Core Ongoing Advocacy Activities The matrix below describes the core ongoing advocacy activities to be undertaken by the GBV AoR. The idea is that all of these activities will take place each year for at least the next three years. The AoR should initiate these activities as soon as the internal systems are in place to support advocacy and provide the information and organization necessary to conduct and monitor advocacy. AC = A member of the AoR Coordination Team who is the designated “advocacy coordinator”. When Level Target Audience Message/Action Communication Channels Immediate and ongoing Global AC Advocacy TT All Resolve challenges with AoR website and establish space for advocacy messaging throughout the site. Update at least twice monthly. Written materials, photos, highlight champions and success stories Ongoing Global Field AC Advocacy TT N/A Collect members’ success stories. Identify champions/allies among non-GBV actors. Post stories on website; use in advocacy messages Now and maintain ongoing Global AC Advocacy TT N/A Identify GBV AoR members’ key relationships that can be leveraged for advocacy; enlist members’ support for specific advocacy activities where they can be most effective. N/A Annually Global AoR CT working with field GBV coordinators Advocacy TT Donors Clusters IASC principals Annually, prepare at least one information/advocacy piece for each major emergency (this could be the piece for a special day in the year). Print and electronic media; widely distributed New emergencies Global Field AC Field GBV coord. REGA-RRT Advocacy TT Donors Clusters IASC bodies Senior leaders in member organizations Implement the advocacy procedures for new emergencies (see ). Face-to-face meetings Coordination meetings Website postings Email distributions Listservs
Broader Advocacy (2016 and beyond) When the core ongoing advocacy activities have been implemented for a year, the following activities can be added to expand and intensify the AoR’s advocacy work. When Level Target Audience Message/Action Communication Channels Ongoing Global Field As above As above Expand core activities: more internal advocacy in member organizations/among leaders; more website postings; more special days. As above Quarterly Global AoR CT Advocacy TT Members Clusters Quarterly round table meetings with a cluster (rotating; one cluster quarterly, which will cover all clusters over a two+ year span) to learn from each other about successes and challenges implementing the GBV Guidelines, reducing GBV risk, and to identify new and creative solutions. Share the report with IASC and OCHA. Group meeting, followed by written materials posted in electronic media To be determined Global Field Members Leadership in members’ agencies Implement advocacy strategy to reach out to leaders in GBV AoR member organizations to create new champions, increase internal support and buy-in. Face-to-face meetings; print and/or electronic media within those organizations. Annual meeting Global AoR CT Advocacy TT Civil society Clusters Donors Expand annual GBV AoR planning meeting to a 5-day annual meeting with 3 days for meetings or presentations or activities with humanitarian actors, activists, and public followed by a 2-day business meeting for members only. Panel discussions Slide shows Photo displays Case studies Workshops
Advocacy Activities for Guidelines Roll-out ― Global and Field Note: The Guidelines Reference Group may take the lead for many of these activities in lieu of or in coordination with the AoR Coordination Team (CT), the advocacy coordinator (AC), and/or the Advocacy Task Team. Timing Lead/ Messenger Target Audience Message/Action Communication Channels Steps ― Materials ― Resources Needed MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATOR (ERC) IN THE GUIDELINES At time of final version of Guidelines; before printing AoR CT Humanitarian actors (in general); head of OCHA; IASC principals Initial transmittal message from ERC and IASC member agencies ― signature of ERC (e.g. in the 2005 Guidelines there is an opening message from Jan Egeland printed in the document that references the joint efforts of other agencies). Transmittal message/message of support for front of Guidelines Discuss with ERC office to learn procedure and timing for signature Draft the message, send, follow up HIGH PROFILE EVENTS/ACTIVITIES When long and short versions of Guidelines are printed AoR CT Advocacy TT Humanitarian leaders (UN and non-UN) High profile launch events in Geneva, New York, and Washington, DC; also in at least one location in Asia, Africa, and Middle East. Secure participation of humanitarian leaders, key donors and prominent humanitarian “ambassadors” to bring maximum attention and buy-in. Public event ― with related flyers and listserv postings Identify hosts in each location Provide guidance for designing the event; follow up, support Write announcement/invitation Send to listservs, press, IASC members, ERC, AoR list, donors Collect press coverage, etc. 3-6 months after launch Advocacy TT Humanitarian professionals (all levels, all types) Article authored or co-authored by prominent humanitarian(s) for leading humanitarian journal or site. Journal article Identify journal(s) Obtain submission details Recruit writer; possibly with Advocacy TT Submit article/follow up AGENCY-SPECIFIC ROLL-OUTS write
From launch through first year AoR members that are also IASC member agencies AC to reach out to others IASC member agencies Each IASC member agency to develop and implement its own internal roll-out plan that features a message from its own leadership and is also tailored to reflect its cluster leadership role. Face-to-face meetings Written materials from Guidelines Task Team (or reference group) Method to be tailored for each agency’s planning and system Special AoR meeting to discuss, explain, answer questions Follow-up meetings as needed to support members Written communications between members and Advocacy TT CLUSTERS AND THEMATIC AREAS From launch through first year AoR members that are also cluster lead agencies AoR CT Guidelines Reference Group Global cluster lead agencies Global Cluster Engagement, Support, and Leadership: Each cluster to get information on the Guidelines from its own leadership. So in addition to whatever message comes from the head of agency, it would be best if we had an agreed-upon roll-out strategy for each cluster developed with that cluster. Face-to-face meetings We need to engage with the individuals who are the global cluster leads about the messages and dissemination mechanisms that are going to be most effective with their cluster Prepare succinct talking points specific to each cluster (drawing from field testing experiences) Meet with cluster lead and provide copies of the small handbook for that cluster and a few copies of the complete Guidelines Follow up, support, inform as agreed Consider quarterly calls with cluster leads for the first year to share plans and experiences Gather cluster plans as they are developed; share with AoR, including field actors 6 months after launch and AC with GBV field coordinators Global cluster members Short write-up (advocacy brief) about the Guidelines, tailored to each cluster, ideally with a case study or mention of a champion in that Cluster newsletters and/or websites This should coincide with cluster roll-out planning
Develop steps & materials. From launch through year 1; possibly continuing into year 2 GBV AoR members HCTs Identify HCT members among the GBV AoR member agencies; ask them to ensure Guidelines roll-out is on the HCT agenda and is monitored by the humanitarian leadership in country. (This should flow from successful advocacy with IASC member agencies above.) To be developed in accordance with each organization’s internal systems Special meeting with global AoR to discuss this advocacy action and others. AoR member agencies that are on HCTs self-identify and work within their own agencies to send the message in the best way for that organization. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY In sync with cluster strategies and outreach to HCs and HCTs (described above) Cluster leads; HC/RC; GBV coordination mechanism in country with support from AC and Advocacy TT National government and civil society stakeholders This should flow from the work of the clusters and the GBV coordination mechanism in country, to ensure national ownership and participation in all aspects of the roll-out. Will flow from the clusters’ ways of working in country with national stakeholders Be sure to include these actors when talking with clusters about their roll-out plans. DONORS From launch through year 1; follow up in year 2 AC/Advocacy TT to work with leaders of major donors Donors Leadership statements about the importance of the Guidelines. Send a message to their implementing partners about the importance of the Guidelines. During monitoring visits, donors ask questions about GBV risk mitigation, prevention/response actions, etc. Face-to-face meetings with donors Advocacy brief/handout with key messages Succinct talking points for donors. Handout with key messages and asks. Assign specific donors to Advocacy TT members and AoR Coordinator. Hold meetings; follow up.
Target Audience Map Target Audience Why Target Them What Influences Them Communication Channels/How to Reach Them Senior leadership in GBV AoR member organizations We need their understanding and support to be most successful (policies, processes, funds, risk management, and much more). They are the public persona for our organizations; can be our advocates. Reputation of the organization Funding opportunities Their own reputation Share AoR advocacy pieces. Other meetings/briefings as appropriate in the specific organization. Meetings of agency executive committees and/or boards. IASC Principals We need their understanding and support to be most successful (policies, processes, funds, risk management, and much more). This group is comprised of senior leaders from many AoR member organizations. Policies, standards, initiatives, tools, and other materials they have developed or approved Each year they set their own priority areas for the year Humanitarian principles Public perception of the humanitarian system Emergency Relief Coordinator Priorities for principals’ organizations, to some extent Principals meet several times a year; getting on that agenda means having an issue of importance and the support of the IASC working group. Approaches identified by their agency staff in AoR. IASC Working Group This is the group that will give IASC approval for the GBV Guidelines. Good humanitarian practices Improvements in coordination systems Rapid response to emergencies Their own initiatives, policies, guides, and other docs (or those they have approved) (e.g. Rights Up Front; Centrality of Protection) Systems in our own organizations for contact with senior leaders (who are members of the working group). Face-to-face meetings individually or with the group. Briefing packs. IASC Emergency Directors’ Group This is the group that is increasingly decision-making and policy-setting for final “OK” from the principals’ group. Members of this group are from senior leadership in many AoR member organizations.
GBV AoR (e.g. OHCHR, UNDP CPR) linked with rule of law and other emergency/post-emergency government processes and systems. Website postings. Advocacy events. Donor governments Funding. Influence on humanitarian leadership, policies, and practices at global and country levels. Influence with other donors. Their own governments’ political priorities and humanitarian policies Global reputation Face-to-face meetings with headquarters technical staff and leaders. Advocacy briefs. Advocacy events. Group meetings. National government; regional or local government entities Decisions about why and how much to target government must be made in country, depending on the nature of the emergency and the nature of the government’s involvement. Governments may be gatekeepers, allies, service providers, and Their own governments’ political priorities, capacity, and policies Funding opportunities for humanitarian and/or development programmes They may have a National Action Plan on gender, GBV, or women peace and security that could be supported. Their global and/or regional reputation may also be an influence. Face-to-face meetings. Advocacy briefs Advocacy events Group meetings SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict Serves as UN’s spokesperson and political advocate on conflict-related sexual violence; Chair of UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict. Concrete action on SV in conflict. UN Security Council Resolutions. Face-to-face meetings with AoR member agencies who are also UN Action member agencies. UN Action Similar issues with GBV AoR; many AoR member organizations are in UN Action. May have funds available for AoR initiatives. SRSG priorities; member agency priorities; Security Council resolutions; available funds. Face-to-face meetings. Group meetings. GBV AoR website postings. Advocacy briefs. Advocacy events.
Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women (VAW) Has a respected global voice for advocacy; submits reports to the UN General Assembly; makes country visits to study and highlight VAW, receives and responds to complaints. Voices from the field. Opportunities to speak out in new or different ways. Issues that fall within her mandate. Email advocacy and information pieces (quarterly as a start). At least one face-to-face meeting per year. Women’s and human rights groups, civil society, coalitions, activists in country Form alliances; share information; work together on issues of common interest. Disseminate/post their relevant advocacy pieces on AoR channels; they disseminate/post our relevant advocacy pieces through their channels. Participation in the humanitarian structures. Funding opportunities. Advocacy opportunities. Face-to-face meetings. Group meetings. Electronic media. NGO consortia at regional and global levels. Including: InterAction, ICVA, Women Peace & Security Working Group; NGO group in Brussels; Humanitarian Working Group in London Issues that fall within their mandate/areas of focus. AoR members that are also members of those consortia/groups.