engaging business women in advocacy process
TRANSCRIPT
Getting your voice heard and achieving results
Camelia Bulat, Executive Director, Regional Center for Organization Management
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Questions To Answer How is policy made and how do we advocate
for or against a policy?
What are the steps to develop an advocacy program?
What is a coalition and how do we create one?
How do we communicate our message and follow up on the actions of our legislators?
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Advocacy means: Changing policies or programs of any
institution
Putting issues on the public agenda
Providing solutions for issues of public interest
Building public support for issues and solutions
Making the case for or against a public position or policy
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Advocacy is about CHANGE What needs to be changed?
Who can make changes?
How much change should be made?
When should changes be made?
How can the case for change be made?
How will the changes be implemented?
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The ADVOCACY Process:
Develop the issue (your position, what is that you want)
Educate & mobilize your network Analyze stakeholders Build like-minded coalitions Target decision makers Select proper communication tools Coordination of grassroots advocacy campaigns
(build public support) Direct advocacy Track debate on policy (the issue) Follow-up 5
How could women associations better represent women issues?Advocating on behalf of women
entrepreneurs (representation)Working in cooperation (alliances, coalitions,
etc.) with women business associationsMoving from Representation to Involvement Training, training, training:
Training in advocacy process;Branding, negotiation, coalition building,
communicationEtc.
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Why Build Coalitions?A refined way of
dialogue
A common/united voice
Larger representation/ (grassroots support)
Greater visibility
More resources (information, people, finance, etc.)
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How to Build a Coalition Formal coalitions v. informal
coalitions
Long term (common vision) v. short term (common objective)
Creating a coalition means more than signing a letter
Sharing responsibilities and resources
Joint commitment to the goal
Acting together = increased power
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