engaging business women in advocacy process

Getting your voice heard and achieving results

Camelia Bulat, Executive Director, Regional Center for Organization Management

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Questions To Answer How is policy made and how do we advocate

for or against a policy?

What are the steps to develop an advocacy program?

What is a coalition and how do we create one?

How do we communicate our message and follow up on the actions of our legislators?

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Advocacy means: Changing policies or programs of any

institution

Putting issues on the public agenda

Providing solutions for issues of public interest

Building public support for issues and solutions

Making the case for or against a public position or policy

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Advocacy is about CHANGE What needs to be changed?

Who can make changes?

How much change should be made?

When should changes be made?

How can the case for change be made?

How will the changes be implemented?

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The ADVOCACY Process:

Develop the issue (your position, what is that you want)

Educate & mobilize your network Analyze stakeholders Build like-minded coalitions Target decision makers Select proper communication tools Coordination of grassroots advocacy campaigns

(build public support) Direct advocacy Track debate on policy (the issue) Follow-up 5

How could women associations better represent women issues?Advocating on behalf of women

entrepreneurs (representation)Working in cooperation (alliances, coalitions,

etc.) with women business associationsMoving from Representation to Involvement Training, training, training:

Training in advocacy process;Branding, negotiation, coalition building,

communicationEtc.

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Why Build Coalitions?A refined way of

dialogue

A common/united voice

Larger representation/ (grassroots support)

Greater visibility

More resources (information, people, finance, etc.)

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How to Build a Coalition Formal coalitions v. informal

coalitions

Long term (common vision) v. short term (common objective)

Creating a coalition means more than signing a letter

Sharing responsibilities and resources

Joint commitment to the goal

Acting together = increased power

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