Session 4: Developing an advocacy strategy.

• Author: Nyamweya, Pauline
• Position: ADVOCACY TRAINING MANUAL: SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS

Objectives

By the end of this session, the participants will be able to:

* Select an issue as the focus of their advocacy campaign;

* Develop a long-term advocacy goal for the issue;

* Set a short-term advocacy objective to contribute to the broader goal.

* Identify the steps in the advocacy process.

Time

150 minutes

Materials

* Participant Handout B.5:

* flipchart paper

* markers

* masking tape

Advance Preparation

* Review Participant Handout B.5.

* Make copies of the discussion questions in Activity A for the participants

Key Ideas to Convey

* A systematic understanding of the advocacy process will help advocates plan wisely, use resources efficiently, and stay focused on the advocacy objective. Defining the Issue. Advocacy begins with an issue or problem that the network agrees to support in order to promote a policy change. The issue should meet the network's agreed-upon criteria and support the network's overall mission. An issue is focused, clear, and widely felt by network constituents. Ask participants to identify ways in which the network could identify issues. Include the following:

* analysis of the external environment, including political, economic, social, and other factors;

* organizing issue identification meetings; and

* collecting and analyzing data about the SRHR situation (DHS, baseline surveys, focus groups, census, etc.).

* Setting the Goal and Objectives. A goal is a general statement of what the network hopes to achieve in the long term (three to five years). The advocacy objective describes short-term, specific, measurable achievements that contribute to the advocacy goal. A sound objective is specific, measurable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART).

* Identifying the Target Audience. The primary target audience includes the decision makers who have the authority to bring about the desired policy change. The secondary target audience includes persons who have access to and are able to influence the primary audience--other policymakers, friends or relatives, the media, religious leaders, etc. The network must identify individuals in the target audience, their positions, and relative power base and then determine whether the various individuals support, oppose, or are neutral to the advocacy issue.

* Building Support. Building a constituency to support the network's advocacy issue is critical for success. The larger the support base, the greater are the chances of success. Network members must reach out to create...