an Eldis Resource
Policy livelihood relationship in South Asia - role of NGOs in advocacy: lessons learnt from Bangladesh and South Asian countries
Developing best-practices for coordinating the advocacy work of NGOs in Bangladesh
Authors:
A. A. Rahman
Publisher:
Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies , 2002
South Asia has emerged as an area of rapid expansion and high level of activities of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). This is particularly visible in Bangladesh. Their ability to generate policy responses from the state through their advocacy strategies has been very successful in the region. This is a paper links the issue of policy development through advocacy and the role of civil society, particularly NGOs. It further analyses the genesis and typology and issues and sectoral coverage of NGOs. The analysis of NGOs role is based on experience and using example of a few individual NGOs on Bangladesh and networks across South Asia.
The paper traces the emergence of the civil society community in Bangladesh, and the author considers the wide variety of issues that each organisation has tackled. It identifies a list of topical and pressing issues that these organisations have developed advocacy campaigns, and then also considers the policy-level responses that these initiatives have generated.
Based on experiences in natural resource management, environment development integration, sustainable livelihood in the context of sustainable development, an analysis has also been made of the lessons learnt in the use of advocacy as a tool for NGOs to influence policy, planning, programmes, awareness and mobilization of opinion as well as advocacy related activities of NGOs. Some of the key lessons learned include:
- getting the science right – the analysis must demonstrate that the concerns are based on accurate scientific understanding
- flexibility and accepting mistakes when corrected – new knowledge and research outputs may demonstrate limitations in initial analysis, these should be incorporated into final report
- pooled resources – the combined synergies of civil society organisations can make a powerful statement to the target community
- information tools and outputs – communication tools such as newsletters, books, websites, and videos should contain reliable information, and be repeatedly distributed
The author concludes that the use of knowledge and communication tools such as internet and websites has expanded rapidly and this trend is set to continue. Already a number of campaigns have been driven by the internet. International NGOs have much experience and knowledge in advocacy on sustainable development, natural resources management, livelihood, people’s participation etc. He further argues that in order for advocacy campaigns to succeed, people’s participation combined with accurate analysis, the right cause in terms of the importance to society and a well-constructed communication strategy are key elements necessary in achieving success.
Summary originally provided by GDNet, an Eldis content partner
