National platforms – one of effective tools for advocacy

Agnese KnabeProject coordinator

European Public Health AllianceCivic Alliance – Latvia

8-9 September, 2006, Estonia

European Public Health Alliance

1. The idea of networking

2. Concept of advocacy

3. European Public Health Alliance – European network

8-9 September, 2006, Estonia

European Public Health Alliance

NetworksContacts and relations between people, based on confidence and solidarity, what gives social capital

Pjer Burdje (expert social capital)

Personal tool what ensures important advantages to individuals, groups, families, who has better contacts

The idea of networking

NetworkRelations and collaboration between

different persons individuals Groups Organisations

The idea of networking

Types Official Un-official Long-term Short-term

The idea of networking

Culture and values

Common aim Confidence Respect of different opinions Support Responsibilities Awareness about the aim and the

tools

The idea of networking

Motivation for collaboration

• Sense of security• Mutual benefit• Information recourse• Knowledge• New contacts (recourses)• Accumulation of the recourses• Influence the quality of your life

The idea of networking

Concept of advocacy

WH

Advocacy

Purposeful actions to advocate the interests of concrete group

Influence policy and legislation (lobby)

Influence the public opinion

Lobbying

Employing persons to influence legislators to sponsor laws that further one's own interest or inhibit those of one's opponents.

Stating your position on specific legislation to legislators or other government employees who participate in the formulation of legislation, or urge your members to do so (direct lobbying).

Stating your position on legislation to the general public and asking the general public to contact legislators or other government employees who participate in the formulation of legislation (grassroots lobbying).

Why lobby? - because it can bring about policy changes that improve peoples' lives.

Lobbying is the process of trying to influence policymakers in favour of a specific cause or point of view. Lobbying includes a call to action.

How ? Using personal contacts, public pressure, or political action to persuade legislators to vote in a particular manner.

Advocacy is all activities undertaken to influence policy.

Lobbying

Monitor - what is happening in the institutions? What are the new policy trends, legal proposals?

Analyse - what could this mean for your member organisations or target group? What actions are needed - passive monitoring or active lobbying?

Inform - explain the background of the issue, basic elements of the proposal, the timeframe for action

Raise awareness - ensure that your members understand the implications for them and their issues of this policy or legislation

Engage - encourage debate, exchange of ideas, brainstorm on what should be the goals of lobbying

Lobbying actions

Consult - gather viewpoints from communities and target groups - particularly those affected by the policy proposal

Challenge - the policy-makers and other stakeholders to address your concerns or provide evidence and arguments for their positions

Empower - provide the tools for NGOs to act, eg draft letters, opportunities to sign-up, attend meetings with policy-makers,

Represent - bringing forward the diversity of voices of civil society, public interest, visibility through the media

Follow-up - keep up the momentum, follow the policy through to implementation, evaluation and review

Lobbying actions

A network of more than 100 non governmental and not-for-profit organisations across Europe working on health and health-related issues

mission is to improve the health of European citizens and to increase their participation in EU policy-making

European Public Health Alliance

About EPHA

Information exchange Membership services Lobbying:

> EU institutions Networking:

> Other health NGOs

> Other thematic NGOs Tracking policy issues:

> Day to day analysis

> Mailings - Briefings

EPHA members

EPHA has two categories of membership:

Full members Associate members

EPHA membership fees are based on the income of the member organisation

International networks European networks National organisations

EPHA members

EPHA members

Health advocates Disease specific patient groups Academic researchers Health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses

and pharmacists) Consumer groups Environment organisations Development organisations

Benefit for membersInformation on actual Public health issues and EU policy developments

• Monthly Newsletter• web page• members only site

Expertise on political and legal documentsAdvocacy in European levelContactsProject opportunitiesCapacity building activities

EPHA members

How does EPHA work?

Advocacy

Working groups

At present there are 5 ongoing working groups on the following subjects:

Alcohol Health care Non-conventional medicine Food and Nutrition Health and Environment Health and Enlargement Pharmaceuticals

How does EPHA work?

Policy Co-ordination Meetings

Meeting every two months in Brussels, this group is open to all EPHA members. Contributions to the meeting are also received via e-mail

How does EPHA work?

Lobbying:

> EU institutions Networking:

> Other health NGOs

> Other thematic NGOs Tracking policy issues:

> Day to day analysis

> Mailings - Briefings

The officers agree a topic on which a policy should be developed

The secretariat, one of the members, or an outside consultant, is invited to produce a first draft

Members are invited to comment The revised text is re-submitted to the membership, with

a clear deadline for any last-minute response The Executive Committee then endorses the final text as

EPHA policy. It may reject the proposed policy/text; or, alternatively, allow it to be adopted along with a minority report

The object of the exercise is to achieve agreement by consensus

Consulting members on major policy

Consulting members: an example

EPHA is involved in the policy work to ensure that a new EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market will not undermine health services

The AGA put the issue as a work priority The Secretariat spread members’ positions The Secretariat met with EU policy-makers Awareness grew rapidly Many policymakers now share EPHA’s vision More information: http://www.epha.org/r/83

What does EPHA stand for?

Health protection as a goal in all EU policy-making - e.g. health impact assessments for all proposed legislation

Involvement of citizens in decision-making related to their own health

Equal access to good quality healthcare for all EU citizens

Addressing health inequalities. (Children born in poor areas have a shorter, less healthy life than those born in richer parts of the same city, region and country)

Ensuring that EU internal policies (e.g. competition, environment, transport, energy, agriculture, industry) and external policies (e.g. trade, development, external aid) actually contribute towards better health

What does EPHA stand for?

Many EU policies have an impact – direct or indirect – on the health of EU citizens

15,000 to 20,000 lobbyists in Brussels and ONLY 10% are NGOs representing citizens’ interests

Networking and alliances are the ONLY way to make our voice heard - You are unlikely to succeed alone. Use other NGOs resources rather than “re-invent the wheel” on your own.

The role of NGOs in Brussels

European Public Health Alliance

39-41 Rue d’Arlon

B-1000 Brussels

Belgium

Tel: +32 2 230 30 56

Fax: +32 2 233 38 80

epha@epha.org

www.epha.org