From Ideas to Influence: Advocacy and Policy Engagement for Emerging Leaders

From 25 to 28 June 2026, young leaders from across Ghana will gather in Koforidua for the third and final residential training of the EU WYDE programme, focused on “From Ideas to Influence: Advocacy and Policy Engagement for Emerging Leaders.” Organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Ghana Office within the framework of the WYDE Political Parties project, the training marks the culmination of participants’ leadership development journey.

Building on previous trainings dedicated to leadership, communication and professional development, this final residential session will focus on one of the most important dimensions of democratic participation: transforming ideas into policy influence and meaningful civic engagement. As emerging leaders seek to contribute to governance processes, understanding how public policies are shaped, debated and implemented becomes essential for driving sustainable democratic change.

The training will introduce participants to the practical tools and processes of advocacy and policy engagement, enabling them to move beyond theoretical discussions and engage directly with policy analysis, policy brief development, advocacy communication and democratic decision-making. Through expert-led sessions, group work and practical exercises, participants will strengthen their ability to identify public policy challenges, formulate evidence-based recommendations and communicate solutions effectively.

A key focus of the programme will be understanding how policy influence takes place within democratic systems. Participants will explore stakeholder mapping, coalition-building, advocacy strategies and policy communication techniques, while developing the negotiation and public engagement skills needed to advocate for change in complex political environments.

The residential training will also place a strong emphasis on practical application. Working in groups, participants will take part in a Policy Lab, where they will identify governance and development challenges, analyse policy issues and develop concrete policy recommendations. These ideas will then be transformed into policy briefs and advocacy pitches, providing participants with hands-on experience in policy development and strategic communication.

The highlight of the programme will be a Parliamentary Simulation, designed to immerse participants in the realities of democratic debate and decision-making. Acting within a simulated parliamentary setting, participants will present, defend and negotiate their policy proposals, experience coalition-building processes and engage in parliamentary voting procedures. The exercise will demonstrate how policy ideas evolve through debate, compromise and consensus-building, offering a practical understanding of democratic governance in action.

As the final residential training of the programme, the session represents an important milestone in participants’ leadership journey. By combining advocacy, policy development and democratic practice, it seeks to equip emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to contribute meaningfully to public policy processes and democratic governance in Ghana.

Event Details

Event: WYDE Residential Training III

Theme: From Ideas to Influence: Advocacy and Policy Engagement for Emerging Leaders

Date: 25–28 June 2026

Training Sessions: 26–27 June 2026

Location: Abram Hills Hotel, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana

Organised by: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Ghana Office

Project: WYDE Political Parties – funded by the European Union

Participants: Emerging political leaders and WYDE participants

Main topics: Advocacy, policy engagement, policy analysis, policy brief writing, coalition-building, democratic decision-making and parliamentary processes.