OSCE Mission to Moldova trains national minority NGOs in advocacy

The OSCE Mission to Moldova held a two-day training course on advocacy techniques for 16 representatives of non-governmental organizations with a national minorities focus, mainly from Gagauzia, from 18 to 19 October 2016 in Comrat.

The event aimed to develop practical skills of civil society representatives in order to promote their activities more effectively. The participants learnt about the principles and concepts, methods and techniques of advocacy. Serghei Neicovcen, founder of Chisinau-based NGO Contact-Centre, introduced participants to the concept of fair advocacy campaigns and advocacy cycles. The training course also touched upon the importance and practical aspects of analytical and research work of NGOs in their communities.

"The course gave me a unique opportunity to elaborate our own advocacy campaign in small working groups. The knowledge gained will allow me to promote our organisation's projects more effectively," said Elena Mina, Social Assistant at a Comrat based NGO.

The training event was organized as part of a one-year project implemented jointly by the OSCE Mission to Moldova and the Comrat-based NGO Piligrim-Demo that aims to establish a mechanism for civil society to research and raise with the central authorities issues of interest and importance to national minorities.