course introduction & expectations
You have the power to make change. Whether you are working within an organization, volunteering in your community, or exploring how to make a difference as an individual, this course is designed to support you in building the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to engage in advocacy that is thoughtful, strategic, and grounded in global solidarity.
The world today is deeply interconnected. Decisions made in one place can have far-reaching impacts on people, communities, and ecosystems across the globe. Issues such as climate change, conflict, global inequality, and extreme poverty do not exist in isolation and effective solutions will require increased global cooperation. Advocacy plays a critical role in shaping the systems, policies, and public narratives that influence how these global challenges are addressed. This course explores how advocacy is a critical function of changemaking and a powerful form of public engagement: one that invites people to act on their values, raise their voices, and engage decision-makers in shaping a more just and equitable world for all.
global citizenship and the need for advocacy
Global citizenship recognizes that we are connected to one another beyond borders and that we share responsibility for advancing dignity, justice, and well-being worldwide. International cooperation and assistance have contributed to meaningful progress over the years, including reducing the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2/3 since 1990. But international cooperation does not advance on its own. Political priorities shift. Budgets change. Competing pressures emerge. Without sustained public engagement, global issues can be deprioritized or misunderstood. This is where advocacy becomes critical.
Advocacy connects global citizenship to democratic participation. It transforms concern about global issues into action that influences decision-makers. It ensures that commitments to global health, quality education, and economic opportunity are not only announced, but funded, implemented, and sustained.
Advocacy is not only about responding to challenges, but also about shaping a future rooted in solidarity, shared responsibility, and collective action. This course is one way to support that work by equipping participants with tools to engage meaningfully and ethically in advocacy efforts.
an anti-oppression lens
Advocacy does not happen in a vacuum. It takes place within social, political, and historical systems shaped by power, and historical legacies that can be rooted in inequality or barriers for participating in democratic processes. To advocate responsibly and effectively, it is essential to understand and reflect on these dynamics, both by positioning ourselves individually and recognizing the power organizations are afforded in different contexts and communities.
Throughout this course, an anti-oppression lens is used to encourage:
- Awareness of how systems of power shape global issues and responses
- Reflection on personal and organizational positions within those systems
- Respect for the knowledge, leadership, and lived experiences of communities most affected by the problems we’re trying to solve
To learn more about your own positionality, privilege and power, make sure to review these resources:
- Anti-oppression
- Anti-racism as a journey
- Privilege is power. How you can use it to do some good!
- Wheel of privilege and power
Reflection: Using the privilege wheel linked in the resources above, consider your power within the wheel, consider where your organization sits within these structures, and reflect on how this positionality can affect different dynamics throughout your advocacy or work.
overview of the learning journey
This course is organized into a series of modules that build on one another but can also be explored individually to sharpen your specific advocacy skills. Each module focuses on a different aspect of advocacy:
The best way to gain confidence in advocacy is learning by doing. Throughout the course, you will encounter reflective questions, exercises, and applied activities designed to help you connect the material to your own experiences and contexts. These activities are meant to support learning, not to test or evaluate you. As you go through the modules, try to ground your engagement in real-life experiences or issues that you want to make change towards.
By the end of the course, you will be better equipped to:
- Understand advocacy within the context of international cooperation and global citizenship
- Apply advocacy tools and strategies in ways that align with your values and capacities
- Engage in advocacy individually or within organizations
- Reflect critically on power, privilege, and systems while taking action
Everyone enters advocacy work from a different place and perspective, this course is designed to be accessible for those who are new to advocacy, while still offering value and reflection for those with more experience.
conclusion
Advocacy is not reserved for experts, institutions, or those already in positions of power. It is a practice rooted in democratic participation and global solidarity. When everyday people understand how systems work and how decisions are made, they are better equipped to influence outcomes that shape lives locally and globally.
Throughout this course, you will move step by step through the core components of effective advocacy. You will learn how to define issues clearly, understand political and social context, craft strategic asks, identify decision-makers, and select tactics that generate political will. Each module builds on the last, guiding you from foundational concepts to practical application.
This course is designed to be accessible and action oriented. You do not need to be a policy expert to participate. What matters is your willingness to engage, reflect, and take informed action. As you move forward, approach this learning with curiosity and intention. Advocacy is strengthened through clarity, collaboration, and persistence. The skills you develop here are tools that can help transform values into action and action into measurable change. In the next module, we begin with the foundation: understanding what advocacy is and why it matters.
reflection
This course includes interactive elements designed to support self-reflection and growth. These may include exercises that explore privilege, power, and perspective, as well as reflective questions such as: “What does advocacy mean to you?”
You will be asked this question at the beginning of the course and again at the end. Revisiting it is meant to help you notice how your understanding evolves over time. Participation in these activities is encouraged, but how you engage is up to you.
reflection
This course includes interactive elements designed to support self-reflection and growth. These may include exercises that explore privilege, power, and perspective, as well as reflective questions such as: “What does advocacy mean to you?”
You will be asked this question at the beginning of the course and again at the end. Revisiting it is meant to help you notice how your understanding evolves over time. Participation in these activities is encouraged, but how you engage is up to you.