As an organic body that is constantly learning from its own experiences, NCAS has moved from providing environments to strengthen the learning initiatives of social groups and activities. The advocacy capacity development programmes now conducted by NCAS aim at clarifying concepts, developing perspectives, improving skills, building up a knowledge base and bringing about an integration of attitudinal changes with perspectives knowledge and skills. The programmes are conducted at various levels to meet various needs. At the grassroots, state and national level, NCAS conducts programmes for individual capacity development. It has also conducted a few programmes for participants from other parts of South Asia and Africa.

NCAS also conducts institutional advocacy capacity building programmes. Some programmes have been organised to strenghten public advocacy for specific issues. Since its inception, NCAS has organised over 150 advocacy capacity development programmes and over 2300 participants, from almost all Indian states and over 15 other countries have benefited from these programmes. These programmes have been conducted in English, Hindi and other languages like Marathi and Tamil.

NCAS is the first centre in this part of the world with an indigenous advocacy capacity development methodology and curriculum. It has now developed a National Advocacy Resource Team, for providing additional content and process inputs. Another recent initiative is the launch of an 18 month Internship Programme to create a cadre of young public advocacy activitist who have the perspectives and skills to make a major contribution to social change groups all across the country.

For more information: Contact

Vijaya Patnekar:
Vijaya has been working with NCAS since the last 7 years. As a Coordinator, Vijaya is involved in Advocacy Capacity Building Programmes ranging from grassroots to national, international and institutional programmes. A Masters in Social Work from Karve Institute of  Social Services, Pune,  Vijaya has worked in the area of  counselling, child rights and women's rights. Vijaya was the member of All India Democratic Women's Association for seven years and editor of their fortnightly "DISHA".  Vijaya was the convenor of ARC, a child rights network from Pune.

Lata Pratibha Madhukar:
Lata has joined NCAS from October 2007, and she is working as a Programme Coordinator in the Capacity Building team and Campaign team. Lata has done her M.A. (Marathi literature) and Bachelor of Journalism from Nagpur University. Lata started social activism in Chatra Yuva Sangharsh Vahini, Nagpur in 1978. Lata was Project Coordinator and Counselor in the Women’s Centre, Mumbai. Lata was lead campaigner with other activists of FAOW and FASDSP against Sex determination test and techniques. Lata has done research on ‘Non Brahmin and Non Hindu women’s participation in Women’s movement’. Lata worked as a Coordinator for Narmada Bachao Andolan and the struggle against Enron and was National Convener of NAPM. SPARROW, made a film on 10 feminists in India titled ‘Ten Women, Ten Lives and Ten Concerns’, Lata was among them. Lata has been awarded the Ram Apte award as a writer for the year 2002. Lata is founder of Dalit, OBC women writers’ forum called ‘Stree Kathi’.

Anil Tharayath Varghese:

Anil has joined NCAS from December 2006, and is a part of the Capacity Building and Training team. Anil is responsible for Community Learning Movement in Karnataka, a grassroot advocacy initiative of NCAS and Capacity Building Programmes and also is involved in initiating the Community Learning Movement In South Asia. He also looks after the publications brought out from the team. Anil has completed his Masters in Social Work from the Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune in 2004-06.