Francophone Advocacy Matters Training Report Final · Francophone Advocacy Matters Training Dakar,...

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1 Francophone Advocacy Matters Training Dakar, May 2013 Workshop Report Eight draft advocacy plans were developed during a 4-day advocacy capacity building workshop held in Dakar at the beginning of May: seven of the plans are for country programs and one is targeted at ECOWAS as the key regional mechanism for advocacy in West Africa. The Regional Office from West and Central Africa hosted this first ever Francophone advocacy workshop for Save the Children staff. Under the leadership of the Child Protection Initiative resources were pooled from Save the Children’s key programming and advocacy sectors (CPI, Education, CRGi, Health/EVERYONE) as well as from the Geneva Advocacy Office. 34 participants from 7 countries in West and Central Africa, as well as regionally- based technical advisors, were in attendance. The participation of 3 Country The workshop set out to: Increase understanding of Save the Children’s definition of advocacy, linkages to our Theory of Change and organizational strategy, including Global Initiatives. Increase ability on how to integrate advocacy to achieve overall program goals in a deliberate and strategic way. Learn steps to plan for advocacy and policy change initiatives Use the advocacy planning steps to begin developing an advocacy plan for a particular priority issue. Strengthen relationships with other staff to learn from each other’s experience Develop a plan to share the workshop’s learning with other colleagues

Transcript of Francophone Advocacy Matters Training Report Final · Francophone Advocacy Matters Training Dakar,...

Page 1: Francophone Advocacy Matters Training Report Final · Francophone Advocacy Matters Training Dakar, May 2013 Workshop Report Eight draft advocacy plans were developed during a 4-day

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Francophone Advocacy Matters Training Dakar, May 2013

Workshop Report Eight draft advocacy plans were developed during a 4-day advocacy capacity building workshop held in Dakar at the beginning of May: seven of the plans are for country programs and one is targeted at ECOWAS as the key regional mechanism for advocacy in West Africa. The Regional Office from West and Central Africa hosted this first ever Francophone advocacy workshop for Save the Children staff. Under the leadership of the Child Protection Initiative resources were pooled from Save the Children’s key programming and advocacy sectors (CPI, Education, CRGi, Health/EVERYONE) as well as from the Geneva Advocacy Office.

34 participants from 7 countries in West and Central Africa, as well as regionally-based technical advisors, were in attendance. The participation of 3 Country

The workshop set out to: • Increase understanding of Save the Children’s definition of advocacy,

linkages to our Theory of Change and organizational strategy, including Global Initiatives.

• Increase ability on how to integrate advocacy to achieve overall program goals in a deliberate and strategic way.

• Learn steps to plan for advocacy and policy change initiatives • Use the advocacy planning steps to begin developing an advocacy plan for

a particular priority issue. • Strengthen relationships with other staff to learn from each other’s

experience • Develop a plan to share the workshop’s learning with other colleagues  

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Directors demonstrated the considerable weight and importance our senior management accord to advocacy. The workshop showed that we can - and have to - work across sectors and that we need to link themes together in order to maximize the effect of our advocacy and programs. Working together is also important to ensure that the changes for children that we bring about in West and Central Africa are aligned with SCI global strategies, the breakthroughs and global advocacy priorities. Draft advocacy plans goals and objectives The advocacy plans drafted during the workshop are now undergoing revision and validation within COs and with partners. Here though is a snapshot of some of the key highlights. Goals Advocacy objectives Reduction in the mortality of children below 5 in Burkina Faso

By 2015 the National Assembly adopts a law on the exemption of health care costs for children below 5

In Côte d’Ivoire there is a protecting and safe environment for the realization of children’s rights.

By 2015 the National Assembly adopts a low banning physical and humiliating punishment in all education settings.

In Guinea there is a political environment that is favorable to the concept of community drug boxes

By 2015 the Ministry of Health and public Hygiene integrates the community drug boxes strategy in the national policy on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness

In Mali maternal, newborn and child mortality is reduced at community level.

By June 2015 the municipalities in Mali will ensure the remuneration of community health workers

In Niger children fully enjoy their right to protection

By 2016 the child protection budget is raised by 1% to increase the number of Child Protection Services and social workers, offering a continuum of alternative care services in line with minimum quality standards

Guarantee access to primary education in emergency in DRC

By June 2014 MONUSCO and armed forces and groups sign an agreement to guarantee the protection of schools.

Guarantee a better protection for Talibé children in Senegal

By the end of 2013 the Office of the Prime Minister implements three pillars out of the 6 of the action plan for the protection of talibé children (implementation of legal framework, standards and religious leaders)

By 2015 ECOWAS will put in place transnational mechanisms to protect children on the move.

By the end of 2013 the Gender and Development Commission of ECOWAS integrates a section on child mobility in its child policy and strategic plan of action

Human and financial resources for advocacy continue to be the main challenges for our country and regional offices. Several of the key recommendations raised at the end of the workshop are applicable to other regions of the world:

- members should create a fund for advocacy - the regional office should have a multi-sectoral advocacy unit - the regional office should support the planning and implementation of a

regional advocacy strategy

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The evaluations for the workshop were extremely positive: 52% of the participants found the workshop excellent and 42% good. All country offices have thematic action plans to review and finalise as well as concrete plans to follow up the workshop and share the knowledge gained with their colleagues. The regional office has a master calendar which will enable all these plans to be followed up and their implementation monitored.

This is to send you all my appreciation and gratitude after this brilliant workshop on advocacy that you organised in Dakar April 30 to 4 May 2013. The lesson I draw amongst

others is that advocacy, if well conducted, can change the world. Dr. Barry Mamadou Aliou, Regional Coordinator of GSK in Kankan, Guinea.

(original in French)

   

    Suggestions for regional advocacy matters for West and Central Africa Children on the Move

By 2015 Save the Children has in place a regional strategy which is harmonised, coordinated and coherent for a better protection of children on the move

Urbanisation

A strategic plan is put in place to respond to the problems linked to urbanization and/or improve the life conditions in rural areas

Post 2015

The post 2015 development framework should have a goal on child protection. The goal on health should be strengthened and it should include neglected illnesses.

Resilience

Governments that are committed to resilience include in their plans of action the recommendations of Ending Everyday Emergency

Child Rights Governance

Children should participate in the analysis and follow-up to local and national budgets

Some notes from flipcharts Why should children participate in advocacy?

- They are experts of their reality

- The first concerned - They make a significant

contribution including on evidence

- Decision-makers are more sensitive to children

- It is their right - They touch the emotions - It is an education tool - They have to be involved in

decision-making - They add credibility - We learn a lot from children

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Recommendations from the participants Recommendation Target Establish a multi-sector advocacy unit Regional Office Support for the development of a regional advocacy strategy in West and Central Africa

Regional Office

Support advocacy towards ECOWAS Regional Office Set up a platform/mechanism to share advocacy experience across the region

Regional Office

Support country offices to follow-up and finalise their draft advocacy plans Regional Office Integrate the EVERYONE campaing in Guinea Regional

Office/EVERYONE Campaing team

Take advantage of SCUK’s advocacy offer Country Directors Set up a central fund for advocacy SC Members Support Child Rights Governance in every country SC Members Set up a humanitarian response mechanism in WCA that is inclusive of humanitarian advocacy

SCI Humanitarian/Mike Penrose

AMTs should be used to collect failures as well as successes. AMTs should be shared in the region to know good practices.

MELAG and Regional Office

Master calendar for following-up the workshop May When Country Office What 6-8 Burkina Faso Information sharing about the advocacy workshop 6-9 Niger Definition of a national advocacy strategy on the basis of

sectorial advocacy 7 Niger Presentation on advocacy at the beginning of the workshop on

country strategic plan workshop 8-13 Guinee Debriefing on advocacy with the colleagues 10 Senegal Finalise the advocacy plan on child protection 17 Mali Debriefing with SMT 20 Niger Organise a meeting with Unicef – Conide – MPPFPE to share

the child protection advocacy plan developed during the workshop

May Senegal Develop key messages on Child Protection End May Burkina Communication on SCI bulletin « parlons ensemble » May Côte d’Ivoire Develop a debriefing plan for colleagues and partners May Mali Debriefing with the coordination teams May DRC Presentation of draft emergency strategy. Revision, modification

and sign-off May DRC Develop advocacy tools for the health sector June When Country Office What Beginning of June

Senegal Preparation of the debriefing with the Country Office

Mid June Guinee Finalise the advocacy plan 30 June Mali Finalise the advocacy plan June Senegal Debriefing of advocacy workshop June Burkina Training on advocacy and finalisation of advocacy plan

July When Country Office What July Guinee Involve children August When Country Office What August Côte d’Ivoire Implement the debrefing plan with colleagues and partners

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August Guinee Capacity building with partners September When Country Office What September Burkina Development of an advocacy plan for the Country Office December When Country Office What By 31st Mali Capacity building of staff at different levels By 31st Mali Development of an advocacy plan for the Country Office By 31st Guinee Resource mobilization for advocacy By 31st Guinee Monitoring and evaluation of advocacy plan Where to find more resources

• Advocacy matters in French “Question(s) de plaidoyer” is a fantastic new resource for Francophone colleagues and partners.

• Presentations, advocacy tools and videos from the sessions available here: https://scifile.egnyte.com/h-s/20130530/54b72ddf538f4b5f

• E-book version of the manual.

This workshop was for me, as for many of you, I’m convinced, an opportunity for exchanging and learning of exceptional quality. Congratulations to the organisers and

facilitators. - Bamody Diakité, Mali (Original in French) Dakar, Geneva, Bamako, Pretoria, 5 June 2013 Roberta Cecchetti, Child Protection Initiative Clare Feinstein, Child Protection Initiative Ulrika Soneson Cilliers, Child Rights Governance Saleck Dah Ould, EVEYONE Roland Koné, EVERYONE and GSK Warue Kiriuki, Education Global Initiative Sarah Press, Education Global Initiative Davinia Ovett Bondi, Advocacy Office, Geneva Diarra Diop, Advocacy Office, Geneva