Explain that policy advocacy is often confused with other concepts that share similar elements. These other concepts are information, education, and communication (IEC) and behavior change communication (BCC) activities, fundraising efforts, raising issue awareness, or community and social mobilization. To differentiate between these concepts it can be helpful to consider the targets, objectives, and outcomes of each approach. Guide participants to complete the table as below. Prompt with questions such as: When conducting IEC/BCC activities, who is your target audience? What do you want them to do? How do you know if they did it? How is success Concept Target Audience Objective measured? Individuals or of the Change a specific Desired behavior is IEC/BCC population (e.g., behavior or action adopted pregnant women, men over 50) Increased knowledge Raise awareness Raising awareness of the issue and/or General public and educate on a of issues favorable impressions specific issue of issue Raise funds for Fundraising Donors Resources received organization Community/social Increase More people are mobilization or Community awareness and aware and actively grassroots members involvement engaged organizing Policy Influence policy Policy change is Policy advocacy makers change achieved Facilitate a brief discussion about how policy advocacy is similar and different from the other concepts. Prompt with questions such as: How has your impression of policy advocacy changed? How might these other approaches play a role in policy advocacy? Summarize with the following KEY POINTS: In policy advocacy, the media, community members, religious leaders, and health providers are not the final target audience. But outreach to these groups can be a strategic tactic to influence decision-makers, who are the final target. Getting money from the government for your organization to implement a specific program or training is not policy advocacy. It is policy advocacy if your organization influences the government to improve or adopt a program or training through policy.
Explain that policy advocacy is often confused with other concepts that share similar elements. These other concepts are information, education, and communication (IEC) and behavior change communication (BCC) activities, fundraising efforts, raising issue awareness, or community and social mobilization. To differentiate between these concepts it can be helpful to consider the targets, objectives, and outcomes of each approach. Guide participants to complete the table as below. Prompt with questions such as: When conducting IEC/BCC activities, who is your target audience? What do you want them to do? How do you know if they did it? Concept Target Audience Objective How is success measured? IEC/BCC Individuals or of the population (e.g., pregnant women, men over 50) Change a specific behavior or action Desired behavior is adopted Raising awareness of issues General public Raise awareness and educate on a specific issue Increased knowledge of the issue and/or favorable impressions of issue Fundraising Donors Raise funds for organization Resources received Community/social mobilization or grassroots organizing Community members Increase awareness and involvement More people are aware and actively engaged Policy advocacy Policy Influence policy change Policy change is achieved Facilitate a brief discussion about how policy advocacy is similar and different from the other concepts. Prompt with questions such as: How has your impression of policy advocacy changed? How might these other approaches play a role in policy advocacy? Summarize with the following KEY POINTS: In policy advocacy, the media, community members, religious leaders, and health providers are not the final target audience. But outreach to these groups can be a strategic tactic to influence decision-makers, who are the final target. Getting money from the government for your organization to implement a specific program or training is not policy advocacy. It is policy advocacy if your organization influences the government to improve or adopt a program or training through policy. makers
Policy_Advocacy_for_Health_TMA%20for%20FP%20Supplement_FINAL%202014.docx