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.