1. Advocacy
What is it and how does it work
N. Assifi
UNFPA/CST, Bangkok

2. What is Advocacy?
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.

3. 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

4. Differences and similarities of Advocacy and IEC
Goal:
Change attitudes,
Beliefs, values and
Behaviour of
individuals
or group of
Goal:
Actively
supporting a
cause,
and trying to
get others
to support it
as well
Process
. Identify,
segment audiences
. Undertake research to
clarify issues
. Develop
strategies & messages
. Monitor and
evaluate

5. 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.
þ   Although there is a good deal of overlap between IEC and advocacy, advocacy activities tend to be more deliberately persuasive and campaign oriented.

6. Issues for Advocacy
Enhancing Gender Equity, Equality and Empowerment of Women
Promoting Reproductive Health and Rights
Population and Development Linkages
Mobilizing and Monitoring Resources

7. Issues… Gender 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

8. Issues… RH The reproductive health approach Reproductive rights
Maternal and newborn care
STDs and HIV/AIDS
Adolescent reproductive health
RH in conflict situations

9. Issues… PDS 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

10. Issues… Resource mobilization Ensuring government commitment
Eliciting donor support
Resource
mobilization
Fostering community participation
Encouraging private sector participation

11. Major areas of advocacy work
Leadership development
Coalition building
Networking
Political Lobbying
Promoting legislative change
Briefing media
Counteracting opposition

12. Stakeholders of Advocacy
Beneficiaries
Decision makers
Allies and partners
Resistant groups (Adversaries)

13. Techniques and Tactics of Advocacy
Sensitizing
Mobilizing
Dialoguing
Negotiating
Lobbying
Petitioning
Pressuring
Informing

14. Techniques and Tactics
Advocacy techniques and tactics
Audience/Stakeholder Category
Beneficiaries
Partners
Adversaries
Decisionmakers
Sensitization
Mobilization
Dialoguing
Debating
Negotiating
Lobbying
Petitioning
Pressuring