Six National Advocacy Plans Outputs of DVV International's Regional Academy on Advocacy in ALE

Sarajevo hosted a Regional Advocacy Academy for Adult Education organized by DVV International last week for representatives from six project countries in the Eastern Neighbours, Caucasus, and Southeast Europe regions.

Delegations from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, and Ukraine presented their national advocacy plans, focusing on raising public awareness, increasing participation in adult education, and enhancing financial allocations for adult education, particularly from the government.

Trainers from the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), Ms. Raffaela Kihrer and Mr. Davide Muraro, as well as from the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE), Prof. Dr. Katarina Popović, assisted participants in improving their developed plans to ensure successful implementation.

Members of the delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina were:

• Ms. Elma Kovačević-Bajtal, local expert for advocacy engaged to develop the advocacy plan;
• Ms. Aida Daguda, director of the Center for Civil Society Promotion - CPCD
• Ms. Elvira Leka, executive director of the Center for Education and Research NAHLA Sarajevo
• Ms. Meliha Gačanin, director of the Association for Local Development Initiatives ALDI Goražde
• Ms. Selma Aličić, director of the Association AMICA EDUCA Tuzla
• Ms. Dženita Džano, country director of DVV International Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Ms. Sabina Šošić, project assistant DVV International Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The DVV International's regional project "Eastern Neighbours" was established in 2022 to improve adult education policies and strengthen the contribution of adult education centers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) based on best national and regional practices, experiences and international expertise.

The first Regional Advocacy Academy for adult education took place in Istanbul in December 2022, after which national teams started working on their advocacy plans, which are planned to be implemented in the upcoming period.