Advocacy in Cambodia: Increasing Democratic ... - Pact Cambodia

analyzing
impact of
advocacy
activities
Advocacy organizations in Cambodia are
faced with a challenging political context and
complex issues. Yet despite the short lifespan of
the advocacy movement, advocacy has been, on
the whole, strong. The fact that numerous
networks have been formed and NGOs are dealing
with policy issues shows a rapid and normal
progression that continues to use more
sophisticated advocacy techniques. Yet, success
still remains sporadic.
The development of advocacy by sector is
notably uneven. In fisheries, advocacy activities
span from the local to the national level with
special emphasis placed on obtaining grassroots
input into policy formulation. A dual approach
includes direct capacity building support to the
Department of Fisheries and a more pressureoriented
approach through community fisheries
advocates. The role of a non-implementing
organization like the NGO Forum on Cambodia
as a facilitator for the fisheries movement may be
one of the explanations for its success. The
movement also benefits from the commitment of
motivated and knowledgeable young advocates.
The Commune Council Election Law lobbying, on
the other hand, is an example of well-organized
advocacy with a long-term goal and clear
objectives that did not lead to success.
Other sectors examined are providing
important services but have more limited
advocacy activities. These sectors would benefit
from more coordination and assistance in
clarifying advocacy objectives. Occasionally
networking is inefficient with either too many
networks (such as the eight or 10 women’s
networks) or one weak network. For example,
while urban groups have strengthened the
capacity of community leaders to advocate directly
with local authorities, the sector as a whole has
not demonstrated a concerted effort to pressure
the Phnom Penh Municipality to stop forced
unplanned evictions of squatters. Even so, the
unfortunate fires of late 2001, which left 20,000
people homeless, have spurred urban groups to
initiate the Resettlement Action Network to
address these issues and improved coordination
is expected.
It is notoriously difficult to assess the impact
of advocacy activities for a variety of reasons.
Some efforts have long-term objectives and will
not show immediate results. Most advocacy
campaigns are the combined work of a whole
range of groups and individuals, who are
sometimes unaware of each other’s efforts.
Changes in policies
or behaviors are
often the result of
efforts made by a
multiplicity of
stakeholders or even
different sectors.
Nevertheless,
this research
examined the impact
of advocacy activities
within three main
categories. The first is
the attainment of a
desired policy or
program change. The
second
is
alternatively
described as
‘enlargement of the
democratic space’ or
‘rules of the game’
and refers to the
interaction between
policy makers and
civil society. If civil
During (top) and after
(bottom) the first Tonle
Bassac fire of 2001. The
Municipality’s handling of
the crisis eroded the trust
of squatter area residents
and spurred urban groups
to initiate the Resettlement
Action Network.
society was
previously not
included in policy
formulation but now
it is, we can assert that the participation of civil
society in policy formulation has become one of
the rules of the game. The third impact area
examines changes in the capacity of individuals,
grassroots organizations, and NGOs to conduct
advocacy. Since this report focuses on campaigns,
it does not measure the impact of policies in the
implementation phase.
Achieving Policy or Program Objectives
Civil society organizations have been
responsible for initiating a number of legislative
agendas such as the labor code and the domestic
violence law. The labor code was ratified in 1997
and it is expected that the domestic violence law
will be ratified in 2002. Lobbying on the labor code
was done prior to the establishment of most of
the garment factories and was supported by the
Increasing Democratic Space
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