The advocacy role of LGA: Representing and defending the interests of its members and articulating its needs and expect

1. The advocacy role of LGA: Representing and defending the interests of its members and articulating its needs and expectations Bratislava Regional Center

2. Advocacy Primarily oriented towards: • 1. The Government (civil servants as well as politicians) • 2. The Parliament • 3. Civil-society organisations, institutions and companies • 4. Trade unions (representing the municipalities as employers) This is done through: • Regular consultations • Letters • The media • Internet sites Bratislava Regional Center

3. Successful advocacy • One voice • Quality of the arguments • Political influence Bratislava Regional Center

4. One voice • One organisation or strong coordination • A shared vision • Space for minority positions • Like to be member • Services • Intensive communication • One spokesperson Bratislava Regional Center

5. Quality of the arguments • Knowledgeable staff/ technical capacities • Direct access to Ministries • Involvement in the preparatory phase • Participation in committees Bratislava Regional Center

6. Political power • Stay out of party politics!!!!! • Have influence in all political parties • Directors have direct access to Ministers • Accepted by Ministries • Accepted by Parliament Bratislava Regional Center

7. Advocacy tools • Attitude • Formal tools • Informal tools Bratislava Regional Center

8. Formal tools 1 • Submitting policy proposals; • Consultation with government and parliament on specific issues; • Participation in the committees or advisory bodies set up by CG; • Official arrangements or contracts between CG and LGAs; • Direct LGA representation in parliamentary committees Bratislava Regional Center

9. Formal tools 2 • Submitting amendments or proposals to Parliament; • Correspondence with • individual ministers; • government or • parliament • Weekly Magazine • Web-page Bratislava Regional Center

10. Informal tools 1 • Influencing public opinion • Expressing LGA opinion through the press: • Articles • Press releases • Interviews • Invite them for seminars etc • Go to the places where the journalists or the politicians are • Inform journalists Bratislava Regional Center

11. Informal tools 2 • Informal meetings or telephone contacts between LGA staff and line ministries; • Inviting the Minister or PM to conferences, study visits • Inviting him or her to write a preface in a brochure presenting specific local governments developments; • Personal approaches to politicians • Contacts with parliamentarians • Party meetings Bratislava Regional Center

12. Informal tools 3 • Co-operating with other relevant actors • Networking • Make the name well known: • Business cards • Logo • LGA leaflet • Participation in local activities Bratislava Regional Center

13. Assignment (35 min) • Group 1 Benchmark analysis on advocacy • Group 2 Benchmark analysis on advocacy • Group 4 Advocacy strategic plan Bratislava Regional Center

14. Group 1,2 • Exercise on the benchmark tool on advocacy • Steps: 1. Analyse the situation of this Association for the first factor 2. Decide on the wished situation for the coming year for the first factor 3. Repeat the steps 2 and 3 for the next factors depending on the available time. 4. Present the results to the plenary and lead the discussion on it. Bratislava Regional Center

15. Group 3 • Prepare an advocacy strategic plan for a LGA • Steps: • 1 Prepare a strategic plan. • Take in account: • the objectives • the audiences • the messages • the messengers • the delivery • ?? • Think further more (if appropriate) of • Resources • evaluation • ?? • 2 Present the results to the plenary and lead the discussion on it. Bratislava Regional Center