Advocacy and resource mobilisation - OneResponse

Advocacy and resource mobilisation
Advocacy requires careful planning and will need to be done in stages, as with
planning any other project, if the desired outcomes are to be achieved. A number
of tools and resources are available to support this process, as listed in ‘Additional
resources’ at the end of this section.
The advocacy cycle on the previous page sets out the main steps in developing an
advocacy plan or strategy. 51
Step 1: Selecting the problem or issue
There are likely to be several problems and issues that the Cluster is trying to
address. However, the Coordinator will need to guide cluster partners in focusing
on a specific problem in order to develop an effective advocacy argument.
Points that can be considered in selecting a problem or issue:
� its relevance and importance in relation to the cluster aims, objectives and
priorities
� broad consensus among cluster partners on an agreed position; this
should include government, unless government is the target of the
advocacy activity
� availability of reliable data and evidence in relation to the problem
� assessment of sensitivity and risk factors, eg, risk to affected populations
of increased vulnerability or suffering
� availability of resources and expertise to support advocacy activities
� strategic opportunities to support planned advocacy activities, eg, alliance
with other clusters.
Steps 2–3: Analysing the problem and identifying advocacy objectives
Having identified and agreed the problem, it will be necessary to analyse it in great
detail and compile reliable evidence. Depending on the situation, this may be
undertaken by a smaller working group within the cluster.
Three types of analysis should be considered:
Problem analysis – to consider the causes and effects of the problem, eg,
using problem tree analysis. This should involve all stakeholders within the
cluster.
Political analysis – to consider the political issues in relation to the problem,
including guiding policy, or absence of policy, power relations and
identification of those who have influence over the problem, eg, politicians,
religious or community leaders, teachers, parents, conflicting forces.
Internal analysis – to consider the contrasting views, interests, capacities
and experience within the cluster in relation to the problem.
51 Adapted from Save the Children Denmark (2006) Child Rights Advocacy Guideline
May 2010 | 251