RC 2 - Advocacy

Advocacy is the process of influencing those who make policy. It’s about engaging with power holders and influencing them to take a particular action. Advocacy is based on collecting facts and evidence and putting compelling solutions in front of decision-makers. Advocacy often involves “insider lobbying” (where experts and civil society organisation leaders seek to persuade decision-makers directly, through face-to-face meetings). However, advocacy can also use participatory approaches, such as social audits, accountability monitoring, mass lobbies and bringing people to testify to government bodies. Where possible, advocacy should focus on creating space and seeking to prioritise the voices of people living in poverty.

Participatory tools to support advocacy:

  • Social audit - to collect and present evidence about a programme or service.
  • Participatory video - to record evidence and demonstrate the human impact of a problem.
  • Role play - to build understanding or raise awareness of an issue.

Resources

Resources

Here you can download some useful resources.

Tools in this toolbox

Balloons and stones

To help identify factors that might help or hinder you in your work or in your progress towards a goal. The stones represent thin…

Forcefield analysis

To identify helpers and spoilers – people, organisations or events that might help or hinder your work. For a similar tool, adapt…

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Role play

To analyse issues and to rehearse speaking up in new situations or on different topics. Everyone has different roles in different…

Social audit

To collect and present evidence about a programme or service.                               The Social Audit process uses partici…