Like capacity development, advocacy is a key instrument in strengthening the ability and willingness of local and/or national government institutions, civil society structures and individuals in the specific context to take up their humanitarian responsibilities – thus promoting a transition from conflict to sustainable peace and normality. In short, DRC advocacy focus on supporting government, civil society and communities meet their obligations vis-à-vis conflict-affected people, through means such as information, communication, training, capacity building, and other actions.
Advocacy can take different forms. Advocacy can be indirect or implicit messages. Gathering information on a particular issue or being present in a meeting can in itself send an indirect advocacy message that DRC is concerned about the situation or a particular issue. Moreover, DRC’s mere presence as an international humanitarian NGO in a meeting can lend valuable support to national or local actors that advocate on a specific issue.
Advocacy can also be direct messages conveyed in an informal, discrete or confidential manner aimed at e.g. persuading responsible authorities to meet their obligations vis-à-vis displaced populations or mobilising other stakeholders to advocate for solutions to a particular problem. Persuasive, discrete advocacy can be very efficient, for instance with authorities who are not interested in having their shortcoming exposed in public but nevertheless not completely unwilling to discuss such problems.
Finally, there are direct and public advocacy messages and communication – including public denunciation of e.g. the actions of a certain authority. This can be a very efficient approach but also one that has to be considered carefully given the high risk of repercussions. Often, it can be advantageous to undertake joint direct advocacy with other like-minded organisations or stakeholders as such an approach will make it more difficult for the authorities to engage in forms of repressive action.
It is evident from the above that it is essential to conduct a stakeholder analysis prior to an advocacy initiative. Thus, it is crucial to understand the stakeholders involved in a particular problem, their motivation, interests, positive and negative (potential) influence on the problem and not least their relations to one another. In short, one needs to know the answer to questions such as: Who are the “supporters”, who the “reformers”, who are particular opposed to the problem being addressed and what is the hierarchy like – who decides over who? All stakeholders have sensitivities/vulnerabilities and points of leverage. It is important to identify and analyse these before advocacy activities are implemented.
Advocacy carried out by country programmes is normally of an operational nature only and as such fully aimed at supporting the achievement of the country programme objectives. Responsibility for advocacy of a more global nature rests fully with DRC Headquarters.
It is evident from the above that it is essential to conduct a stakeholder analysis prior to an advocacy initiative. Thus, it is crucial to understand the stakeholders involved in a particular problem, their motivation, interests, positive and negative (potential) influence on the problem and not least their relations to one another. In short, one needs to know the answer to questions such as: Who are the “supporters”, who the “reformers”, who are particular opposed to the problem being addressed and what is the hierarchy like – who decides over who? All stakeholders have sensitivities/vulnerabilities and points of leverage. It is important to identify and analyse these before advocacy activities are implemented.
Advocacy carried out by country programmes is normally of an operational nature only and as such fully aimed at supporting the achievement of the country programme objectives. Responsibility for advocacy of a more global nature rests fully with DRC Headquarters.
