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Engagement session
Building Government Relations Capacity for Systems Transformation
Purpose: This session will support B3/nonprofit organizations in building foundational and adaptive government relations (GR) capacity to influence public policy, secure sustainable funding, and engage meaningfully with all levels of government. Strengthening this capacity is essential for addressing both immediate community needs and the root causes of systemic inequity through systems transformation.
After participating in these learning sessions, you will be able to:
- Understand the structure and function of government at federal, provincial, and municipal levels.
- Develop and implement an organization-level government relations plan.
- Craft strategic messaging and advocacy materials rooted in lived experience, data, and impact.
- Navigate and influence political timelines (e.g., pre-budget submissions, legislative reviews, election platforms).
- Build effective, ethical relationships with elected officials and civil servants.
- Engage with confidence during government transitions, including under a Carney-led federal government or other leadership shifts.
amanuel melles and RaeChelle-Faith Hamilton-Ankamreddy
This is designed for B3/nonprofit executive leaders, senior program managers, community organizers, advocacy coordinators, and strategic communications staff responsible for advancing policy change and funding relationships.
Participants will engage in a combination of:
- Interactive learning sessions covering political systems, GR strategies, and advocacy ethics
- Roundtable discussions and peer reflection circles exploring real-time case studies, such as federal Lobby Day and pre-budget submissions
- Technical assistance and coaching, including template development (e.g., GR plans, MP briefs)
- Access to a Government Relations Toolkit with planning guides, message templates, and meeting tracking tools
This stream will be grounded in Afrocentric principles and focused on supporting B3s to lead advocacy from a position of integrity, evidence, and lived expertise.
Virtual (Zoom) and In-person
Entry requirements
It is essential that participants have M&E and learning experience and have a personal or organisational goal to build more participatory and adaptive practices.
The course is taught in English. To derive the maximum benefit from the course, you should be proficient in English and able to take an active part in discussions. Your English needs to be of an intermediate standard or higher. Ideally you will have an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or above, or a Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR) score of B2 or above.
However, you are not required to take an IELTS or equivalent before participating in the course, this is purely a guide.
Course fees
The full course fee is £1,450 for five days.
Fees include lunches and refreshments, an evening group dinner, and course materials. It does not include accommodation, flights etc.
Once you have received confirmation that your application has been approved, the fee must be paid in full to secure your place on the course.
Pay course fees in instalments
You can now pay for your place on this course in instalments. To organise paying in monthly instalments, please email [email protected].
Please note that you will need to have paid the final amount by the course start date, so please contact us as soon as possible ahead of the course start date to arrange this.
Discounts
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How to apply
Please read our short course booking Terms and Conditions (pdf) and IDS Code of Conduct (pdf).
The application procedure is a three-stage process:
Stage 1: Apply by completing the online application form. Deadline for applications is 16:00 GMT on 01 September 2025.
Stage 2: You will be notified within two weeks as to whether your application has been approved or not. Successful applicants will receive an acceptance email and details of how to pay the course fees. Places on the course are not guaranteed until fees have been received.
Stage 3: Once fees have been received, you will be sent confirmation of your place on the course and a letter to support your visa application (if required).
You are responsible for organising your own travel and visas (where needed). Please note that UK visa applications can take months to process. Information about local accommodation will be provided by the course coordinator once your fees have been processed.
This is course is run regularly. If you can’t make it to this date, you can register your interest in future sessions by contacting us at [email protected].
Bespoke versions of this course can also be planned and delivered in country for a single institution or group of institutions and partners, by arrangement. Please contact [email protected] for further information.
If you are interested in an online version of this course, please contact us at: [email protected].
About this offering
Black Canadian Learning & Transformation Institute
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