Policy dialogue is about the formal and informal discussions, workshops or consultations with stakeholders on a given policy topic. It can be centred around a policy brief although this is not essential. This training package includes content on the stakeholder engagement aspects of the policy- and decision-making process, and how they contribute to policy development. The supplementary materials at the end are for optional further reading. 

Key learning objectives include: 

understandinging the goals, purpose and component parts of a policy dialogue;

identifying possible participants to include in a policy dialogue;

organizing and facilitating a policy dialogue;

informing and engaging stakeholders.

Policy dialogue

The online modules in the course below provide guidance on the organization and running of policy dialogues, as well as stakeholder management. The text material also serves as a guide to organizing a policy dialogue to input into policy-making but is a structed in a way that it may also serve as a reference tool.

Topic	Source	Title	Format	Duration	Cost and access
Organizing and running policy dialogues; stakeholder engagement	EVIPNet	SURE guides for preparing and using evidence-based policy briefs Please review all content in Modules 7-8.	Online course	1–2 hours	Free, no login required
Organizing and running policy dialogues	EVIPNet Europe	Policy dialogue preparation and facilitation checklist	Text	1 hour	Free, no login required

Community engagement

The text materials provide guidance on community assessment and an approach to community engagement using the International Association for Public Participation's (IAP2) Spectrum of Public Participation.

Topic	Source	Title	Format	Duration	Cost and access
Community assessment	Northwest Center for Public Health Practice at The University of Washington (PH Learn Link)	Evidence-based public health training series Please review all content in Module 2: Community Assessment	Online course	1 hour	Free with registration and login
Stakeholder engagement	The Policy Project (New Zealand Government)	Good practice guide for community engagement	Text	30 minutes	Free, no login required
	The Policy Project (New Zealand Government)	Selecting methods for community engagement	Text	30 minutes	Free, no login required

Supplementary materials

All supplementary materials are optional. The text materials below provide scenarios and further context to support application of what you have learnt in practice.

Topic	Source	Title	Format	Duration	Cost & Access
Organising and using policy dialogues   Engaging the public	SUPPORT project	SUPPORT tools for evidence-informed health policy-making (STP) Please read: Papers STP 14 + 15	Text	2 hours	Free, no login required
Organizing and running policy dialogues	EVIPNet Europe	Policy dialogue preparation and facilitation checklist	Text	1 hour	Free, no login required
Stakeholder engagement	The Policy Project (New Zealand Government)	Good practice guide for community engagement	Text	30 minutes	Free, no login required
	The Policy Project (New Zealand Government)	Selecting methods for community engagement	Text	30 minutes	Free, no login required