Cn 16 th14_ngo_writing_policy_messages_werfftenbosch

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

Policy briefs and advocacy

by Both ENDS and CARI

October 14th, 2010

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

3. Policy brief topics

• Botswana: “Highlights on the energy options and implications for Boteti area ”• China: “The DESIRE methodology in steps for a policy audience”. • Mexico:“ Designing SLM and combating land degradation

programmes needs to address economic benefits for local stakeholders;”

• Russia: “Cut water subsidies from 90% to 40%, and use the remaining

50% for farmers to buy new technologies for irrigation”

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

3. Policy brief topics

• Turkey: “Stimulating soil preservation can combat poverty ”

• Morocco: "Get national level SLM policies implemented by praising the method of local stakeholder involvement”

• Tunisia: “Support rangeland resting as a land management strategy”

• Italy: “Land degradation and decreasing food production: CAP

subsidies on the wrong track”

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

3. Policy brief topics

• Spain: “Local solutions adapted to the local

context are also solutions to global SLM problems”

• Portugal: “Unexpected impacts from tested land use

management strategies related to forest fires”• Chile: “Well-informed decision-making leads to changing priorities

for investing SLM resources”• Cape Verde: “Stakeholder involvement contributing to SLM: where the

methodology can make the difference” • Greece: ?

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

It’s feasible !…

• Policy briefs are part of lobbying and everybody is lobbying : the states, the private sector, the ngos, the scientists, the farmers…

• a democratic tradition • can make a difference, • Can generate better policies and laws, enhance

their application and/or change laws for the better solutions with the aim of the social benefit…

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

The tools of advocacy depend on the situation

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

The tools of advocacy

Informal Official

Soft

" Discreet Diplomacy "Direct/indirect contacts

Conversations/discussionsTargeted letters

quiet

Letters to the authoritiesAnalytical letters

Statement of positionQuiet/Public

Raising awareness" Good practices "

Hard

" Discreet Diplomacy "Confidential letters

Targeted denunciationsReports of deficiency

Quiet/PublicRaising awareness" Good practices "

Raising awarenessTrainingPublic

Public reportsPress releases

Damning testimoniesLetters of denunciation

PetitionsPressuresBoycott

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

Pre-requisites

• Having credible and practically usefull scientific results

• Having a minimum understanding of the current policies and who is in charge

• Be aware that a policy document is a statement of intent

• But goals and activities should be outlined

• Remember the RIFT principle

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

The seven steps ladder for lobbying (in science

and research for change-BIOTA/South Africa )

1- Define the issue : For » something rather than « against » something

2- Identify the points where a decision could achieve your outcome : Where and in which process should i raise my issue ?

3- Identify the decision maker : consider the issue from his point of vue

4 - Identify the appropriate tools and actions

5- Target your efforts : maxime the outcomes according

6 - Identify skills and ressources

7 - Implement your plan

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

 I…ntelligence ? • Initiative• Information• Input • Influencing• Incentive• Implementation• Innovation• ….

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

INFORMATION

INPUT AND ADVICE

INPUT AND ADVICE

WHAT Is ON THE TABLE ?

DESIRE REPORTS 1.3.1. Drivers and policies WB 3 reportsWB 5 modelling outputs

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

Other synthetized scientific information

POSTER

POSTER

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

Writing a policy brief ? (1/2)

• Determine your topic or issue • Formulate your opinion or statement

into a single-sentence thesis statement which you will keep in mind while writing the document

• Give a short but precise description of the context with numbers + pictures or diagrammes + references

• Highlight the problem and support the description with 2/3 examples and says + picture or diagrame + references

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

Writing a policy brief ? (2/2)

• Draft the body of your paper and introduce your statement using 2/3 supporting evidence in separate paragraph

• Research opposite arguments, refute them in the text, and give the impression you have considered all points of vue

• Conclude by summerizing your argument and/or offer a memorable one line-ending with additional thoughts to consider relative to your argument

• Give your paper a catchy title

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

Other comments about the structure and plan

American accumulation plan

• Introduction : the issue introduced, the issue clarified, the opinion mentioned

• Développement : first aspect + arguments, second aspect + arguments, third aspects + arguments

• Conclusion : the analysed aspects, the statement, the final word

•

The dialectic plan• Introduction the issue

introduced, the issue clarified, the « for » and the « against »

• Développement : first aspect is the thesis ( your statement), second aspect is the antithesis, third aspect is the synthetis ( your statement confirmed)

• Conclusion this case there is no need for a conclusion because the synthesis is the conslusionn :

5th Plenary meeting, China, October 20105th Plenary meeting, China, October 2010

Lets try together !• Work in group (3 people)• Formulate your opinion or

statement to your colleagues and discuss it

• Write it in a single-sentence thesis statement

• Make a bullet point list of the scientific arguments to support your statement out of the DESIRE project

• Tell your colleagues what your specific audience is

• Any catchy title ?