Lecture 3 Advocacy a Tools for Community Networking

8/22/2019 Lecture 3 Advocacy a Tools for Community Networking

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ADVOCACYA TOOLSFOR

COMMUNITY NETWORKINGAsaah


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WHAT IS ADVOCACY?

There are many ways of defining advocacy -

but several of the most useful definitions we

have found include:

Advocacy is speaking up, drawing acommunitys attention to an important issue,

and directing decision makers toward a

solution.

Advocacy is an action or set of actions directedat changing policies or positions of an institution

- such as a government agency - in support of a

specific policy goal.


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Advocacy is putting a problem on the

agenda, providing a solution to that

problem, and building support for acting on

both the problem and the solution.

Advocacy is the process of people

participating in the decision making

processes that affect their lives.


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ADVOCACY DEFINED

Advocacy is a process that involves a series of

political actions conducted by organized citizens in

order to transform power relationships.

The purpose of advocacy is to achieve specific

policy changes that benefit the population involved

in this process.

These changes can take place in the public or

private sector.

Effective advocacy is conducted according to a

strategic plan and within a reasonable time frame.

The Arias Foundation (Costa Rica)


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Advocacy is speaking up, drawing a

communitys attention to an important issue,

and directing decision-makers toward a

solution.Advocacy is working with other people and

organizations to make a difference. From

the Handbook on Advocacy for Women

Leaders


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Advocacy is defined as a process of social

transformation aimed at shaping the direction of

public participation, policies, and programs to

benefit the marginalized, uphold human rights,

and safeguard the environment.

Advocacy is described as being pro-poor,

reflecting core values such as equity, justice, and

mutual respect, and focusing on empowering the

poor and being accountable to them.Institute forDevelopment


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In general advocacy is a political processdesigned to influence policy change at local,national or international levels.

Speaking Up: drawing attention to animportant issue and directing decisionmakers to a solution or an alternative

Advocacy is the act of supporting a cause to

produce a desired change. We advocatebecause we feel strongly about a particularissue. One target of advocacy isgovernment policy


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ADVOCACYISA PROCESS (ELEMENTSOF

ADVOCACY)

it is designed and planned and should have

a clear cut strategy

it is targeted at policy change

It is based on an intention

it has to influence a change

it should target political policy makers

because all the decisions and books andissues around that we deal with, are all

political decisions.


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WHOCANENGAGEINADVOCACY?

Individuals/Community groups

Civil Society groups/ Development Agents

Pressure groups

Organisations

Businesses

Governments (e.g. at the level of the UN)


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ADVOCACY STRATEGIES

Sensitizing

Mobilizing

Dialoguing

Negotiating

Lobbying

Petitioning

Pressuring

Informing


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GENERAL TECHNIQUESFOR EFFECTIVE

ADVOCACY

Identify yourself: State your name and identify yourselfas a constituent. Share other information about who youare if it is relevant to the issue (for example, if you are aparent, member of a civic organization, business owner,scientist, etc).

Be Specific: Include the name and number of therelevant bill. Clearly describe the issue and state yourgoals.

Make it Personal: The best thing you can do as acitizen advocate is give the issue your individual voice.Use personal examples and speak in your own words.

Be Confident: Your officials job is to represent you. Youmay also know more about the issue than your electedofficial. That is why it is a good idea to offer yourself as asource of information.


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Be Polite:Always work on the basis that the

government and your opponents are open to

reason and discussion. If you are rude, your

message will not be received.

Be Brief: Communication that focuses strongly on

one argument is the most effective. Keep it to one

issue. Limit written documents to one page.

Be Timely: Your message is more likely to be

considered if it is immediately relevant.

Be Factual: Use facts and statistics. Make sure the

information you provide is accurate.


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WHATIS LOBBYING

Lobbying is targeting a person or group

and persuading her/him/them to see an

issue your way; and influencing them to take

appropriate action to bring the desiredchange

When lobbying you should have a goal in

mind to influence others to see your

reasoning and also think your way.


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lobbying sometimes looks more intimate

than advocacy but lobbying can also be

part of your advocacy strategy.

It could be a tool in your advocacy strategy.Lobbying is a skill and is becoming a

profession (UK, US)

Lobbying can be used as a stand-a-lone, ora primary advocacy strategy; or in

combination with other actions.


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WHATISA CAMPAIGN?

A series of actions advancing a principle or

leading toward a particular end

Crusading, exerting oneself continuously,

vigorously or obtrusively to gain an end orgoal - a social or political goal.

An organized way of working involving a

series of activities strung together in an

integrated fashion, or in an escalating

manner for high impact.


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CAMPAIGNAND ADVOCACY WHATISTHE

DIFFERENCE

Related but different

Campaign can be an integral part of an

advocacy effort

An advocacy strategy can be undertakenincidental to a campaign as a consequence

or subsequent to a campaign

Sometimes used interchangeably or as an

advocacy campaign

May both achieve same policy ends but

structure and organizing is a bit different


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ACTIONSIN CAMPAIGNING

Investigating issue

Negotiations and arbitration

Public forums of all sorts

Media engagement letters to press etcPicketing and leafleting

Demonstration, rallies, marches etc

Limited strikes and boycotts

Non- cooperation

Massive and general strikes

Getting arrested


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WHATGOESINTO CAMPAIGNS

It is planned, mobilizing and organizing is

high.

It is implemented in a continuous manner

(series).Needs evaluation at every stage and then

re-strategize

Documents

Lecture 3 Advocacy a Tools for Community Networking