Lesson 9.

Advocacy

Advocacy - the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something.

Advocate - a person who pleads in another’s behalf, or is an intercessor.

*Advocacy is over a means rather than an end. It specifically serves as a means to empower the
marginalized and the powerless so that they may be able to gain a better policy environment with
implications for the implementation of policies (AIPP, 2013).

Other key results due to advocacy work:

1. Building support for a cause and influencing others to address an issue by taking action.
2. Making sure that financial support can be allotted for specific programs and services.
3. Persuading and convincing power holders to pay attention and provide support to particular
development services.
4. Raising the awareness of the public regarding a particular social issues or problems and mobilize
them to pressure those in position to address the situation.
5. Creating support among people in the community for implementation of that development
intervention.

Three Types of Advocacy

1. Systems advocacy – focuses on efforts that shall change policies and practices at the local,
national or international levels.
2. Individual advocacy – focuses on efforts that will change the situation of an individual and
protect his or her rights.
3. Self-advocacy – focuses on strengthening an individual’s ability to communicate with other
people, and at the same time, persuading and convincing the individual to address his or her
own needs and rights.

Methods of Doing Advocacy Work

1. Reactive and Proactive

a. Reactive Advocacy – the problem or issue already exists and the advocacy is being
used to reduce the problem.
b. Proactive Advocacy – focuses on planning for the future in which an agenda is set in
creating a policy that will prevent a certain problem before it happens.

2. Possible Methodologies (Alliance, 2003)

a. Analyzing and influencing legislation or policies. This involves analyzing draft policies,
new policies, long established policies, even traditional laws and customs created.
b. Producing a position paper. A position paper is a document that is intended to be read
by a target group or an external audience. A position paper often contains:
i. Statement of the main argument
ii. Background why the position is being written
iii. Qualitative and quantitative evidence supporting the evidence
iv. Logical explanation on how pieces of evidences lead to the main argument
v. Recommendations
vi. Individuals and/or organizations supporting the evidence.
c. Producing a briefing note. A brief note is a document written to help an ally speak
publicly in support of one’s advocacy.
d. Holding a face-to-face meeting with decision-makers. A meeting will be conducted and
the message must be delivered.
 e. Writing and delivering a presentation. A presentation is a formal way delivering a
message in front of a target audience.
f. Persuading through drama. Drama is an effective advocacy platform because it brings
issues to lie, making the advocacy more emotionally powerful to the target audience.
g. Writing and using a press release. A press release, also known as media release or news
release, is a statement or news story prepared and distributed to the press.
h. Carrying out a media interview. A media interview is a one-on-one conversation
between a journalist and a person who has an interesting story to all, which can be used
as the basis for publication or broadcast.
i. Organizing a press conference. A press conference is a meeting organized for the
purpose of sharing or distributing information to the public and media.

3. Technique Skills needed in order the methods of advocacy be successful

a. Conscientizing – to make the target audience more aware and become more sensitive
to a certain issue.
b. Mobilizing – to bring together advocacy stakeholders into a course of action so that
decision-makers or policy makers will be pressured to address an advocacy issue.
c. Debating – to be able to engage in an argument and discuss opposing points to
adversaries of the advocacy issue.
d. Lobbying – to be able to influence the legislators or government officials to enact or
modifies legislations, policies, and programs.
e. Dialogue – to be able to discuss positions with decision-makers in order to resolve a
disagreement.
f. Petitioning – to be able to write a formal document requesting a right or benefit from a
person or a group in authority.

Reference

 Abenir, M. (2017) Community Engagement, Solidarity, and Citizenship. Makati City: Diwa Learning
System Inc.
 AIPP (2013) Training Manual on Advocacy, Lobbying and Negotiating Skills. Thailand: Asia
Indigenous Peoples Pact
 Alliance (2003) Advocacy in Action: A Toolkit to Support NGOs and CBOs. Chicago: Alliance &
International Council of AIDS-HIV Services Organization
 Taguibao, J. (2017) Community Engagement, Solidarity, and Citizenship. Quezon City: Vibal Group
Inc.