PHASE 1: BUILD CONSENSUS
Step 1: Decide who to involve
Which stakeholders need to be involved to ensure that you will achieve your goals? In general, you will want to include people with influence, experts on the subject matter, those with frontline or personal experience, and those with effective communication and facilitation skills. Stakeholders could include government officials, the private sector, health workers, academia, civil society, and donors.
It may be worthwhile to make an initial assessment to list potential stakeholders and determine which ones could be the most important to your advocacy strategy.
Mobilize intense support
Policy-makers respond when they see evidence that their constituents or stakeholders are concerned about an issue. Advocacy groups are more likely to be effective when they bring together many different constituencies who are willing to advocate intensely. The larger the support base, the greater the chance for success. For example, health sector managers, professional councils and associations, trade unions, students, patient advocacy groups, and other individuals and groups who support the issue could all be motivated to advocate for addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Using the respective strengths of each interest group can result in a stronger and more effective coalition.
Recruit champions and celebrities
Expertise should be complemented by the power of well-known and respected champions and celebrities. They can bring attention to the advocate’s issue and help gain access to policy-makers. Consider how activist Malala Yousafzai has so compellingly spoken about the importance of girls’ education.