"At a time when uneven power dynamics are high on development actors' agenda, this book will be an important contribution to researchers and practitioners working on innovation in development and civil society. While there is much discussion of localization, decolonization and 'shifting power' in ci
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vil society collaborations in development, the debate thus far centers on the aid system. This book directs attention to CSOs as drivers of development in various contexts that we refer to as the Global South. This book take a transformative stance, reimagining roles, relations and processes. It does so from five complementary angles: (1) Southern CSOs reclaiming the lead, 2) displacement of the North-South dyad, (3) Southern-centred questions, (4) new roles for Northern actors, and (5) new starting points for collaboration. The book relativizes international collaboration, asking INGOs, Northern CSOs, and their donors to follow Southern CSOs' leads, recognizing their contextually geared perspectives, agendas, resources, capacities, and ways of working. Based in 19 empirically grounded chapters, the book also offers an agenda for further research, design, and experimentation. Emphasizing the need to 'Start from the South' this book thus re-imagines and re-centers Civil Society collaborations in development, offering Southern-centred ways of understanding and developing relations, roles, and processes, in theory and practice." (Publisher description)
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"The Toolkit is built on a foundation of conceptual clarity, emphasizing the importance of clear definitions and context-specific understanding. It underscores the need for comprehensive disaggregated data that reveals the true extent of racial inequities and enables evidence-based policy-making. Th
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roughout, the Toolkit focuses on the inclusion of affected communities and stakeholders, fostering meaningful engagement and dialogue. This Toolkit serves as a practical guide for policy-makers, activists, and organizations committed to advancing anti-racist policies. Drawing from global case examples and the latest research, it provides a step-by-step approach to developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating policies that combat racism and discrimination." (Short summary)
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"There are many valuable resources on how to conduct advocacy that provide a detailed, step-by-step approach. These approaches include best practices for identifying stakeholders, developing a message, or planning a timeline. We will not go deeply into these topics, but we do want to provide an intr
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oductory framework to help CSOs think about how to develop an advocacy action plan [...] In Part 1, we present the framework for advocacy planning. In Part 2, the guide provides a tactics toolbox that can be used in restrictive contexts where civil society is under threat. In Part 3, we provide additional resources to assist with your planning. The primary focus of this toolkit is found in Part 2 with detailed case studies illustrating 10 key tactics that can be used in a range of contexts." (Using this guide, page 5)
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"Policy advocacy is an increasingly important function of many nonprofit organizations, as they seek broad social changes in their concerning issues. Their advocacy practices, however, have often been guided by their own past experiences, anecdotes from peer networks, and consultant advice. Most of
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their practices have largely escaped empirical and theoretical grounding that could better root their work in established theories of policy change. The first book of its kind, Nonprofits in Policy Advocacy bridges this gap by connecting real practices of on-the-ground policy advocates with the burgeoning academic literature in policy studies. In the process, it empirically identifies six distinct policy advocacy strategies, and their accompanying tactics, used by nonprofits. Case studies tell the stories of how advocates apply these strategies in a wide variety of issues including civil rights, criminal justice, education, energy, environment, public health, public infrastructure, and youth." (Publisher description)
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"Para los que trabajamos en la Representación Patagonia de la Fundación AVINA Argentina fue una oportunidad extraordinaria poder acompañar, muy próximos, a un puñado abierto y generoso de ciudadanos de San Carlos de Bariloche que decidió incidir directamente en el proceso de la reforma de su C
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arta Orgánica. Ello les significó organizarse, capacitarse, obtener recursos, planificar, evaluar durante la marcha y ejecutar una gran variedad de acciones para cumplir con las metas que se fijaron oportunamente. El resultado fue exitoso pues, sobre todo, a través del grupo que conformaron: Vecinos por la Carta, adquirieron una enorme experiencia ciudadana, afianzaron sus relaciones y confianzas mutuas y, más aún, lograron que al menos unos veinte artículos del nuevo texto legal reflejara sus propuestas. También trabajaron para que el Reglamento Interno de la Convención contribuyera decididamente a la participación de todo quien lo quiso hacer. Desde las incipientes reuniones preparatorias quedó en claro que una de las herramientas principales que deberían emplear con profesionalismo, astucia y perseverancia era los medios de comunicación social convertidos como tales pues, los mismos, también contribuyen a informar, formar opinión, alentar intercambios de ideas y pueden llegar a incidir en las reflexiones y propuestas de quienes deben, en última instancia, votar a favor o en contra de las decisiones colegiadas. Entonces comenzó la búsqueda de un conocedor en la materia y, afortunadamente, encontraron a Noelia García Villamil quien, con entusiasmo y ciencia, asumió la tarea de asistir a Vecinos por la Carta en cuanto a la planificación, preparación, ejecución y evaluación de un Plan específico con respecto a los medios de comunicación social como extraordinarios vehículos de información y debate de acceso público. Una vez finalizado el notable proceso de incidencia pública, a través del involucramiento activo y responsable de ciudadanos, Vecinos por la Carta y la Fundación AVINA seguimos mancomunados, con el acompañamiento de Silvana De Falco y los aportes de Ramiro Fernández. Este libro es una sistematización de la tarea realizada exitosamente que busca, entre otras cuestiones, difundir lo realizado para que otros pobladores perciban la importancia de contar con el concurso de profesionales en la materia, analizar el comportamiento de los distintos diarios, cotejar los contenidos y las formas de la inserción en las páginas publicadas, la gravitación pública del grupo autoconvocado con relación a los partidos políticos con abundantes recursos económicos y humanos, etcétera." (Prólogo, páginas 9-10)
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"The primary objective of this research has been to review the experiences and analyse the role of the mainline churches in advocacy in support of human rights, democracy and poverty alleviation in Africa. It has set out to identify what is the particular contribution that churches can bring to such
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advocacy, and what opportunities exist for mutual support from other organisations involved in campaigning for human rights and democratic development. In particular the relationship between church-related NGOs in Europe and the mainline churches in Africa for advocacy work is examined. The analysis is based on an examination of three issues that are considered to be critical to the effective involvement of churches in advocacy: the external linkages and relationships of the church to other groups in society; the organisational implications of engaging in advocacy; and thirdly the ideological and theological positioning of the Church. Case studies were conducted on: the role of the National Council of Churches in Kenya (NCCK) in advocating for human rights and democracy; the role of the churches in Malawi in the transition to a multi-party democracy, and the role of the churches in advocating on economic issues in Zambia." (Abstract)
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