OSCE/ODIHR supports young advisors gain new policymaking skills at training in Sando, Sweden

The training focused on promoting youth political participation in the OSCE region was provided for 25 participants at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) and the School of Public Policy (SPP) of the Central European University in Sando, Sweden, from 27 to 31 October 2014.

The training, the first of its kind organized by ODIHR, was aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, where policy professionals play a crucial role in defining the future trajectories of their countries.  The participants, who were young policy advisers competitively selected and represent government ministries, presidential administrations and parliaments from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine,  discussed topics such as the role of political advisers, shaping complex political environments, engaging internal and external stakeholders, and mastering communication and advocacy skills.

“Equipping this new generation of policy advisors with policymaking skills is a way to support the development and consolidation of democratic institutions across the OSCE region,” said Peter Mossop, ODIHR Democratic Governance Officer.

“As a result of this training, I grasped the complexity of the policy-making process and learned to distinguish between policy and politics,” said Stela Jemna, a senior consultant in the Prime Minister’s Office of the Republic of Moldova. “The skills I have gained will allow me to meaningfully contribute to my country’s policy agenda.”

The event was organized within the ODIHR democratic governance programme aimed at promoting youth political participation across the OSCE region, in order to support the OSCE participating States in fulfilling their OSCE Commitments on political participation.