1. Repositioning Family Planning in West Africa Repositionnement de la Planification Familiale en Afrique de l’Ouest Sponsored by: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), World Health Organization (WHO), Action for West Africa Region Project - Reproductive Health (AWARE-RH), Advance Africa, the POLICY Project Advocating to Achieve Desired Solutions Presented By Kate Parkes of the POLICY Project

2. “ Advocacy is a set of targeted actions directed at decision-makers in support of a specific policy issue.” What is advocacy?

3. Advocacy networks are groups of organizations and individuals working together to achieve changes in policy, law or programs for a particular issue Advocacy Networks

4. Why Advocacy Networks? Empowers civil society/communities Improves public-private collaboration Multi-sectoral approach Expands base of support Power in numbers Provide support for your actions Networking for IMPACT

5. Who is the Target? Leaders and decision-makers– At national, regional, district and local levels, Those who set policies, control resources, influence socio-cultural practices in Legislatures and ministries of health, planning, finance, education, gender, etc Civil society, including NGOs, religious institutions, business and other

6. Understanding the Policy Process Formulation of policies, laws, regulations Identify factors affecting policy development Crucial role of civil society in policy making Policies formed around issues

7. Building Support Steps In The Advocacy Process Advocacy Issue Advocacy Goal & Objectives Target Audience Message Development Channels of Communication Fundraising Implementation Data Collection Monitoring & Evaluation

8. Advocacy and Related Concepts IEC ADVOCACY Individuals, Segments of Community Raise Awareness Change in knowledge or skills Policy makers, Decision makers Change Policies and Resource Allocation Adoption of new policy

9. Advocacy Communication Model “A planned communication activity that seeks to achieve the following goals:” Inform PersuadeMove to Action

10. Desired Solutions... Political commitment in public and private sectors Policies Operationalization of policies Programs addressing family planning needs Resource allocation