WHY EU GOVERNMENTS SHOULD SUPPORT POLICY ADVOCACY EFFORTS ?

Public Policy Advocacy is a process of articulating a position on a particular cause or issue. It involves engaging relevant power centres and influencing the policy makers to take a position or abandon a particular position. The role of policy advocacy is to set up a counter dialogue or promote policy dialogue to demonstrate to policy makers where policy change is required. Policy advocacy can fill institutional and geographical space while bridging language and other communication barriers between policy makers and those unable to articulate their concerns.

In many EU member states the development of advocacy capacity is essential for governments to support the implementation of reforms. It is premised on the understanding that stakeholders must be well-positioned to influence the implementation of reforms. However, in order for stakeholders to take up their rightful place in the implementation process, they need specific skills and capacities in policy analysis, policy advocacy and influence communications. These skills are essential especially in undertaking independent monitoring of issues, influencing policy and promoting accountability.

For policy focused stakeholders, the practice of policy advocacy also brings with it indirect benefits by building the capacity and confidence of their staff enabling them to be effective players in society. On the other hand, society also benefits by developing a better understanding of critical policy issues and by having the democratic process reinforced through the practice of policy advocacy.

Stakeholders have a critical role in influencing policy makers on behalf of their constituents. They must engage policy makers to take action regarding specific issues through mutual agreement and/or negotiation to reach a compromise position which best serves the perceived needs. There are therefore positions of agreement, disagreement or compromise. To this effect, stakeholders need to be specific on what the actual 'needs' are. While the policy makers have the 'power' to change things, stakeholders have the responsibility to convince them on the 'perceived' issues. In order to undertake effective advocacy, stakeholders should understand the different forms and locus of power. Successful public policy advocacy is achieved when the power bases have been clearly identified and using them enables the stakeholders to achieve their desired goals as formulated from time to time.

Regretfully key limitations still prevail in many EU Member States for stakeholders and practitioners to fully and effectively engage in policy advocacy. Policy advocacy stakeholders often complain about:

• the lack of democratic space;
• that questions are raised about their legitimacy to advocate;
• the lack of 'relevant' policy advocacy information;
• their limited access to policy makers;
• their lack of appropriate advocacy skills;
• their lack of understanding of the politics of the policy making process