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 pile We SPEAKON Teanseeac SPEAK ENA OF urorvmseir —ONBEHALFOF———THOseWHO ‘ONT sPeAKFOR “weNsetves ee “gy ae 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. Cotta aenl ono pa Some the aso” 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 ins ge wrong, you coud ed up king very ihn he oat eet rire aman Bn Joudont ge eu he many ess mossy eticen 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 {or what could bea fong haul! 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