While defining problems and exploring alternative solutions have long been used to promote change, the need for systematic and iterative advocacy in this process has been less well understood. Recently, researchers, managers, NGO personnel, and other concerned groups and individuals have found it necessary to become advocates, but they often have little knowledge of or training in the subject. This training guide introduces the concept of advocacy, and provides a framework for developing an advocacy campaign. It is designed for a workshop setting, but can also be used as a self-teaching device. Divided into twelve modules, it provides the tools for people to start engaging in the advocacy process, and is designed to:
– inform a diverse audience of potential advocates about advocacy and its methods;
– build some basic skills in advocacy;
– increase the use of available data to inform the advocacy process;
– give confidence to those who are embarking on advocacy efforts; and
– encourage the democratic process by providing people with the skills to make their voices heard.
This guide should be useful to people in all sectors that wish to improve policies and programs through advocacy. Potential users may be:
– professional institutions, associations and networks;
– researchers interested in promoting their findings;
– programme managers who wish to influence their agencies and/or the public;
– NGOs or community organizations;
– ad hoc groups that may form to address particular issues; and
– training institutions or groups that work with potential advocates.
Although the guide is written primarily for use in training sessions, potential advocates can also use it as a tool to help them start their own advocacy work. Selected chapters can be used for one or two-day sessions that can be added to meetings or conferences to give a general orientation on advocacy. Institutions, networks, or associations can use it with their staff and members as a guide to help plan particular advocacy campaigns. Researchers can use it to plan the dissemination of findings on particular issues. It can also be used for pre-service training, using simulated issues for advocacy. Additionally, any or all examples in the guide can be replaced by examples from other sectors.
This document is also downloadable in nine PDF files on the following webpage:
http://www.globalhealthcommunication.org/tools/15#top<http://www.globalhealthcommunication.org/tools/15