Civil society is constantly evolving, influenced by global and national developments. New political realities, such as changes in the United States, have a direct impact on the strategies and priorities of the civil society organisations (CSOs). This dynamic nature requires adaptation to changes, monitoring trends, and continuous education. In line with the need for ongoing learning, from 28–30 April 2025, a training was held in Berovo on: “Advocacy in the field of gender equality and youth, and communication tools for engaging target groups and creating content for effective advocacy.”
At this training, CSOs’ representatives and local youth councils from Berovo, Pehčevo, Vinica, and Delčevo advanced their knowledge on advocacy, including its goals, tasks, forms, processes, and elements of public advocacy, organising advocacy campaigns, and drafting public policy documents — with a particular focus on gender equality and youth.
It is crucial for activists in the civic society to strive for holistic development at national, regional, and local levels. This very ability to adapt and innovate is what keeps the sector alive and relevant in the face of contemporary challenges.
Todor Tsonev from the CSO INI Vinica emphasized that advocacy and lobbying are a challenge for small organisations, which often face administrative obstacles. He highlighted that people need space for discussion and sharing experiences regarding both good and bad practices.
A representative of the Delčevo Youth Council stressed that through this training, young people are learning more about their rights, as they often feel sidelined from events and not sufficiently informed. During the training, he noted, new ideas for local action also emerged.
According to the trainer Nevenka Longurova, the working group is diverse and has different capacities, but each participant from their respective field will have the opportunity to develop individual advocacy plans.
Rodne Deolska from the Regional Advocacy Center in Delčevo stated that every such event brings not only new knowledge but also new directions and trends in the advocacy process.
This three-day training was organised within the project “Advocate, Contribute to Your Community,” implemented by the organisation WOMAN Delčevo in partnership with the association Nadež from Makedonska Kamenica. This project is a sub-grant awarded within the project “EU Support for the Civil Society Resource Centre – Phase 2,” funded by the European Union. The content of the training does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Civic Resource Centre.
