what is advocacy, who does it and what is its role?
TRANSCRIPT
What is advocacy,
who does it and what is its role?
Joan O’DonnellThe Advocacy Initiative
www.advocacyinitiative.ie
What
Why
Who
So what?
Social Justice Advocacy
Advocacy
Lobbying
Lobbying
Role of Advocacy
1. Participation and cohesion2. Improved, better policies3. Expertise4. Long-term perspective5. Watchdog role6. Views of minorities7. Ground truth and new issues8. Communication and buy-in9. Help in implementation10.Also as a nursery
CONTE
STED
“There was hardly a major voluntary organization in the country that didn’t have its hand out for cash. This was because former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern brought
dissent into the semi-State world by subsidizing interest groups to beat their own
drums from public money.”
Michael McDowell, referring to the INOU and NWCI
Irish Times, 27th February 2012
“I welcome that decision. It is a matter for the organs for this state to determine what
should be matters for public inquiry. I do not believe that any privately-sponsored body has the right to determine what is right or
wrong.”
Senator Brian Hayes on the decision to withdraw funding from the anti-corruption advocacy NGO, the Centre for Public Inquiry. Seanad Eireann, Debates, 8th December 2005
“Asked about the 35% cut in funding for the National Women’s Council, the Minister for
Justice & Equality … decided to favour organizations providing services over those
providing advocacy or research activities, which meant difficult choices, in some cases the elimination of funding and the closure of
projects”
Minister Allan Shatter, Dail Eireann, Debates, 7th February 2012
Reported in www.oireachtasbrief.ie
“All of this highlights just how little influence social actors have had on key state policy
through the many fora of social partnership. They have been co-opted into an elite-driven
consensus which has offered no real prospect of achieving a greater balance
between goals of efficiency and equity in the Irish political economy.”
Publication for The Community PlatformMurphy and Kirby (2008) A Better Ireland is Possible
“the state and the sector each recognise their mutual right to constructively critique one
another’s actions and policies”
White Paper, Supporting Voluntray ActivityGovernment of Ireland, 2000
“The contribution made by the voluntary sector is essential and cannot be measured in
monetary terms alone – voluntary organisations have a great capacity to harness the concern
and altruism of people... They also are pivotal in raising awareness of the issue and advocating for change. While at times this may cause a
degree of tribulation in a Minister’s office, robust and evidence based criticism is something that I
value and welcome.”
Launch of the Homeless Policy StatementMinister Jan O’Sullivan, February 2013
Allan Kavanagh, 2012
39% of nonprofit organisation say they
do Social Justice Advocacy
• 17 year old service provider, 25 or less staff, with 2 FT and 2 PT staff working on advocacy
• Top sectors: social services, CD & Housing, Education & research (followed by religious and health)
50% focus locally (with 32% national, 10%
regional and 7% international)
Key issues :Children and families (10%)
Poverty (8%)Education (8%)
Employment (7%)Local development (6%)
Social services (5%)Older people (5%)
Disability (5%)Homelessness and housing (5%)
And many more…
Types of advocacy:Public awareness (11%)
Networking (9%)Committees (9%)
Lobbying (8%)National networks (8%)
Consultation with policy makers (7%)Conferences/seminars (7%)
Press and media research (6%)Public meetings (5%)
And many more…
Public (16%)
Local committees (15%)Government departments (9%)
Social partnership structures (9%)Councils (7%)
Others NGOs (6%)Ministers (6%)
52% focus on internal, 48% on external
55% planned,
45% unplanned
69% rate themselves as
effective or very effective
but …
• 84% agreed that policy decision making in Ireland is fragmented
• 89% disagreed that values that underpin policy making are explicit
• Just over half agreed that policy decisions are underpinned by evidence
What does the public think?
72% believe it is important for charities to campaign and lobby government.
Roughly 25-30% have a reasonable understanding of the specifics of social justice advocacy
Perceived influence Desired influence
