AdvocacyWhat is it and how does it

work

N. Assifi

UNFPA/CST, Bangkok

What is Advocacy?

1. Advocacy simply means actively supporting a cause, and trying to get others to support it as well.

2. Advocacy is speaking up, drawing attention to an important issue and directing decision makers towards a solution.

Purpose of Advocacy1. 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

Goal:Actively

supporting a cause,

and trying to get others

to support it as well

Goal:

Change attitudes, Beliefs, values and

Behaviour of individuals or group of individuals

Process. Identify,

segment audiences. Undertake research to

clarify issues. Develop

strategies & messages. Monitor and

evaluate

IECSimilaritiesAdvocacy

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…

Gender

Violence against womenEarly marriage of girls

Gender disparities in educationMale

responsibilityGender disaggregated dataUnequal social and

political participation

Female economic empowerment

Issues…

RH

The reproductive health approach

Reproductive rights

Maternal and newborn care

STDs and HIV/AIDS

Adolescent reproductive health

RH in conflict situations

Issues…

PDS

Reorienting national population policies

Strengthening national data systems

Integrating population factors into development planning process

Addressing needs of special population

Achieving basic social services for all

Issues…

Resource mobilization

Ensuring government commitment

Eliciting donor support

Fostering community participation

Encouraging private sector participation

Major areas of advocacy work

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

Sensitizing

Mobilizing

Dialoguing

Negotiating Lobbying

Petitioning

Pressuring

Informing

Techniques and TacticsAdvocacy

techniques and tactics

Audience/Stakeholder CategoryBeneficiarie

sPartners Adversarie

sDecisionmake

rs

Sensitization

Mobilization

Dialoguing

Debating

Negotiating

Lobbying

Petitioning

Pressuring