ADVOCACY
ADVOCACY
Advocacy is speaking
up, drawing attention to
an important issue and
directing decision
makers towards a
solution.
PURPOSE: ADVOCACY
as defined by UNFPA:
sto promote or reinforce a change in
policy, programme or legislation.
than providing support directly
to clients or users of services, advocacy
aims at winning support from others, i.e.
creating a supportive environment.
ADVOCACY
Advocacy is the active
support of an idea or cause
expressed through strategies
and method that influence
outcome directly affecting the
lives’ of the people.
ADVOCACY
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ADVOCACY
It usually involves _ getting
government, business, schools,
‘or some other large institution to
correct an unfair or harmful
situation affecting people in the
community.
WHY AND WHEN WOULD
YOU CHOOSE ADVOCACY?
Advocacy is best kept for when
“routine” work such as gathering
support for a cause, raising
money, and recruiting members
of a community initiative or
program won't get you where you
want to go.WHY AND WHEN WOULD
YOU CHOOSE ADVOCACY?
WHY AND WHEN WOULD
YOU CHOOSE ADVOCACY?
In most cases, it's a good idea to think
twice before launching yourselves (or
your group) as advocates, because it's a
strategy that's more effective if there isn't,
too much of it around.
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COMPONENTS: ADVOCACY
‘SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR ADVOCATES
‘Once you go public with an advocacy
‘campaign, you may draw the attention of a
umber of people, not all of whom will wish
you well
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COMPONENTS: ADVOCACY
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE
However, it is important to develop a deeper
understanding of the issue, including research
to analyze of who has power.
Remember, advocacy is about power-who can
influence things that matter. You will need to
know where the power of your opponents lies,
land how you can most effectively influence or
ccontrontit.
‘The best time to start planning for an
advocacy campaig
+ When your clrect experience o preliminary research
Shows you cansot achieve your goals n any other way
‘When you are sure you have (er wil have) the copactty
{ocarry through
shen you have enough enthusiasm and eneray to last
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COMPONENTS: ADVOCACY
SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR ADVOCATES
‘Think of what could go wrong with a campaign
to promote better health for the poor:
You accuse the local hospital of tuening away a sick
pallent, without checking your facts. The hospital
proves that It treated the man, but he dlscharged
himeett ears.
‘You announce 2 big demonstration outside the
hospital, an only three people show up.
COMPONENTS: ADVOCACY
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE
Example:
sYou are aware of a growing problem of
homelessness, particularly among people with
‘small children.
+ You feel that not nearly enough is being done
in your community to prevent youth smoking,
+ Your group is afraid that a new industrial park.
up river will pollute the water.
COMPONENTS: ADVOCAC
DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR ADVOCACY
For a useful analogy, we'llinvite you to think of
the overall campaign as a building project
“Aetion pian wil include the specifies: who will pour
the conerete for the foundation, put up a frame, ad
the root, etcotara, and when wil they doe
‘And alt wil go together as part of one big action plan