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Advocacy aims to create political, social, and structural changes for social justice by engaging various stakeholders, including citizens, NGOs, and media. Successful advocacy relies on clear objectives, effective coalition structures, and strong communication strategies, while networking facilitates cooperation and resource sharing among organizations. Lobbying, both inside and outside legislative bodies, is essential for influencing policy and ensuring citizen involvement in the political process.

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8 views

Learning School_Session-1

Advocacy aims to create political, social, and structural changes for social justice by engaging various stakeholders, including citizens, NGOs, and media. Successful advocacy relies on clear objectives, effective coalition structures, and strong communication strategies, while networking facilitates cooperation and resource sharing among organizations. Lobbying, both inside and outside legislative bodies, is essential for influencing policy and ensuring citizen involvement in the political process.

Uploaded by

shomotaytarunnoplanbd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Advocacy:

Advocacy seeks change on the political, social and structural levels of society. Change is
multidimensional. Small changes occur simultaneously, ultimately building toward long-term
transformative changes within institutions and their power relations with the citizens.
Advocacy not only addresses legislation but also all the players who are in the position to influence
change in favour of social justice.
These include:
• Citizens
• Law making institutions
• Duty Bearer
• Key actors (social partners, religious communities, etc.)
• Media
• The NGOs sector

Successful advocacy is based on the following set of preconditions:


• The Concept/ vision on social justice
• Defining objectives
• Defining advocacy strategy.
• Monitoring, observation and analysis of political and social processes and developments
• Monitoring and analysis of progress and control of advocacy effects

Advocacy Coalition/Partnering

In most cases, NGOs and other civil society organizations come together in order to cooperate and
co-create. One of the basic conditions in forming Coalition/Partnering is the development of an
effective coalition structure. An effective coalition structure includes a clear set of responses to the
following questions:
• Who can join and according to which criteria?
• How are these members expected to participate? What are their roles?
• Which criteria determine the choice of the leaders?
• What type of decision-making structure and procedures should be applied?
• Dealing with tensions and conflict: What strategy?

In addition, a clear and strong coalition identity, the member’s autonomy as well as an appropriate
communication strategy are essential.

Define the common objectives of the Coalition/Partners:


A clear definition of common objectives of a coalition is crucial. Misleading objectives are a clear cause
for an unsuccessful advocacy campaign. In determining objectives, both short-term and long-term
objectives should be considered. Short-term objectives help to make people believe that change is
possible. Long-term objectives build on the momentum of short-term victories, thus leading to a bigger
vision. Objectives can focus on action at multiple levels: local, national and international.

Key Principals:
1. Integrity
2. Transparency
3. Mutual benefits/ Common Interests
4. Participation
Basics of Networking:

At present, the terms “network” and “networking” are widely used in the NGOs sector. However, it
should be noted that networking practices are probably as old as mankind.
The concept of networking is based on the will to co-operate and identify mutual interests.

Reasons for networking:


• Dissemination of information
• Dissemination of know-how
• Co-ordination of activities in terms of synergy
• Technical guidance and co-ordination
• Seek social well-being and social progress
• Make use of partners’ skills and resources

Building network:
A certain number of pre-conditions should be taken into consideration-
• Networks should be built on the basis of prior feasibility studies and a sound rational
• Networks need to rely on their own resources
• Networks need diversity of membership
• Networks need flexible management and an ability to adapt over time to changing
circumstances
• Networking needs formal basics

Four steps for setting a network


1. Decide on the coordinator and partners
2. Analyse the problems and define the objectives
3. Determine the means to be used and the measures to be taken
4. Plan the working model/modality and set rules

Necessary skills and competences for successful networking


1. Communication skills
2. Co-ordination skills
3. Decision-making capacity
4. Diplomacy
5. Leadership skills
6. Management skills
7. Negotiation skills
8. Persuasion competences
9. Planning competences
10. Analytical skills

Lobbying:

Lobbying is about getting citizens more actively involved in achieving political and social objectives
through a structured channel for feedback, criticism and protest. Through lobbying interest groups try
to influence legislation. In this context, civil society organisations play an important role as facilitators
of a broad policy dialogue.
It is respected as a core activity of civil society in the policy making process and an important element
of participation. Policies and action must be coherent - there should be a will for a wide participation
throughout the policy chain - and openness and accountability should be ensured. Policies must be
effective and timely, delivering what is needed.

In order to achieve effective lobbying the following actions should be accomplished:


• The analysis of political processes and their potential impact on position taking
• Define the objectives for the action
• Choose the most appropriate lobbying instruments
• Implementation of lobbying activities
• Widen the range of public relations
• Monitor and analyse the effects of lobbying activities
• Control of lobbying effects

"Inside" Lobbying:
“Inside” Lobbying is a form of lobbying that takes place within the legislative bodies or institutions
(National Parliament, Regional Parliament, etc.) through:
• Meetings with lawmakers and legislative staff
• Providing analysis and information to committees and legislative offices
• Testifying in committee’s consultations
• Negotiating with policy makers and other lobbying groups

"Outside" Lobbying
An effective lobbying campaign also requires activity outside the parliamentarian structures, aimed at
shifting the politics and pressure around the issue. Some of these activities include:
• Media activity including news conferences, editorial board visits, and assisting reporters
with stories
• Local lobbying visits to legislators
• Building broad and diverse coalitions
• Letter writing campaigns/petition to legislators
• Grass root activities such as rallies/Procession

It is important that these two forms of lobbying activities - “inside” and “outside” - be coordinated to
ensure that they make strategic sense in terms of timing, targeting and disseminating messages.

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