WG-USA Road Map for Advocacy

AGM 2014

Advocacy Facts• Advocacy is the deliberate process of influencing decision

makers, stakeholders and other relevant audiences to support and implement actions that contribute to the fulfillment of human rights, in our case, women’s rights

 • Advocacy as a strategy for the nonprofit sector has

become increasingly widespread. Foundations are looking to fund more of this type of work; nonprofits are learning how to harness the power of Advocacy to achieve their mission; and both are trying to better understand how to evaluate success - The California Endowment

Road Map Goals • Goal 1: To encourage WG –USA members to

practice advocacy at the individual level as well as to help them participate more fully on a collective basis as members of WG-USA.

• Goal 2: To develop the Advocacy function as an organizational strategy that will help WG-USA grow and make a social impact

Roadmap - Goal 1

• Goal 1: To encourage WG –USA members to practice advocacy at the individual level as well as to help them participate more fully on a collective basis as a group of women that belongs to WG-USA.

• How do we do that? 

• We do that by understanding the characteristics and dynamics of member organizations.

Goal 1 (cont’d)a) Understand and address the member profile

Roadmap Criterion• wide spectrum of experiences and levels of

knowledge among our members• Interact with each group of members at the

level of their needs.• Not a “one-size fits all” strategy

Goal 1 (cont’d)

b) Understand why women join a member organization

Roadmap Criteria• interested in developing relationships• Connect with each other, discuss views and

share experiences. • Create a sense of community

Goal 1 (cont’d)

c) Understand that most women need to be empowered to become advocates

Roadmap Criteria• Gap between wanting and becoming an advocate• Bridge that dissonance• Empower members with knowledge • Knowledge=info that is processed, concise and timely

Goal 1 (cont’d)d) Understand that we have to create the

narrative for our membersRoadmap Criteria • Women’s issues can be unclear – conflict, globalization,

religion, society, US foreign policy, etc.• Help our members challenge long – held beliefs and help

them think critically about issues• Establish a “touchstone” – CEDAW – scaffolding document• Understand global socio-economic and political policies,

major multi-lateral institutions, major humanitarian & civil society and women’s organizations that monitor these policies and make recommendations in the interests of social justice.

Goal 1 (cont’d)e) Understand that we have to make it personal

Roadmap Criteria • Relationship between Americans and women

in developing countries• Benefits to Americans of having a closer

relationship with these women • Realationship of enlightened self- interest

Goal 1 (cont’d)

f) Understand that we have to encourage our members to engage in advocacy

Roadmap Criteria • Price of Inaction• Incremental amounts of advocacy and best

results• Short and long term advocacy goals for

members,

Goal 1 (cont’d)g) Understand that members want a window into the

world and into the UN.Roadmap Criteria• Proximity to the UN – meetings and schedules• International conventions, agreements and declarations,

selected items of news and current events• Understanding of IFUW and opportunities to interact with

counterparts in other countries• Meaningful relationship with an association in a

developing country-we have points of contact with some of these countries

Goal 1 (cont’d)h) Understand that our roadmap should enhance

and improve the entire member experienceRoadmap Criteria• Member satisfaction of doing good in the

world • Member personal and professional growth• Members understand the value of

membership• Members engage as global citizens

Goal 1 (cont’d)i) Understand that the WG-USA website needs to

play a vital role in advocacy Roadmap Criteria• WG-USA is a hybrid organization • Website is an organizational tool• Intuitively navigable – authentic content-

references and links• Important component of the member

experience

Roadmap - Goal 2Goal 2: To develop the Advocacy function as an

organizational strategy that will:

a) Help WG-USA grow Important OD principle - the

interconnectedness within the organization

b) Help WG-USA make a greater social impact

Roadmap - Goal 2

a) Help WG-USA grow• Distinguish WG-USA from other advocacy and membership organizations• Communicate with membership and prospective members that we are

more attuned to the needs of our members

Tools, trainings and website development that are required for learning to take place

A sense of community Knowledge and skills- based member empowerment The personal and professional development of members through

engagement in the organization Understanding and engaging with the IFUW and the UN A fulfilling member experience

Roadmap - Goal 2b) Help WG-USA make a greater social impact • Letters, petitions, resolutions, support program priorities• Develop a core competence in training women for participation in

advocacy • Attract and mobilize diverse communities of women women’s

professional associations ( SWE), business affinity women’s groups, community based organizations, etc

• Partnering with other NGOs – sharing WG’s strengths – 100 Cities for Cedaw

• Liaison between the IFUW and the UN. –CSW2014 & Advocacy Committee

• Participating in policy analysis discussions and meetings with other NGOs

• Convening regional and/or national roundtables and/or conferences in partnership with other NGOs

In conclusion:

• WG-USA has tremendous potential for growth and social impact

• This roadmap can create a niche for WG-USA’s hybrid organization

• Niche market can help us distinguish ourselves from the competition

• Roadmap is not just about the Advocacy function, it’s about supporting all aspects of the organization

• The roadmap is only as good as its implementation.• Implementation will require organizational resources –

board, volunteer and funding commitments