Networking & AlliancesModule 4

Working together with others can:

Combine strengths and resources

Empower those participating

Build the capacity and reputation of those involved

Strengthen an advocacy campaign

Bring about sustainable

Principles of Partnership Advocacy

Integration – mainstream in your organization’s work

Joint planning – with your own steering group too

Play to your strengths – know and use skills/resources

Focus on capacity building – and continuous improvement

Share visibility

Models of Joint Working

Networks: Primarily for information sharing

Alliances: Longer-term strategic partnerships

Coalitions: Usually formed for a single issue or campaign

Federations:Ongoing collaboration in a union or association

Advantages & Disadvantages

• There are many advantages and disadvantages in advocacy collaboration

• Thought and analysis can help to understand these

• In particular, think carefully about your choice of partners!

Careful planning can lessen risks and

surprises…

Don’t reinvent the Wheel!

• Is there an existing coalition?

• If so, consider joining or supporting this

• But if none, consider

forming a new coalition with allies

• Read and research – see WAN’s web resource:

http://www.worldanimal.net/our-programs/consortiums

Forming a Coalition

Key elements are:

• A clear mission and purpose

• The involvement of committed individuals and organizations that share this mission

• Action orientation

• Realistic objectives and tasks

• Agreed participatory management, or decision-making structure - A joint steering group may be useful from an early stage

Role of Coalition Leadership• Promote participatory planning and decision

making

• Delegate tasks

• Spread responsibilities and workload across members

• Share information readily

• Foster trust, openness and honesty among members

• Motivate and empowers members

• Act as role model

• Ensure that coalition members practice cooperation, not competition

Effective Meetings

It is also an important function of coalition leadership to run meetings effectively.

This is more difficult than it sounds – with different organizations and interests!

See the Advocacy Tool on Effective Meetings!

Starting a coalition is the easy part…

Developing the coalition and keeping momentum is far more difficult!