Building the capacity of local project teams through training in human rights advocacy
Between January and March 2026, in partnership with the Salesian Sisters of Ireland, IIMA Human Rights Office organised and delivered a three-module training programme dedicated to local project teams. Following a preliminary introductory meeting held in December 2025, the training initiative brought together civil society actors involved in nine local projects implemented by the Salesian Sisters across five countries – India, South Sudan, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Lesotho. In order to provide an interactive space for the many participants, each module was conducted twice and offered in both English and French in order to ensure wider accessibility and active participation. The local projects teams involved in the programme are focused on strengthening awareness and mobilization around human rights, including the right to a healthy and sustainable environment, while also fostering the effective realization of rights and promoting positive changes in policies and practices at both local and international levels.
The first training module, Human Rights Advocacy in local projects: enhancing local protection of human rights, aimed to raise awareness about the crucial role of advocacy in local human rights initiatives. The session highlighted how advocacy can contribute to stronger implementation of human rights at the community level and empower local actors to become active agents of change.
The second module, Building up a Human Rights Advocacy Action Plan, focused on equipping participants with practical methodologies to design effective advocacy strategies in line with their respective human rights priorities. Through this session, beneficiaries learned how to develop structured advocacy action plans to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights both locally and internationally. To support this process, IIMA provided participants with a dedicated template to guide the development of their own advocacy plans.
The third and final module, Human Rights Monitoring and Follow-up, explored the opportunities offered by international human rights mechanisms, with particular attention to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, to enhance human rights at the local level. The training provided participants with tools and methodologies to monitor human rights implementation and engage in follow-up activities more effectively. During the session, IIMA also shared a practical template to support beneficiaries in creating their own human rights monitoring plans.
Through this training pathway, IIMA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the capacities of local partners and supporting grassroots initiatives working to advance human rights, environmental justice, and sustainable development worldwide.
A special thanks to Salesians Sisters Ireland and Misean Cara for making this capacity building initiative possible!