Yangon, Myanmar – MyanDHRRA conducted a training-workshop on “Policy Advocacy through Constructive Engagement with Government and Private Sector”, at Royal Palvian Hotel, 9 Miles Yangon on 3-4 February 2020. The activity aimed (1) to enhance the understanding of policy advocacy through constructive engagement of the participants; (2) to provide the skills and knowledge on the following areas of capacities: skills in facilitation , skills in managing policy dialogue, skills in conducting public consultations, and, skills in negotiating for mutually beneficial solutions; and (3) to share and learn from the participants own experiences of advocacy work in their own countries.
Twenty two (22) CSO participants from Yangon Region, Phekon township from Kayah State, Thanung gyi from Kayin State, Kyantalut and Tharpaung townships from Ayewarady Region, attended the training-workshop.
During the two-day workshop, the participants were upskilled on constructive engagement through different tools and mechanisms including principles such as representation of all stakeholders, citizen’s involvement in decision-making, and, transparency and accountability of all stakeholders. The participants were also trained on the essential strategies and activities on how to prepare for a policy dialogue, like information dissemination, consultation, consolidation, and re-reentry reporting.
From the group work, participants learned the important elements on how to process discussion, how to reach consensus in agreeing to a solution, and how to share what they learned from their experience.
The former secretary of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Philippines, Ms. Corazon Juliano-Soliman was the main resource person and facilitator of the said event. She is an expert in various Technologies of Participation, Constructive Engagement, and Policy Advocacy, among others.
