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

3. What is Advocacy? 1. Advocacy simply means actively supporting a cause, and trying to get others to support it as well. 2. Advocacy is speaking up, drawing attention to an important issue and directing decision makers towards a solution.

4. 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

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

6. 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.

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

8. Issues… Gender Violence against women Early marriage of girls Gender disparities in education Male responsibility Gender disaggregated data Unequal social and political participation Female economic empowerment

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

10. Issues… PDS Reorienting national population policies Strengthening national data systems Integrating population factors into development planning process Addressing needs of special population Achieving basic social services for all

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

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

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

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

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