Transcript What is Advocacy?

Advocacy
What is it and how does it work
N. Assifi
UNFPA/CST, Bangkok
What is Advocacy?
1.
2.
Advocacy simply means
actively supporting a
cause, and trying to get
others to support it as
well.
Advocacy is speaking up,
drawing attention to an
important issue and
directing decision makers
towards a solution.
Purpose of Advocacy
1. The purpose of
advocacy as
defined by UNFPA
is to promote or
reinforce a
change in policy,
programme or
legislation.
2. Rather than providing
support directly to
clients or users of
services, advocacy aims
at winning support from
others, i.e. creating a
supportive environment.
Guidelines on UNFPA Support for Advocacy, July 1997
Differences and similarities
of Advocacy and IEC
Advocacy
Goal:
Actively
supporting a
cause,
and trying to
get others
to support it
as well
Similarities
Process
. Identify,
segment audiences
. Undertake research to
clarify issues
. Develop
strategies & messages
. Monitor and
evaluate
IEC
Goal:
Change attitudes,
Beliefs, values and
Behaviour of
individuals
or group of
individuals
An advocacy campaign is not the
same as IEC campaign
IEC educates
individuals and the
community about
the existence and
benefits of
reproductive health
services.
Advocacy
aims to gain
wider support
for such causes
or issues.
 Although there is a good deal of overlap
between IEC and advocacy, advocacy
activities tend to be more deliberately
persuasive and campaign oriented.
Issues for Advocacy
Enhancing Gender Equity, Equality
and Empowerment of Women
Promoting Reproductive Health
and Rights
Population and Development Linkages
Mobilizing and Monitoring
Resources
Issues…
Violence against women
Early marriage of girls
Gender disparities in education
Gender
Male responsibility
Gender disaggregated data
Unequal social and political
participation
Female economic empowerment
Issues…
The reproductive health approach
Reproductive rights
Maternal and newborn care
RH
STDs and HIV/AIDS
Adolescent reproductive health
RH in conflict situations
Issues…
Reorienting national population policies
Strengthening national data systems
PDS
Integrating population factors
into development planning
process
Addressing needs of special population
Achieving basic social services for all
Issues…
Ensuring government commitment
Eliciting donor support
Resource
mobilization
Fostering community
participation
Encouraging private sector
participation
Major areas of advocacy
work
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Leadership development
Coalition building
Networking
Political Lobbying
Promoting legislative
change
Briefing media
Counteracting opposition
Stakeholders of Advocacy
•Beneficiaries
•Decision makers
•Allies and partners
•Resistant groups
(Adversaries)
Techniques and Tactics of
Advocacy
Techniques and Tactics
Advocacy
techniques
and tactics
Sensitization
Mobilization
Dialoguing
Debating
Negotiating
Lobbying
Petitioning
Pressuring
Audience/Stakeholder Category
Beneficiaries
Partners
Adversaries
Decisionmakers