lobby and advocacy xiss, ranchi, jharkhand 9 th june 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Lobby and Advocacy
XISS, Ranchi, Jharkhand 9th June 2013
For starters
People with and people without power
Influencing
Advocacy
Lobby~
Who needs to use lobby/advocacy?
People in power command
Marginalised people will not be heard
The ‘medium strong’ can lobby~
Reasons for influencing the powerful
Starting point is to help target group (without power)
Giving direct support is no longer sufficient
Scaling up:more can be achieved than just direct support
Policies government hurt target group
Policies government neglect target group
Lack of policies
No or limited implementation of policies~
Advocacy
Advocacy is:
Defend interestsMake someone heard
Influence powerful
Goal of advocacy is:
Win your cause for benefit of target group~
Meaning of Advocacy
• Dictionary –An act of giving support to a cause.
• Ad-voca - Amplifying the voice of those whose voice is not heard.
• The cause and voice of the marginalised sections in our society especially women, children, tribals, dalits, unorganised laboureres, minorities etc. who have less bargaining power
• To be heard by the decision makers namely the legislature, executive and judiciary.
Advocacy or lobby?
Lobby: special form of advocacy
Lobbying is a specialised form of advocacy:
Two way communicationInfluencing through linking interests of different
stakeholders
Special goals of lobbying are:
Let others win as well (create win-win)Build relationships
~
Common advocacy / advocacy campaigns
Common advocacy methods are well known, often used to force change
Only sending informationInfluencing through demands
Examples:Demonstration
Submission of memorandum/demandsLaw suitPetition
~
Advocacy vs. lobby
A girl is a human beingA human being is not always a girl
Lobby is advocacyNot all advocacy is lobby
~
Definition of lobbying
Systematic informal efforts to influencedecision makers
Systematicplanned, not incidental
Informalnot to be confused with formal procedures
influencing before decision makers make formal position known
Decision makersor people with power are target
~
Basics for lobbying
Sufficient knowledge on decision making process
Willingness to:
improve quality of decision making
offer solutions instead of dumping problems
create win - win situation
be constructive partner to decision makers~
Limits of advocacy
You cannot achieve everything:
You are not in power yourself, accept this position
Decision makers decide on your influencing space(however: by playing it smart, you can create
more space)
Extra limit to lobbying:
Compromises are necessary
Advantage of lobbying:
Less threatening to decision makers~
Four phases ofdecision making process
Initial phase
Analysing phase
Formal decision phase
Implementation phase~
Methods for lobby / advocacy
Personal visit
Personal letter
Informal contact
Hearing
Petition
Demonstration
Juridical approach~
Method effective elsewhere?
India (other training):Personal visit
MediaDemonstration
China:Meals / personal visit
ExposureSharing hobbies
Philippines:Mass mediaPersonal visit
Meetings~
Method ineffective elsewhere?
India (other training):Phone call
General letterReviews
China:Sit in / law suitDemonstration
Flyers & posters / petition
Philippines:IntrusionTheatre
Gifts~
Methods India most effectiveDemonstration 6 media 13 consultation 2
Signature campaign
3 survey Meeting (informal)
4
postcard 1 Personal letter 1 Press conference
1
rally 7 Sms/e-mail Drama / role play
2
strike 6 Sit-in Puppet burning 1
Road block 9 poll 2 Public hearing 2
Documentary film 1 fasting 1 Exposure visit 3
Human chain 1 posters petition 3
conference 2 Boycot voting 1 PIL 2
Personal visit 7 Self-burning 2
Methods India least effectiveDemonstration 4 media 1 consultation 2
Signature campaign
3 survey 3 Meeting (informal)
postcard 5 Personal letter 4 Press conference
rally 3 Sms/e-mail 6 Drama / role play
6
strike 3 Sit-in 4 Puppet burning 6
Road block 1 poll 3 Public hearing 1
Documentary film 2 fasting 2 Exposure visit 1
Human chain posters 6 petition 4
conference 3 Boycot voting 6 PIL
Personal visit Self-burning 7
Common obstacles in lobby
Hidden powers
Nepotism / incompetent decision makers
Bribery / personal gain
Distrust
Lack of knowledge (procedures, contents, interests)
Promote your own organisation
Wrong timing
From decision to implementation
Ever changing decision makers~