Building National CampaignsActivists, Alliances, and How Change Happens

The slides:• present the contents of the

book• show how it can be useful• encourage you to add your

own experiences to the content

This presentation introduces a new book from Oxfam.

Paperback, 216 x 138mm, 104pp,

£10.95, ISBN 978-085598-574-5 

Book contents

Introduction1. Contexts2. Building an alliance3. Developing a strategy4. Incorporating gender equality5. Using the media6. Developing policyConclusionNotesAppendixResourcesIndex

Introduction

Draws general lessons about setting up, co-ordinating, and delivering campaigns in alliances, on any issue

Looks in detail at experiences from campaigns on labour standards in five countries

Describes how international NGOs can work with local partners

Has case studies from Colombia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and the USA

Q: What can our organisation contribute to the experience in this book?

Q: What campaign stories do we want to share?

Chapter 1: Contexts

Colombia Raises awareness of harmful effects of labour-law reform and impact on women

Morocco Lobbies the government to implement a new national labour law

Nicaragua Lobbies for new legislation on occupational health; trains women in campaigning activities

Sri Lanka Carries out research, training, and awareness-raising in the garment industry

USA Campaigns for union recognition for male migrant workers

Different countries: different activities

Q: Which activities have we used/do we plan to use in our programme?

Chapter 2: Building an alliance

Strong alliances create good campaigns

Choose your allies carefully Be ready to make

compromises Be aware of local attitudes

and beliefs Record and share action

points Account for funds in a

transparent way

Learning from the start

Q: Who do we work with in alliances? How did we choose our allies?

Chapter 3: Developing a strategy

Your strategy must include a vision of how people’s lives will change as a result of your activity

Choose strategies that will build people’s capacity

Establish goals that are ‘winnable’ as well as aiming for more long-term changes

Understand your allies’ strengths and weaknesses

Allocate work appropriately

Learning while planning

Q: What are our ‘winnable’ goals?

Chapter 3: Developing a strategy (2)

‘Why do we need a strategy?’ Because without one you will be reacting to events. You need to be in charge! A strategy should provide answers:

• What is the problem?

• What is our preferred solution?

• Who are our allies?

• What skills/contacts/expertise do our allies bring?

• Who and what are our targets and audiences?

• What actions should we take, led by whom, and when?

Q: Can we answer all the questions? What else can we add?

Chapter 4: Incorporating gender equality

Incorporate gender equality in campaign aims, messages, and actions

Challenge gender stereotypes, even among your allies

Value the contribution of women and men

Encourage dialogue between alliance member organisations

‘Just because a campaign concerns women’s rights…does not necessarily mean that it addresses gender inequality’

Q: How do we incorporate gender equality in our campaign work?

Chapter 4: Incorporating gender equality (2)

Including a gender perspective in all aspects of a campaign can produce tensions

How do we keep a focus on the main campaign theme and on gender issues?

There may need to be external campaigning on gender issues at the same time as internal lobbying of allies/partners to keep gender issues central to the campaign

Gender-mainstreaming work can raise questions about different levels of commitment of allies to gender issues

Gender mainstreaming

Q: How far are gender issues and approaches embedded in our activities?

Chapter 5: Using the media

Effective media work can be very influential

Carry out a power analysis of all media

Personal testimonies are very powerful

Ensure you target your media message at the right people

Make sure you choose the right medium to reach those people

Q: Are we engaging with the media effectively?

Chapter 5: Using the media (2)

has a strategy has clear agreed messages that can be adapted by

alliance members for different situations and audiences responds to media expectations: press releases, press

conferences, photo opportunities, etc. cultivates friendly journalists creates opportunities for media coverage reacts to opportunities within an agreed plan identifies stories for audiences matches audiences with specific media types and

channnels

Effective media work:

Q: What else can we add to this list?

Chapter 6: Developing policy

Move beyond identifying problems to proposing alternatives

Explain your policy analysis Clarify what alliance

members are willing to campaign for

Consider international research and global backing

Q: Do we have good policy suggestions based on thorough research?

Conclusion and resources

The stories in Building National Campaigns describe the ups and downs, the steps forward and the setbacks of campaigning organisations just like yours!

It is important to remember that the ideals of justice and development are well worth all the hard work of campaigning.

For further information, take a look at:

• the Resources Section at the end of the book