Advocacy in Bulgaria and the EU: key concepts and definitions of lobbying and Advocacy
  • The business case of Advocacy
  • Public Policy Development in a multi-level governance system
  • The art of public policy advocacy: how to engage institutional and non institutional stakeholders at EU and the national level?
  • Advocacy Strategies: Setting the stage
  • Advocacy Strategies: Position
  • Evaluating Advocacy Strategies
  • Recap session – lessons learned

Some of the instructors in the program are:

The participation fee is 250 BGN.

For the first course, 25 participants will be approved.

For more information Here.