Education Policy Advocacy
Objectives:
1. To learn why advocacy is one of the roles
of CSOs.
2. To learn the process for developing an
effective strategic advocacy campaign
3. To learn practical tools to develop an
advocacy campaign
What is advocacy
• Advocacy is the process of managing
information and knowledge strategically to
change policies/practices or
attitudes/behavior/beliefs that affect the
lives of (the disadvantaged) people.
• What advocacy is not
– Public relations
– Fundraising
Types of changes expected from
advocacy
1. Changes in policy/decision-making
2. Changes in policy implementation
(practices)
3. Changes in people’s ideas/awareness of
policies and practices
Elements of successful advocacy
campaign
• See video
Expertise needed for advocacy
1. Technical expertise in advocacy and
campaigning
2. Thematic expertise of the issue being
addressed
3. Political expertise on the relations of
power that affect the issue (the key target)
The campaign cycle
Mission/mandate
Issue
Evaluation
Problem
Action
External Context
Strategy
Internal Resources
Selecting issues and approaches
• Based on organizational mission
• Networks require consultation
Phase
Stage of the issue
Approaches
1
New demand/issue
2
Rising awareness
Policy proposals
among decision makers
Issue forward
Negotiate support
3
4
5
Awareness raising
Workable plans,
Demand resources
implementation begins
Solutions implemented Monitor the impact
Exercise Process
• Process: 1. Work individually
2. Share at each process
3. Strategic advocacy plan of your
organization
• Select an issue based on your own organizational
mandate and mission
– Issue should be about policy on adult learning
e.g. adult literacy policy
ー International, Regional, National, District Level
Problem Analysis
• Inadequate problem analysis leads to
– Focusing on effects of problems
– Addressing too broad and complex issue
– Making unrealistic, irrelevant, wrong demands
• Adequate problem analysis help us to
– Define objectives and priorities
– Answer critics from the opposed
• CSOs can use community level data for
policy analysis
Problem and Solution Tree
1. List all the possible problems affecting an
issue
2. Map them onto a problem tree
3. Identify
• Effects – as branches – Goal
• Core problem – as trunk – Aim
• Causes – as roots – Objective
External context and internal
resources
• SWOT analysis
– Internal strengths and weakness
– External opportunities and threats
• Maximize strengths and use opportunities
• Reduce weakness and avoid threats
• Realistic strategy to impact on issue
Strategy
• Strategies include
–
–
–
–
–
Aims
Objectives and indicators
Targets: individuals not institutions
Audiences: influential with the target
Approaches: based on resources and stage of
issues, access to audiences
– Action plans
– Resources & budgets
(Background information: political context,
previous related work, consultation process)
Aim and objectives
• Aim: general declaration of intent for advocacy
e.g. Japanese aid policy for basic education is
improved both quantitatively and qualitatively.
• Objectives: must be SMART
S: Specific
M:Measurable
A: Achievable
R: Relevant
T: Time specific
e.g. Japan doubles its aid volume to basic
education by 2010 compared to 2005.
Stakeholder analysis
• A stakeholder is anyone who is affected or
who has some influence over issue you are
working on.
• Analysis to identify who we should
influence (target)
– Not only who we will mobilize
Stakeholder analysis
1. Audience Prioritization Matrix
1. Brainstorm all the people (not institutions)
who have interest or a potential influence
over the issue.
•
•
Be specific
Be creative
2. Ask two questions for each stakeholder
•
•
How importantly does the stakeholder view
the issue?
How influential is the stakeholder over the
decision?
Stakeholder analysis
Target Influence map
• Identify target (decision maker) responsible
for change
– Informal and real decision maker
– Make decision vs approve decision
• Who and how audience influence target
Approaches
1. Rational: influencing through the weight of
rational argument, e.g. child labor
2. Collaboration: influencing by collaborating with
the target, e.g. seminar
3. Legal: requiring independent legal system
e.g. suit for bad companies
4. Political: mobilizing outside pressure
e.g. labor union, faith groups,
 Use politics, not use anyone politically
Action Method
1. Lobbying
Actions Method
2. Media Work
Action Method
3. Popular Mobilization
Actions Method
4. Awareness Raising
To maximize impacts of actions
• Requires logistical skills
• Opportune moment and location
e.g.
– G8 summit
– Literacy day (Sep. 8)
– EFA high level group meeting
Evaluation of advocacy work
• Impact
– Was the policy changed?
– Do not confuse success in activity with an
policy change
– But difficult due to the question of attribution
• Efficiency
– Cost effectiveness
– Any alternative measures?