The Data Repository and Advocacy for Policy (DARAP) project organized a one-day workshop on science communication for agricultural Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The workshop aimed to equip NGOs and CSOs with the skills needed to effectively communicate complex data and research findings to non-academic audiences. The workshop was designed in response to the growing need for NGOs and CSOs to communicate their work and research to a wider audience, including policymakers, journalists, and the general public.
The organization believes that effective communication is essential for building public support for policy advocacy and driving positive social change. “We recognize that NGOs and CSOs often face challenges in communicating complex data and research findings to non-academic audiences,”. By providing practical training and resources, we hope to empower these organizations to better communicate their work and amplify their voices in policy debates,“ the Project Officer, Francis Dompae, Said.
The training was well-received by participants from various NGOs and CSOs, including the Agrihouse Foundation, Farm Radio International, Farmers Organization Network in Ghana, AGRA, Solidaridad, African Centre for Economic Transformation who participated in a series of interactive sessions, group discussions, and lecture by Audrey Gadzekpo, Professor at the Department of Communication Studies, University of Ghana. The sessions covered topics like data visualization, elevator pitch practice, TED talks, press releases, and public speaking, with a focus on practical techniques and best practices. Participants appreciated the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and exchange ideas with their peers.
Many expressed their gratitude to DARAP for organizing the workshop and emphasized the importance of effective communication in advancing their advocacy efforts. “We learned a lot from the workshop, especially on how to present data to non-academic audiences.” “We are excited to put these skills to use in our advocacy work and make a difference in our community,” said Julius K.A. Nornoo, a representative from Farmers Organization Network in Ghana.
DARAP seeks to address the fundamental bottlenecks to data-driven and evidence-based policy advocacy by equipping the players in the policy advocacy space (i.e., CSOs and NGOs) and those who primarily generate the data and evidence (i.e., academic researchers) to effectively dialogue and engage. This two-pronged approach aims to empower both spectra of input producers for policy advocacy and influence. DARAP’s engagement with NGOs and CSOs is driven by the commitment to support them in achieving more effective evidence-based advocacy through training on how to analyse research evidence and create policy messages based on it.
BY; AGRIWATCH REPORTER
