Advocacy
The practice of the European and the
Hungarian Anti-Poverty Networks
Kunbábony, 21 June 2011
What is advocacy?
In the theoretical framework we use advocacy is one
way of promoting change and improving quality of life.
• Advocacy
• Community organising
• Service delivery
• Social movements
What is advocacy?
• Advocacy by an individual or by an advocacy group
normally aims to influence public-policy and resource
allocation decisions within political, economic, and
social systems and institutions; it may be motivated
from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to
protect an asset of interest. (Wikipedia)
• Advocacy is the deliberate process of influencing those
who make policy decisions. (handbook)
• Advocacy can be a means of convincing policy makers
to fulfil their human responsibilities to others.
• …
Key words
• Strategy!!!
(constituency, capacity building, policy analysis
(need and reality); risk assessment; strategic
relationships (politicians and NGOs); credibility;
policy issue; target audience; specific policy
goal; allies and opponents; coalitions, advocacy
role, key messages, advocacy activities;
communication, monitoring …
Confrontational
Private
Public
Collaborative
Activities
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Research
Collection of signatures
Letters
Open letters, statements
Face-to-face meetings (consultasions etc.)
Public hearings
Media
Public events, actions
Campaign website
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Some words about the networks
• EAPN
– Since 1990
– 30 national networks and European organisations
– Focus at EU level
• HAPN
– Since 2004
– More than 100 NGOs and individual members
– Focus at local, national and EU level
Our main aims
• To represent and defence the rights of people
experiencing poverty.
• To fight for a Social and Democratic Europe
free of poverty and social exclusion.
• To improve and promote the participation of
people experiencing poverty.
Target audience
• At European level: European Commission,
European Parliament, European Council,
Council of Europe
• At national level: national parliament,
ministries, state institutions; broad audience
• At local level: mayors, local representatives
Strengths
Credibility and power
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Expertise
Participation of people experiencing poverty
Europe-wide network, national networks
Link with grass-root organisations and groups
Strong alliances
Exchanges, capacity building
Policy issues and tools we use
(some examples)
• Adequate minimum income in EU
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External experts (expert documents)
Support from VIP persons
Testimonies from people living on social assistance
Research (participatory budgeting)
Campaign website (www.adequateincome.eu)
Collection of signatures
Conference
Letters to decision makers, statements
Publication - ADEQUACY of minimum income in the EU
(explainer)
 EU Parliament resolution on minimum income – October 2010
 Continue fight for an EU framework directive
• European Strategy for Social Inclusion
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Background expert documents
Letters to decision makers
Conference
Face-to-face meetings
Lobbying on MEPs, national decision makers etc.
Public events (human ring)
NGO coalition (www.endpoverty.eu)
 Europe 2020 Strategy (including a target on
reducing poverty)
 Continuing lobbying on implementation
• General awereness raising at national level
– Public events
– Conferences, events involving decision makers
– Civil monitoring and civil report on poverty
– Open letters and statements
– Alliance building
– Media
Thank you for you attention!
www.eapn.eu
marton.iza@hapn.hu