ROOTS 1+2 Advocacy Toolkit ROOTS 1+2 Advocacy toolkit

Section B1 The WHY of advocacy Poverty reduction (and other motivations)

Section B1: What is poverty? The World Bank stated the following in 2000: ‘Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom.’

Section B1: What is poverty? Symptoms of poverty Primary causes of poverty Structural causes of poverty Vulnerability to poverty

Section B1: How does advocacy contribute to poverty reduction? Advocacy addresses the underlying causes of poverty. This complements projects and programmes that address its effects Advocacy involves holding governments accountable for fulfilling their mandate to provide service delivery

Section B1: What motivates us to do advocacy? Values, desires, beliefs Involvement in a situation that needs, or with people who need, an advocacy response Being motivated by the compassion of Christ Fulfilling the church’s mission to bring good news Viewing people living in poverty as agents of change Providing long-term solutions to injustice & poverty Leveraging greater change