Training Opportunity – Course on public policy frameworks for journalists and CSOs

Training Dates: November 20-21 2017

Slots Available: 10

Application Deadline: Thursday, 16 November 2017

The African Centre for Media Excellence is pleased to invite applications from Ugandan journalists and civil society activists for a training workshop on public policy frameworks. The two-day workshop will be held on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 November 2017.

Workshop Background

Very few areas of reporting on government or politics are as important as reporting public policy. Yet, analysis of media coverage of public affairs in Uganda suggests journalists pay inadequate attention to the dynamics and intricacies of public policy making. Few journalists show a meaningful understanding of the problems public policy is meant to solve and they rarely interrogate the different policy options that decision-makers could consider.

The media are supposed to play a critical role in the policy process. Journalists can flag problems that require attention, weigh policy options that could be considered, broaden decision-making to include a diversity of voices from citizens and interest groups, inform the public about what is at stake, as well as evaluate the implementation of policy.

Without knowledge of the policy process and an understanding of the context within which it is formulated and implemented, reporting on public policy easily gets superficial.

The above situation also speaks to many CSO activists that are engaging government on various rights and service delivery issues in Uganda. An analysis of media coverage of public policy shows that there are not many CSOs voices helping to clarify key policy issues as one would expect. The potential of a knowledgeable media working closely with a well grounded CSO fraternity would be an invaluable resource in the push for transparency and accountability in Uganda.

A Case for Training

It is with this in mind that African Centre for Media Excellence has organised this training that combines both media and civil society to appreciate the key public policy frameworks governing transparency and accountability in Uganda.

The workshop will introduce participants to the public policy process, the political economy of policy-making in Uganda, public policy analysis, and the role of the media and CSO in public policy.

Facilitators will include journalism trainers and public policy experts who will use a combination of lectures, discussions, and case studies.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify the provisions of public policy frameworks and opportunities for participation
• Report on transparency and accountability in public service delivery planning and budgeting processes from a point of knowledge.

How to Apply

For admission to the workshop, please submit the following to, training[at]acme-ug[dot]org with the subject line,  Public Policy Training:

1. A biography of no more than 200 words.
2. A brief statement of no more than 200 words explaining how this training will contribute to your professional development and that of your organization or media house.