Feedback from Workshop 3 - Advocacy
Tuesday February 11 saw the 3rd online workshop of the Mob in Med! project.
Organized by the association Engagé.e.s et Déterminé.e.s, this workshop provided an opportunity to review the concept of advocacy.
Definition of advocacy
Advocacy encompasses all actions aimed at influencing political or economic decision-makers, such as governments, parliamentarians and international institutions, through arguments, expert reports and studies designed to bring about changes in the laws, policies and standards that directly affect our societies and communities. Advocacy is essential to give a voice to marginalized populations, young people, associations and to support change in key areas such as education, human rights, the environment, etc., but also to ensure that political decisions are inclusive and adapted to the realities of the populations concerned.
Organized by the association Engagé.e.s et Déterminé.e.s, this workshop provided an opportunity to review the concept of advocacy.
Definition of advocacy
Advocacy encompasses all actions aimed at influencing political or economic decision-makers, such as governments, parliamentarians and international institutions, through arguments, expert reports and studies designed to bring about changes in the laws, policies and standards that directly affect our societies and communities. Advocacy is essential to give a voice to marginalized populations, young people, associations and to support change in key areas such as education, human rights, the environment, etc., but also to ensure that political decisions are inclusive and adapted to the realities of the populations concerned.
There are two types of advocacy:
-> Direct advocacy involves engaging directly with political decision-makers to convince them of the relevance of proposed solutions.
-> Indirect advocacy aims to raise a community's awareness of an issue, thereby encouraging decision-makers to consider potential solutions.
Advocacy takes place at different levels of political decision-making (local, university, national, international), with the aim of abolishing, modifying or introducing standards. It also involves monitoring the implementation of the norm targeted by the campaign.
3 questions for advocacy
3 key questions to ask yourself before embarking on an advocacy strategy :
- What? -> What are the objectives? What do we want to change? -> clear, precise objectives.
- Who? -> What targets? Who has the power? Who are the opponents?
- How? -> What resources? What needs to be done to convince? -> methods of action (lobbying, media, communication, expertise)
The 4 methods of advocacy
-> Expertise
-> Lobbying
-> Communication / media
-> Public mobilization
See details in the images on the right.
Advocacy stages
1. Context and issue analysis
2. Define objectives
3. Power analysis
4. Identify targets and alliances
5. Timetable and opportunities
6. Strategy and modes of action
See details in the images on the right.
Project participants were also able to take part in case studies to put their newly-discovered advocacy strategies into practice.
The workshop was a real success, as participants now have the keys to take the awareness-raising and advocacy campaign on obstacles to youth mobility in the Mediterranean to public authorities and their political decision-makers.
Stay tuned!
