Advocacy training
In June 2025, the French Institute will bring together 16 young people from 6 countries in the
Western Balkans and Southeast Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North
Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia), and France for a public debate event titled “Facing the War
– European Dialogues,” in Western Balkans. For this purpose, this collective of young people will develop a program of debates and workshops intended for the general public, to put forward their understanding of their relationship with Europe in the current context of war.
The French Institute is seeking a provider to set up training modules on advocacy techniques
during the period from December 2024 to June 2025.
The French Institute
The French Institute is a public industrial and commercial establishment (EPIC). Under the
supervision of the Ministries of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Culture, it operates France’s
external cultural actions. As such, it contributes to the worldwide promotion of the French
language, arts, cultures, and knowledge. It relies on a vast network of embassies, French
Institutes abroad, and Alliances Françaises, present in most countries around the world.
Within the institute, the “Public Debate & Civil Society” team is responsible for the promotion
of French intellectual life and for fostering dialogue with foreign civil societies.
European Dialogues
General Overview
The project “Facing the War – European Dialogues” consists of a series of events bringing
together European figures from research centers, think tanks, and the media, in a
conversation with the general public, to explore the upheavals in Europe caused by the war in
Ukraine. The first event of the series took place on November 14, 2023, in Prague, at the
opening of the Prague European Summit, with several other iterations in 2024.
The European Dialogue in Western Balkans
A key stage of the “European Dialogues” cycle, this event in Western Balkans (fourth quarter of 2025) is also part of the FEF+ “Shared Horizons” initiative. The project looks to foster public debate on the diversity of cultural interpretations of history in the Western Balkans, as well as on the perception of a shared European path. The European Dialogue in Western Balkans will bring together representatives from the civil society, the youth, and the intellectual life of the Western Balkans, and creates space for exploring shared challenges with the rest of Europe.
This collective of young people will participate in five specific activities:
1. From December 2024 to December 2025, a series of virtual meetings organized by
the French Institute to help structure and empower the collective, and if needed,
provide them with the tools needed to develop a public facing program;
2. From December 2024 to June 2025, a series of virtual workshops on advocacy
techniques in the lead up to the “Youth Day” of the European Dialogue in Western Balkans;
3. From December 2024 to June 2025, a series of virtual work sessions to establish a
communication plan in collaboration with the French Institute and media partners;
4. In March 2025, three days of meetings and work sessions during the European
Dialogue taking place in Leipzig (Germany);
5. In June 2025, the creation of a youth-focused day as part of the European Dialogue in
Sarajevo, including training workshops, public debate sessions, and the rollout of a
dedicated communication campaign
Nature of the Required Service
Service Dates: December 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025
Participants: Non-native English-speakers aged 18 to 30
Number of Participants: 16
Number of Sessions: 4 sessions
Training Theme: Political advocacy techniques
The French Institute seeks a provider for the following services:
Training Topics:
1. To design and facilitate a brainstorming module on Western Balkan youth’s
understanding of Europe and the European future (120 minutes);
2. To design and facilitate a module on political advocacy techniques, to support the
outcomes of module 1 (120 minutes);
3. To design and facilitate a module on advocacy work targeted at public decision
makers or in the context of public debates (120 minutes);
4. To design and facilitate a module on advocacy techniques for social media and traditional media (120 minutes).
Budget
The maximum estimated cost for the services outlined above is €8,000 excluding tax. The
service will be subject to a purchase order, with payment made upon completion.
Response to the Call for Proposals
The deadline for submitting applications is set for November 29, 2024, at 8:00 PM Paris time.
Proposals should be sent to:
Zara Fournier, Project Manager, Public Debate
Zara.fournier@institutfrancais.com
Baptiste Gaich, Project Officer, Youth and Civil Society
baptiste.gaich@institutfrancais.com
Please copy your email to:
François-Ronan Dubois, Head of the “Debate of Ideas and Citizenship” division
francoisronan.dubois@institutfrancais.com
For any questions regarding this call for interest, please write to Baptiste Gaich.
The results will be notified during the week of December 9, 2024. Work on module design
with the French Institute will begin immediately after notification.
Documents Required from Candidates
To make its selection, the French Institute wishes to receive the following documents:
1. A presentation of the company, with references
2. A presentation of the team assigned to the project
3. A presentation of the technical resources allocated to the project
4. A Detailed quote
5. A prospective timeline
Candidates are free to provide any additional elements they believe would help the French
Institute in the selection process.
Selection Criteria
The criteria for evaluating proposals are as follows:
• Presentation of the company, the team, and CVs. The French Institute will pay
particular attention to the diversity of teams and the company's commitment to
gender equality. (20 points)
• References provided by the company (experiences and quality of references). (20
points)
• The attractiveness of the proposed modules for a young and diverse audience, their
innovative character, and the skills developed by participants. (20 points)
• The methodology and its relevance for digital formats. (20 points)
• Cost. (20 points)
The selected proposal may be subject to adjustments at the request of the French Institute
