ADVOCACY and NETWORKING PRESENTATION SLIDE SET

1. ADVOCACY and NETWORKING PRESENTATION SLIDE SET ASC Training In Karongi, Nyamasheke & Nyagatare May 28- June 1, 2012 By Patrick Mphaka

2. Objectives of this Presentation • Provide a simple definition of advocacy • Assist CBG members in identification of potential advocacy opportunities • Explore the connection between advocacy messages and intended audiences • Introduce advocacy planning template for CBG level advocacy approach. ADRA Rwanda

3. What is Advocacy? • Advocacy is the ongoing process of changing attitudes, actions, policies and laws by influencing individuals, groups, and organizations • Advocacy is built and sustained over time. It is not a one-time action. • Definition captures a lot of activity - understandable how “advocacy” can mean different things in different situations: Technical advocacy vs. public policy advocacy vs. awareness building & community outreach • Not the amount of advocacy but the strength and consistency of the messages that lead to success ADRA Rwanda

4. How Does Advocacy Work withCommunications? • Communications – Within the context of policy and advocacy activities, communications is a tool to disseminate and promote messages in support of an advocacy objective • What makes a communication an advocacy activity is the content and purpose of the communication: Include written materials, electronic/digital media, telephone, radio, television and video ADRA Rwanda

5. Why is Advocacy Important toCBGs • Advocacy is a key route to policy change, critical to long term sustainable programs • CBGs have the on-the-ground, first-hand experience needed to inform, motivate and influence policymakers, opinion leaders and civil society to assist them in dealing with issues which hinder their progress in issues like business development. • It is important to recognize opportunities for advocacy related to your CBG work ADRA Rwanda

6. Activity #1: Understanding AdvocacyOpportunities • List some external activities that you do as a regular part of your CBG job (e.g., meetings, working, trainings, special events) • What sorts of issue leaders or policy makers attend those activities? • What sort of engagement can you have with those issues leaders and policymakers? ADRA Rwanda

7. Potential Advocacy Targets • Who else plays a significant role in shaping the environment in which we work? - Policymakers (MOH, MOF, local government officials) - Banks - Civil Society - Issue Leaders and Public Figures - Media - Others? ADRA Rwanda

8. The Importance of Messaging • Need to deliver the right message to the right person • The advocacy audience must understand the issue and understand why their support is important - What role does this person play in the business community? - Who does this person have influence with? Who is this person influenced by? - What change may occur if this person understands our need? ADRA Rwanda

9. Activity #2: Audiences & Messages ADRA Rwanda

10. Activity #2: Audiences & Messages ADRA Rwanda

11. Presenting the Key Messages • Concise but clear presentation of the issue - Be prepared to get your key messages across at the beginning of your conversation, just in case your conversation is cut short • Highlight country-specific data, statistics and outcomes when possible • Use anecdotes to illustrate your key points - Personal stories are often more memorable than facts and figures to many advocacy audiences ADRA Rwanda

12. “The Ask” – What are you asking? • Must be clear about the action you want the audience to take: - Change a policy - Partner on a project - Provide funding for programs or projects - Help with public awareness - Participate in a meeting or event - Learn about the CBG and our issues - Others? ADRA Rwanda

13. Follow-up • Relationship building is the cornerstone of effective advocacy • When you near the end of an advocacy discussion, suggest a follow-up task Examples - “Can we contact you about setting a meeting with some people at the CBG?” - “Let us send you our bank statement to demonstrate how we are performing in business” - “Would you consider visiting our garden of pineapples/bananas/cassava?” • This is how contacts become relationships - Allows you to elevate the information sharing but providing more detailed useful information and/or including more EGPAF staff • Any follow-up should include a 1-2 sentences about what you talked about • Don’t forget to thank them for talking to you! ADRA Rwanda

14. Other Advocacy Opportunities • Focus of this session was in-person advocacy • Think about other ways your work can influence issue leaders and policy makers - Creating an advocacy agenda with existing technical partners, eg. ADRA staff - Collaboration with civil society organizations to network on an advocacy issue. - Educational opportunities and public presentations - Prepare drama, songs, and other presentations for special occasions ADRA Rwanda

15. Complete the advocacy planning template • Identify issue • Identify what you would like to see • Identify audience(s) – who can help you/duty bearers • Identify the message/activity needed to influence the audience • Identify the possible mode to deliver the message to the audience (community discussion, drama, songs, radio, TV, video, etc) ADRA Rwanda

16. Complete the advocacy planning template .. continued • Identify individuals within the CBG or from outside to assist in initiating the identified action/activity. • Identify the times the actions need to start. • Provide space to record your milestones along the initiative, and planned follow-up actions. ADRA Rwanda