On 24-27 February 2014, three WRI researches had the opportunity to participate in a capacity building program on communication strategy in Yogyakarta. This workshop was held by the Policy Research Network (PRN) under the theme “Communication Strategy and Advocacy.”

The objective of this workshop, apart from to enhance the skills/capacity of PRN members in communication strategy and advocacy, is also to share experiences among PRN members in carrying out advocacy and communication. The five speakers of this workshop came from FISIPOL (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences) UGM, namely Dr. Kuskridho Ambardi, Rahayu M.Si, Ambar Widaningrum, Nanang Pamuji and Dr.phil Hermin Indah Wahyuni.

 In this activity, the WRI researchers received the knowledge on mapping advocacy strategies and using various media in delivering the results of the policy analysis. The Policy Briefs and Fact Sheets published by WRI, for instance, are effective mediums in the process of advocacy to the parliament members.

The Policy Research Network (PRN) is a network consisting of institutions focusing on evidence based policy to influence the government’s policy. PRN was established on 29 January 2013 in a meeting attended by ProRep (Representation Program)-USAID beneficiary institutions. The purpose of this network is to establish PRN as a think tank that can facilitate its members through inter-institutional collaborations within the network. PRN has five research-based institutions: CSIS (Centre for Strategic and International Studies), IRE (Institute for Research and Empowerment), LPEM (Institute for Economics and Social Research), PPPI (Paramadina Public Policy Institute), and WRI (Women Research Institute). Currently, LPEM FEUI is the secretariat of PRN.