We are environmental change agents: report: environmental advocacy workshop Nairobi, 2-4 June 2009

This report covers a three day environmental advocacy workshop in Kenya, which aimed to empower organisations and individuals for environmental policy advocacy and campaigning. Important issues were raised in the workshop, such as "how can we be better in influencing the environmental agenda", and "how can we ensure that environment is put higher on the political agenda". The issue of establishing a platform/coalition for environmental NGOs to encourage better coordination and sharing information was also highlighted.

The paper underlines the importance of lobbying member of parliaments as a key part of environmental campaigns, noting that various methods can be employed to do that, including targeting relevant parliamentary committees and government ministers. Disseminating written information, drafting questions, and contacting political parties are other ways of doing this.

The paper points that effective environmental advocacy could be sought through efficient coalitions and networks. However, it depends on relationships developed with decision makers and other key influential audiences.The paper states that the stronger the ties of trust, mutual support, and credibility between advocate and audiences, the more effective advocacy can be.

The paper indicates some strategies to address poor environmental governance:

• law and policy reforms
• institutional reforms
• reforms in natural resources tenure and access rights
• reforms in access to and managing information and knowledge
• improving collaboration and cooperation.

The paper recommends environmental agents work cross-sectorally with the Ministries of Planning, Development and Finance in addition to the Ministries of Environment. Likewise, trade unions, youth groups, and development NGOs should also be involved.