Advocacy

The practice of the European and the Hungarian Anti-Poverty Networks

Kunbábony, 21 June 2011

What is advocacy?

In the theoretical framework we use advocacy is one way of promoting change and improving quality of life.•Advocacy•Community organising•Service delivery•Social movements

What is advocacy?

• Advocacy by an individual or by an advocacy group normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an asset of interest. (Wikipedia)

• Advocacy is the deliberate process of influencing those who make policy decisions. (handbook)

• Advocacy can be a means of convincing policy makers to fulfil their human responsibilities to others.

• …

Key words

• Strategy!!! (constituency, capacity building, policy analysis

(need and reality); risk assessment; strategic relationships (politicians and NGOs); credibility; policy issue; target audience; specific policy goal; allies and opponents; coalitions, advocacy role, key messages, advocacy activities; communication, monitoring …

Confrontational

Private Public

Collaborative

Activities• Research• Collection of signatures• Letters• Open letters, statements• Face-to-face meetings (consultasions etc.)• Public hearings• Media• Public events, actions• Campaign website• …

Some words about the networks

• EAPN– Since 1990– 30 national networks and European organisations– Focus at EU level

• HAPN– Since 2004– More than 100 NGOs and individual members– Focus at local, national and EU level

Our main aims

• To represent and defence the rights of people experiencing poverty.

• To fight for a Social and Democratic Europe free of poverty and social exclusion.

• To improve and promote the participation of people experiencing poverty.

Target audience

• At European level: European Commission, European Parliament, European Council, Council of Europe

• At national level: national parliament, ministries, state institutions; broad audience

• At local level: mayors, local representatives

Strengths

Credibility and power

•Expertise•Participation of people experiencing poverty•Europe-wide network, national networks•Link with grass-root organisations and groups•Strong alliances•Exchanges, capacity building

Policy issues and tools we use (some examples)

• Adequate minimum income in EU– External experts (expert documents)– Support from VIP persons– Testimonies from people living on social assistance– Research (participatory budgeting)– Campaign website (www.adequateincome.eu) – Collection of signatures– Conference– Letters to decision makers, statements– Publication - ADEQUACY of minimum income in the EU (explainer)

EU Parliament resolution on minimum income – October 2010 Continue fight for an EU framework directive

• European Strategy for Social Inclusion– Background expert documents– Letters to decision makers– Conference– Face-to-face meetings– Lobbying on MEPs, national decision makers etc.– Public events (human ring)– NGO coalition (www.endpoverty.eu)

Europe 2020 Strategy (including a target on reducing poverty)

Continuing lobbying on implementation

• General awereness raising at national level– Public events – Conferences, events involving decision makers– Civil monitoring and civil report on poverty– Open letters and statements– Alliance building– Media

Thank you for you attention!www.eapn.eu

marton.iza@hapn.hu