Advocacy Incubator 2024: Call for Applications
Building on ‘From Action to Impact: The Fundamentals of Effective Advocacy’, OCIC is excited to open the call for applications from member organizations and institutions interested in accelerating your advocacy efforts in our ‘Advocacy Incubator 2024’.
Organizations chosen for the program will get hands-on advocacy training, peer-to-peer support, and guidance from Results Canada’s advocacy experts to develop their own organizational advocacy campaign and/or strategy.
The three components of the peer ‘Advocacy Incubator 2024’ will include:
- A one-day in-person Retreat in Toronto facilitated by Results Canada The objective of this session will be for participants to have some hands-on advocacy skills training, meet your ‘Advocacy Incubator’ peers, and work to develop the advocacy project. (tentatively September 27, 2024)
- Four virtual workshop sessions facilitated by Results Canada (approximately 1.5 hours each), where participants will get hands-on support to progress in developing your strategy through training and facilitated discussions. (October-December 2024)
- Asynchronous support through a dedicated virtual platform (i.e. slack) where participants can post questions and Results experts and peers can provide support, tools, suggested additional readings, etc. (October-December 2024)
Participation in our recent two-part ‘Advocacy Training Series’ facilitated by Results Canada (or its equivalent) is a desired prerequisite.
We anticipate the program will require 5-7 hours per week of time commitment over a 12-week period (from mid-September to mid-December 2024), and encourage applicants to participate as a small team for maximum organizational engagement and impact. This program will be offered in English.
Please let us know if you have any needs for accommodation throughout the process by reaching out to shehara@ocic.on.ca.
Deadline: The application period to join OCIC’s ‘Advocacy Incubator 2024’ will close Friday, July 26, 2024 at 12:00 noon EST. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of OCIC and Results Canada staff. All applicants can expect to hear back from OCIC by August 16, 2024.
Selection Criteria
To be considered for OCIC’s ‘Advocacy Incubator 2024’ program, member organizations are required to submit a completed application form. Your submission will be assessed based on:
- The merits of the advocacy project you would like support in developing through the ‘Advocacy Incubator 2024’ program;
- How the advocacy project aligns with your organization’s mission and objectives;
- How the advocacy project would benefit from this program;
- Your organizational commitment to attending and actively participating in this program; and
- Your prior participation in a virtual OCIC (or ICN) Advocacy Training, or its equivalent.
Applications & Selection Process
- OCIC values the work of all members. While all applications are welcome we strongly encourage interested small and medium-sized organizations (SMOs) to apply.
- Preference will be given to organizations with limited internal capacity and resources to plan an advocacy initiative independently, and a strong commitment to being a part of a cohort of members seeking to put theoretical learning into practice.
- Applications will be accepted until July 26, 2024 at 12:00 noon EST.
- Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee comprised of OCIC and Results Canada staff
Selection decisions will be communicated to applicants the week of August 16, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
OCIC Member organizations and institutions interested in accelerating their advocacy efforts, including small and medium-sized organizations (SMOs) with limited internal capacity and resources for planning advocacy initiatives, are encouraged to apply.
Applications must be submitted by Friday, July 26, 2024, at 12:00 noon EST.
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of OCIC and Results Canada staff. The review process will consider:
- The merits of the advocacy project you would like support in developing through the ‘Advocacy Incubator 2024’ program;
- How the advocacy project aligns with your organization’s mission and objectives;
- How the advocacy project would benefit from this program;
- Your organizational commitment to attending and actively participating in this program; and
- Your prior participation in a virtual OCIC (or ICN) Advocacy Training, or its equivalent.
- A one-day in-person Retreat in Toronto facilitated by Results Canada. The objective of this session will be for participants to have some hands-on advocacy skills training, meet your ‘Advocacy Incubator’ peers, and work to develop the advocacy project. (tentatively September 27, 2024)
- Four virtual workshop sessions facilitated by Results Canada (approximately 1.5 hours each) where participants will get hands-on support to progress in developing your strategy through training and facilitated discussions. (October-December 2024)
- Asynchronous support through a dedicated virtual platform (i.e. slack) where participants can post questions and Results experts and peers can provide support, tools, suggested additional readings, etc. (October-December 2024)
Participation in a virtual OCIC (or ICN) Advocacy Training, or its equivalent, is desired. Preference will be given to applicants that have this background.
The program requires a commitment of approximately 5-7 hours per week of at least one staff person per organization, over a 12-week period, from mid-September to mid-December 2024.
Yes, participation of 1-5 staff per organization is not only allowable, but desirable. One staff (the Lead Staff Applicant) must attend all three (3) components of the program, and others can join as possible.
Suitable projects include developing an advocacy campaign targeting a desired policy change, or integrating advocacy into an organizational strategic plan. The project should align with the organization’s mission and objectives.
All applicants will be notified of the selection results by August 16, 2024.
Two-day training series: ‘From Action to Impact: The Fundamentals of Effective Advocacy’
- Day 1 (May 28): Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/P6bEKLNcS3KUpv2JFjSvwyxq4QslKpiWbRvVlJr5G_QwcTReA0dPjS3zLlyge2fq.ScvHSvKkRmRZyaw1?startTime=1716916170000 Passcode: Z@9L8.w0
- Day 2 (June 4): Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/QdiV5RJ-vLcBpTRkZhrTryUEWB7vZbD6NIXE204SvsX4KceyVBQb-LPJvXlGO7Gp.ZG3wKgvioIRU6jcH Passcode: .lR404zP
Additional resources/tools are below. More can be found in the Results Canada Tools Section of the Website.
Communications:
- Database of Community Newspaper Contact Information: https://resultscanada.ca/get-published/
- How to Use EPIC to communicate Effectively: https://cdn.resultscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/communicating-a-message-powerfully.pdf
- Tips to Get Your Letter to the Editor Published: https://cdn.resultscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/10-tips-to-get-your-LTE-published.pdf
- Tips to Get Your Op-Ed published: https://cdn.resultscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/10-tips-to-get-your-op-ed-published.pdf
Storytelling:
- Example of Staff Story: https://twitter.com/ResultsCda/status/1716899144793829869?s=20
- How to Tell a Successful Story: https://themoth.org/share-your-story/storytelling-tips-tricks
Parliamentary Advocacy:
- How to Write to Your MP: https://cdn.resultscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/how-to-write-to-your-MP.pdf
- Parliament Cheat Sheet: https://cdn.resultscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/parliament_cheat_sheet.pdf
- Meeting with your MP: https://cdn.resultscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/steps-for-meeting-your-Member-of-Parliament.pdf
‘Online Advocacy Bootcamp’ with OCIC and Results Canada (April to May 2020): https://ocic.on.ca/online-advocacy-bootcamp-with-ocic-results-canada/
Past Sessions:
From Action to Impact: The Fundamentals of Effective Advocacy
The Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC) is pleased to offer training on advocacy tailored for staff of Ontario-based member organizations and institutions working in international cooperation.
In this interactive virtual workshop facilitated by Results Canada, participants will build their knowledge of advocacy and learn how to develop an advocacy strategy to accelerate impact. Participants will also sharpen their advocacy skill sets with deep dives into effective communication techniques and parliamentary engagement. Participants will leave the training with the knowledge and confidence to incorporate advocacy into their work. This workshop is relevant for those with all levels of advocacy knowledge from beginner to advanced.
Through the different modules, participants will gain knowledge and skills on the following topics: advocacy basics, building an advocacy strategy, communicating effectively, digital tactics and engaging parliamentarians.
Format and Access:
At the end of the workshop, participants who successfully completed the 2 days will receive a certificate by Results Canada for their participation.
The training takes place over two sessions that will run online 1:00pm – 4:30pm (EST) and will include interactive activities, discussions, and tools to advance advocacy capacity. More information will be provided via email prior to the first session to approved registrants.
The training will be delivered in English via Zoom. We encourage all participants to come with a headset equipped with an integrated microphone to facilitate conversation.
Deadline to Register: Friday, May 24, 2024 12:00 pm EST
About the Sessions:
Session #1: Tuesday, May 28
1:00pm – 4:30pm EST
- Advocacy Basics
- Building an Advocacy Strategy
- Parliamentary Engagement
Session #2: Tuesday, June 4
1:00pm – 4:30pm EST
- Communicating Effectively
- Digital Advocacy
- Putting it All Together
