On 27 and 28 November 2017, a team of Policy Communication experts from the Abuja Office of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) delivered an introductory policy communications training to 26 staff (9 females, 17 males) of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) in Abuja.
The training began with a broad overview of what Policy Communications means conceptually, why it is important in both programmatic and national contexts. Other topics included an overview of key Policy Communications terminology, methods, and frameworks frequently used in programs. This review will provide participants with a common set vocabulary, tools (such as social media and policy briefs), and approaches used to plan and implement Policy Communications activities for programs or policies they manage and support.
The training emphasized on developing participants’ knowledge and skills through a combination of presentations and group exercises to effectively communicate program and policy data that can be used to support decision-making within the context of the country’s national development agendas.
The training was well-received, with commitment from ARCN management that the skills and knowledge developed by staff would ripple across the Council. According to Dr Madugu, ARCN’s acting Director, CTR “Don’t think you have trained only 25 people. Those trained here will go ahead to share what they have learnt with their colleagues.”
This training course was organized within the framework of the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project, a joint effort between IFPRI’s Nigeria Strategy Support Program (NSSP) and Michigan State University, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Nigeria), and is in line with Component 1 of FY 2017 work plan on activities to enhance skills, training, and institutional capacity.
