INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCACY

Silvia PetrettiDeputy CEO

Positively UKTaking Part Project

Session 1

What is advocacy?

• Advocacy is a set of organised activities designed to influence the policies and actions of others to achieve change

• Advocacy must always be about getting a change in actions not just in understanding.

What is advocacy?

• Changing the decision making processes

• Empowering ourselves to have the confidence skills and opportunities to influence change

“Advocacy is putting a problem on the agenda, providing a solution to that problem and buildingsupport for acting on both the problem and the solution”

(An Introduction to Advocacy: Training Guide, Ritu R Sharma, Academy for Education Development)

Effective Advocacy

• Clearly articulates the problem• Offers positive and credible alternatives• Is directed at those with power to make

changes• Has clear goals and measurable objectives

Effective Advocacy

• Is a long term process, not a one off event• Follows through to ensure policy changes lead

to improvements in practice• Is based on a belief that change is possible –

and inspires others to do the same

Empowering Advocacy

• Opens political space and opportunities to influence for others

• Reflects the value it seeks to promote• Challenges imbalances of power or structure

which prevents people to access their rights

Empowering Advocacy looks at power distribution

- Who gets what? distribution & control of resources- Who does what? division of labour- Who decides what? decision-making power- Who sets the agenda? The power to

determine whose issues/priorites come to the table for discussion

Where is power exercised?• The public realm of power – workplace,

politics ,legal system• The private realm of power –relationship

within the family, including marriage and sexual relationships

• The intimate realm of power – self-confidence, self-esteem and self-image

Effective advocacy is planned

• We can head in right direction• Break down goals in manageable pieces • Use the right tools• Use scarce resources wisely by making strategic

choices• Make sure activities reinforce rather than

undermine each other• Get timing right• Be prepared for opposition

Planning questions

Planning cycle

Identifying the Problem

EXAMPLE OF PROBLEM TREE