Community Advocates Training Manual

This manual comprises a curriculum developed as a tool for training community advocates to conduct advocacy activities on the issues of early marriage, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health. It was produced by Population Council in Nigeria under the HIV Prevention Project for Vulnerable Youth in Northern Nigeria, a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. According to the publishers, the curriculum was developed on the premise that community representatives can speak out on issues concerning their lives and community, if given the necessary skills.

The curriculum was designed to improve knowledge and strengthen the skills of community representatives from the northern region of Nigeria to openly discuss sensitive issues relating to HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and marriage. It features participatory activities that intend to help community advocates to: differentiate advocacy activities from other types of HIV/AIDS strategies; think creatively about different approaches to advocacy; learn and explore critical issues relating to HIV/AIDS and reproductive health; and develop skills such as communication, presentation, facilitation, and conducting media interviews.

The curriculum is divided into five modules made up of 40-60 minute sessions. The modules were created based on themes as follows.

• The Training Environment: This module sets the atmosphere for the training. The purpose of this module is to enable participants to get acquainted, feel relaxed and comfortable, as well as setting rules to guide the training.
• Introduction to Advocacy: The module provides a brief introduction to advocacy. It enables the participants to have a shared understanding of the definition and benefits of advocacy, as well as explores how advocacy is being used in their everyday life routine.
• HIV/AIDS & Sexual Reproductive Health Issues: This module is the knowledge-based module of the manual. Its purpose is to provide participants with as much information as possible on key HIV/AIDS and reproductive health issues relating to marriage and adolescence.
• Advocacy Skills: This module is the skills-based component of the manual. Participants will learn the basic skills needed to carry out advocacy and examine some sample advocacy activities.
• Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation: As the final module, this component enables the participants to develop action points and plans to put knowledge into practices back into their communities. In addition to the modules, the curriculum also includes facilitators’ reference notes and sample activities for icebreakers/energizers.