1. Environmental Advocacy Paper presented by Selestino Chari (Lobby and Advocacy Programme Officer) at Environment Africa Media Workshop 25 – 26 April 2007 Harare

2. DefinitionsEnvironment  The natural and man-made resources, physical resources, both biotic and abiotic, occurring in the lithosphere and atmosphere, water, soil, minerals and living organisms, whether indigenous or exotic and the interaction between them (EMA CAP 20:27) Media Advocacy  The purposeful and planned use of mass media to bring problems and policy solutions to the attention of the community and local decision makers (Prevention Research Centre) What is advocacy?  An action aimed at changing the policies, positions and programmes of governments, institutions and organizations (General)  Putting a problem on the agenda, providing a solution to the problem, and building support for acting on both the problem and the solution (General)  An organized, systematic, intentional influencing process on matters of public interest (General)

3. What does advocacy include?  Looking for issues, events and opportunities  Demonstrating solutions ( comparisons)  Action oriented research  Policy analysis and prescriptional  Awareness raising  Campaigning, demonstrations, boycotts  Lobbying ( openly on behind the scenes)  Partnerships which can be local, national, international  Creating ways for people to act (national, international or local)  Publishing and media work (communication)

4. Importance of advocacy  To bring change, influence policy, to improve understanding, disseminate information, educate and inform, to incite concern, to reach a wider audience  Accountability and transparency  Strengthens capacity of decision makers, and civil society

5. Approaches to advocacy Abolitionist approach- Influence global processes e.g. GMOs, climate change, MDGs and Environmental trade Reformist approach- This targets technical and regional/national levels of institutions (water, GMOs) Demonstrative approach- To convince policy makers of the need to change (constitutional reforms)

6. The basic advocacy procedure Step 3: Information Assessment: once the information has been gathered, assess the issue or situation to decide whether you should engage in advocacy or not Step 4: Planning: once you have decided to engage in advocacy, formulate a strategy. This will have clear ideas of issues, objectives, targets, methods/activities, allies/ opponents, resources, responsibilities, time-scale, success indicators and evaluation point Step 5:Action: take action according to the strategy agreed in Step 4, using the range of methods and activities available. The key to Steps 4 and 5 is coordination of all of the people involved in advocacy and all of the methods being used ‑ lobbying, campaigning, and media work. Step 1: Proposal: propose advocacy on an issue of concern to you Step 6: Evaluation: Monitor actions, evaluate their results and decide what further action is appropriate or how advocacy could be done differently in the future Step 2: Information Gathering: gather the necessary information to assess the situation and consider whether you have a potential role in any advocacy activity

7. SWOT analysis  Strengths  Weaknesses  Opportunities  Threats

8. Targets Primary- e.g. Government Secondary- e.g. UN Agencies

9. Categorizing and prioritizing stakeholders  Allies  Adversaries  Neutral  Beneficiaries Government Government Government is usually the primary target in advocacy because of its power to change or not to change things or laws. Any change objective in advocacy must target government as both a potential ally or opponent. This is so because some people in positions of power may be potential allies, people who we can work with to change the situation, as opposed to people we need to work against. Early involvement in a policy process is important for greater impact, and a good relationship with policy ‑ makers will help this to happen. Government is usually the primary target in advocacy because of its power to change or not to change things or laws. Any change objective in advocacy must target government as both a potential ally or opponent. This is so because some people in positions of power may be potential allies, people who we can work with to change the situation, as opposed to people we need to work against. Early involvement in a policy process is important for greater impact, and a good relationship with policy ‑ makers will help this to happen. Multilateral /International Institutions and agencies Multilateral /International Institutions and agencies International, intergovernmental and multilateral agencies or donors may have significant influence on government agendas, particularly in poorer countries, because they have the power to give or withdraw funding. And for certain change objectives, international agencies may in fact be the primary targets. International agencies by their nature are large, complicated and heavily bureaucratic organizations with strong political agendas. International, intergovernmental and multilateral agencies or donors may have significant influence on government agendas, particularly in poorer countries, because they have the power to give or withdraw funding. And for certain change objectives, international agencies may in fact be the primary targets. International agencies by their nature are large, complicated and heavily bureaucratic organizations with strong political agendas. The Corporate Sector- which includes large companies, employers, local businesses can be your valuable stakeholder in advocacy. It can be significantly influential, especially with regard to economic policies. Presentations to the corporate sector should use its language, explaining policy change in numbers, for example The Corporate Sector- which includes large companies, employers, local businesses can be your valuable stakeholder in advocacy. It can be significantly influential, especially with regard to economic policies. Presentations to the corporate sector should use its language, explaining policy change in numbers, for example

10. Setting of advocacy objectives It is very important that participants understand that before setting advocacy objectives, certain requirements have to be met It is very important that participants understand that before setting advocacy objectives, certain requirements have to be met The objectives to be set should meet the SMART principle. This means that they must be;  Specific  Measurable  Achievable  Realistic  Time-Framed

11. Participatory approach in advocacy  Stakeholders play an active role in advocacy. Involving them generates a sense of belonging and ownership. It is very essential to analyze these stakeholders in terms of their interest, needs, capabilities and affiliations. This is done to enhance the likelihood of success in an advocacy project. Also it is morally right to include all people going to be affected by your project

12. Challenges in advocacy work Danger of substituting for Partners: There is a risk that speaking on behalf of individuals and communities in the South further disempowers them (and brings into question the legitimacy of NGOs seeking to do so); Danger of substituting for Partners: There is a risk that speaking on behalf of individuals and communities in the South further disempowers them (and brings into question the legitimacy of NGOs seeking to do so); Inadequate Capacity-Advocacy requires sufficient resources in terms of finances, adequate, dedicated and skilled personnel, time, etc which are not always readily available; Inadequate Capacity-Advocacy requires sufficient resources in terms of finances, adequate, dedicated and skilled personnel, time, etc which are not always readily available; Advocacy work takes time-Working participatively takes time, can be frustrating, and is often bureaucratic while change is not always guaranteed, apart from time long time if it occurs; Advocacy work takes time-Working participatively takes time, can be frustrating, and is often bureaucratic while change is not always guaranteed, apart from time long time if it occurs; Logistical nightmares-Participating in a project with partners operating in different countries, at different levels, to different priorities can be frustrating, cumbersome and expensive. You need to keep focused on your role within it, and be clear about what you want from others and what you can contribute to their activities in return; Logistical nightmares-Participating in a project with partners operating in different countries, at different levels, to different priorities can be frustrating, cumbersome and expensive. You need to keep focused on your role within it, and be clear about what you want from others and what you can contribute to their activities in return; Conflicts of interests-This occurs both within an organization (between management, who can think of advocacy as an element of corporate communications, and project staff who think of it as a dangerous diversion from more 'concrete' work) and between different organizations. Try to steer a balance between these extremes; Conflicts of interests-This occurs both within an organization (between management, who can think of advocacy as an element of corporate communications, and project staff who think of it as a dangerous diversion from more 'concrete' work) and between different organizations. Try to steer a balance between these extremes;

13. THANK YOU