"Support to Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement" Project

 

Call for Applications To participate in workshops enhancing the capacity of evidence based policy analysis in Armenia and Turkey

December 2011

The Call for Applications is part of the "Support to Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement" Project supported by USAID. The Project is jointly implemented by a Consortium of four organizations: Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA), International Center for Human Development (ICHD), and Yerevan Press Club (YPC).

USAID and the Consortium members support Armenia-Turkey rapprochement by facilitating engagement between civil society groups, establishment and development of business partnerships and regional professional networks, and enhanced understanding between the people, for peace and economic integration in the region.

To contribute to the above goal ICHD and Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) will organize a series of training workshops to enhance the capacity of Armenian and Turkish civil society organizations and think tanks in policy analysis. Overall, this capacity building initiative is designed to enhance the relevance, usefulness and accessibility of policy research results to the decision-making process, and, thereby, contribute to sound and evidence-based decision-making in Armenia and Turkey. As part of the training, the participants might be invited to contribute to to comparative evidence-based analyses to explore the level to which Armenian and Turkish economies and societies interact directly or indirectly in the areas and on the issues that appear on hot public agenda.

ICHD invites expressions of interest from representatives of Armenian civil society organizations and think tanks to attend a three-day interactive training that will increase the skills of the participants in public policy writing and analysis. The working language of the workshops is English.

Workshop dates in Yerevan, Armenia, February1-February 3, 2012 OR February 4-February 6, 2012 The training will cover the following issues:

• The context in which policy papers are produced: advancing the understanding of the nature of policy papers as purposeful communication tools used to influence the policy-making process;
• Different types of policy papers commonly used in the policy-making community, i.e. the policy study, policy brief, etc.
• Building insight into the purpose and features of the common structural elements of both the policy study and policy brief. Emphasis will be placed on gaining in-depth insight into the key structural elements which are central to achieving the purpose of the policy paper, i.e. problem description, policy options, and conclusion and recommendations.
• Different approaches to the layout of policy papers in terms of recommendation/message formulation and effectiveness in attracting the attention of potential audiences, as well as facilitating the delivery of the intended messages.
• Policy analyses matrix and other tools in developing public policy options.

Participants will receive a pack of reference and reading materials and worksheets designed to support post-training policy communication skill development.

Eligibility

• Members or employees of policy research units at universities, CSOs and independent think-tanks;
• Individuals (experts, recent graduates of local or foreign universities).

Application Requirements

Applicants are requested to submit the following documents:

a) Application form (see below);
b) CV;
c) Abstract(s) of previous policy paper (if available);

Application Submission

Proposals must be submitted electronically at [email protected]

Deadline for applications: January 10, 2012

Selection notification: January 16, 2012

About the trainers

Eóin Young

As part of the Policy Communication Training Team, Eóin Young designs and delivers training workshops on policy writing, policy analysis and advocacy. He also provides technical assistance to policy researchers and in the design of capacity development opportunities in this area. In addition, Eóin Young is co-author of the best "seller" book - Writing Effective Public Policy Papers (2002)

Ashot Khurshudyan

Ashot Khurshudyan is Head of Training and Education Unit at the think tank, International Center for Human Development in Yerevan, Armenia. Ashot has over 10 years of experience delivering diverse trainings, such as Negotiation, Effective Communication, Leadership, Public Policy. He also has 14 years policy experience in a wide range of fields.

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This Call for Applications is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this Call are the sole responsibility of Eurasia Partnership Foundation and International Center for Human Development and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.