Exercise 3 A role play to prepare policy dialogues

1. Exercise 3 A role play to prepare policy dialogues

2. Engage in policy dialogue and resource allocation ...otherwise risk funding may go to infrastructure investment alone and not to vulnerable communities Photos: Danish Red Cross

3. Key points in advocacy meetings • Be clear on your ask and know your facts – have a strong evidence base • Your message should be persuasive • A good advocacy message should have 3 basic elements: • Credible – you come from a credible organisation and bring experience • Emotional – use a human, real-life case story • Logical – make sure your message makes sense • Be aware of power dynamics and behaviour – status, roles and body language of participants

4. Movement credibility • Presence in 191 countries • Auxiliary to government • Presence throughout the country • Community-based organisation • 7 fundamental principles • Assists millions of vulnerable people every year in 191 countries

5. Exercise … ROLE PLAY Split into 2 groups • 1 group will be “District / Branch level” • 1 group will be “National level”

6. Exercise … the situation: NATIONAL level • You have checked the Government’s draft “Climate Change Strategy” and noted that it may be a bit weak on “adaptation for vulnerable people” • … you noted the coming plan may be weak on early warnings and “climate smart” disaster preparedness to new extreme flood/drought events. It means you have something to offer as auxiliary to your government • Your National Society has now been invited to attend a meeting in the Government’s “climate change commission” (along with other stakeholders) • … and you are now working with your Secretary General to prepare for the meeting, where you want to: • ensure a permanent National Society seat in the advisory group to the “Climate Change Commission” • promote a clear focus on climate-smart disaster risk reduction and attention to early warning early action in the final “Climate Change Strategy” and the continued planning process • Promote further localization of adaptation planning and finance discussions

7. Exercise … the situation: Branch/district level • You have reviewed the latest draft “District Development Plan”which you think does not adequately address the adaptation needs of local communities – according to what you learned in recent community VCAs. • In 2 weeks time, your Branch Chairperson has been invited to participate in a District Development Committee meeting • … and you are now helping the Branch Chairperson and senior volunteers to prepare for the meeting, where you want to: • Showcase the insights regarding changing local risk patterns and ideas for climate-smart disaster risk reduction actions needed at community level • Offer the assistance and expertise of the NS Branch (and HQ etc.) to help improving the draft District Development Plan so it better addresses considering changing risks (and become “climate smart”)

8. Role play 1: Convince your NATIONAL Government Form teams (National level) – split yourself in 2 groups:1 team = Red Cross / Red Crescent1 team = government representatives Role: “RC team” • Plan how you will argue for a permanent NS seat in the “CC advisory group” • List five specific things your NS could offer to help the Government: practical ideas that would fit into a “good CC Strategy” • Plan how you would argue for more attention to early warning early action and disaster preparedness in the coming plans and localization for further adaptation planning and funding Role: “Government team”: Prepare yourself to meet RC as officials from the CC Commission: • Why is may be difficult for you to have NS and other CSOs supporting the commission? • Why would you (maybe not?) want to include the adaptation aspects that the National Society is proposing in the Climate Change Strategy?

9. Role play 2: Convince your DISTRICT government Form teams (District staff) – split yourself in 2 groups:1 team = Red Cross / Red Crescent1 team = District Development Committee (DDC) Role: RC District Branch • Plan how you will use your detailed community knowledge to • convince the DDC that the District Development Plan needs to be more “climate smart” – not business as usual • The NS can be a valuable partner in planning and implementation of “climate smart” solutions Role: District Dev. Commission Prepare yourself to meet Red Cross: • Why is it difficult for you to consider climate change in local planning? (e.g. uncertainty, etc.) • Why would you (maybe not?) want to draw on NS experience in CC adaptation?

10. 5 minutes (secret) preparation time Both sides (NS & Gov): prepare for a “realistic” dialogue – and practice your arguments After 5 minutes preparations: two role plays with the “Other” teams as observers (HQ observes Branch Role Play, and vice versa) Red Cross Red Crescent teams: • Leave the room and plan your roles and arguments Government teams: Stay in the room: prepare for how you will receive the RC guests – and set up the meeting table/room

12. Debriefing • Were the arguments of the Red Cross were convincing for Government counterparts? • Was the National Society seen as a credible actor who can help the government live up to their commitments to Sendai, Paris and SDGs? • Main obstacles are for the Governments ability to partner? Did the Government groups explain well their funding challenges, uncertainty of climate change scenarios, etc.? • Which arguments and pitches would be best to convince the relevance of working with the Red Cross Red Crescent? • Were the two role plays realistic for real situations you may encounter? • What may be needed to prepare better for real policy dialogue? 12