A critical part of WINFA program work has always been its efforts to works at the national, regional and international levels to help to ensure that voices from the farming and rural communities are heard on issues that impact on and influences their lives and livelihood.  

WINFA holds that civil society must plays a greater role in the shaping, implementation and evaluation of public policies and program. This is necessary not only to strengthen the content of the policies, but to enhance the public understanding and appropriation of these processes.

The major elements of WINFA’s work in strengthening Civil Society are:

• Deepening the levels of collaboration between and among civil society networks - at national, regional and international level. The objectives are to bring greater synergy in the work of civil society organizations.
• Creating the framework for a more representative and united voice for collective actions, to advance the interest of the poor and marginalize people of the region.

WINFA was instrumental in the establishment of a Civil Society Forum in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2001, which is today a broad network of civil society organizations. WINFA also plays an active role in regional networks such as the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) and the Caribbean Reference Group on external trade (CRG). At the international level, WINFA also participates to the Via Campesina (an international farmers network) and the Afrca-Caribbean-Pacific Group of States (ACP) Civil Society Forum.

Consultation and public education forms an active part of WINFA’s effort to engage, inform and build the awareness of farmers, rural communities and the people as a whole on a variety of issues impacting national and regional development. These efforts seek to ensure that social dialogue draws on current and global issues but remains grounded in the real life experiences of those affected by globalization and trade liberalization. This area of programming involves:

A. An on-going series of national and regional issues of trade liberalization, good governance, food security, rural development.

B. Interactive radio and television program (including live "call-in" shows), about these issues.

C. Regular press releases.

D. Distribution of information kits (CRG’s) and other publications on trade and governance.

E. Collaboration to researches and documentaries which support public education programs.

F. Information-sharing with other CSO’s on issues of national and international importance.

Developing advocacy and lobbying skills of WINFA's membership and other social actors in the civil society network, to provide them with the tools to strengthen their stance with decision-makers, and to widen their links with other sectors. Training workshops mainly have targeted young farmers, Fair trade group members and women farmers to give continuity to the process. The sessions are framed around issues of trade liberalization, poverty reduction, sustainable development and good governances.