Policy Advocacy in Pakistan

1. W I T H
A S H R A F C H A U D H R Y
A S H R A F @ A S H R A F C H A U D H R Y . C O M
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Policy Advocacy:
concept.process.tools

2. What is Policy?

3. Policy is a:
 plan
 course of action
 set of regulations
adopted by government, businesses or institutions to
influence and determine decisions and procedures.

4. What is Advocacy?

5. It is a deliberate process to:
 Influence
 Persuade
 Convince
policy makers.

6. Deliberate?
 Intentional
 Well thought-out
 Clear objectives
 Desirable changes

7. Influencing
 Is it shouting at government?
 Is it confrontational?
 Is it processions on roads?
 Is it strikes?
 Is it hunger strikes?
 Is it dharna?
 Is it long march?

8. Policy-makers
 Government
 Private institutions
 Influential individuals
 Political parties
 Society’s deep rooted traditions

9. Advocacy is used to influence the choices and actions
of those who make laws and regulations, and those
who distribute resources and make other decisions
that affect the well-being of many people.

10. What can Policy Advocacy do?
 Legislation
 Proclamation (public statement)
 Regulation
 Legal decision
 Committee action
 Institutional practice

11. Examples of Advocacy
 Use of iodized salt
 Population control
 Registration of nikah nama
 Getting approval of first wife to contract second
marriage
 Reserved seats for women
 Quota systems

12. Brainstorming
In pairs, please brainstorm at least two examples in
each of the following categories:
 Legislation
 Proclamation (public statement)
 Regulation
 Legal decision
 Committee action
 Institutional practice

13. Policy Advocacy Process

14. Analysis
In-depth understanding of:
 Problem
 People involved
 Policies
 Stage of implementation
 Organizations
 Channels of access to influential people and
decision-makers.

15. Strategy
Detailed course of action
The strategy phase builds upon the analysis phase to:
 Direct
 Plan
 Focus on specific goals
 Position the advocacy effort with clear paths and
 Achieve those goals and objectives.

16. Mobilization
 Coalition-building
 Events, activities, messages
 Creating positive impact
 Maximum participation by all coalition members
 Minimizing responses from the opposition.

17. Action
 Keeping all partners together
 Persisting in carrying out advocacy
 Repeating the message
 Using the credible materials
 Keeping the attention

18. Evaluation
 What were the targets?
 What time frame did you allocate to achieve?
 What is the actual result?
 What is the variance?
 What went wrong?
 Why went wrong?
 What lessons were learnt?
 What to do next?
 What to avoid next?

19. Continuity
 Ongoing process
 Articulating long-term goals
 Keeping functional coalitions together
 Maintaining data and arguments in tune with
changing situations.

20. Advocacy Tools
 Expert informant
 Honest broker
 Capacity builder
 Lobbyist & player
 Use of media

21. Group Discussion
1. Based on the presentation, indicate what specific
policy advocacy efforts made by your institution in
2009-2010?
2. What are 2 major policy issues that you feel you
should focus upon as policy advocacy initiatives?
3. Develop a simple roadmap for your policy advocacy
initiative.