COMPONENTS OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION (CSO) ADVOCACY INDEX

1) Issue is timely and significant

• Issue is of vital concern to the group’s constituents.
• Issue is critically important to the current or future well-being of the CSO and/or its clients, but its importance is not yet broadly understood.
• New opportunities for effective action exist.
• At least a few key decision makers are receptive to the issue.

 2) CSO collects information and input about the issue

• Relevant government agencies and their respective roles in the issue are identified at national and local levels; knowledge and positions investigated.
• General public input is solicited (including from women and minorities) on the issue via public meetings, focus groups, etc.
• Representative input is collected on the issue via surveys (including from women and minorities, where appropriate).
• Existing information and data on the issue is collected, such as for summaries or positions papers.
• Policy analyses, such as the legal, political, social justice, or health aspects of the issue, are conducted .

 3) CSO formulates a viable policy position on the issue

• Policy formulation done in participatory (and gender-sensitive) manner .
• Policy being advocated exists in writing, with formats and levels of detail that are appropriate for various audiences and policy makers.
• Policy position is clearly and convincingly articulated.
• Rationale for policy is coherent, persuasive, and uses information collected in component 2 .
• Presentation of policy position uses attractive and effective formats, such as graphs.

 4) CSO obtains and/or allocates resources (especially time and money) for advocacy on the issue

• Contributions collected from members, interested citizens, and/or from other organizations (businesses, foundations, religious groups, etc.).
• Financial or other resources assigned to the issue from within the CSO.
• Volunteer time to help advocate for the issue obtained and well managed.
• International agencies with interests in the issue area identified, and their procedures for applying for financial support determined.
• (Other resources?).

 5) CSO builds coalitions and networks to obtain cooperative efforts for joint action on the issue

• Other groups and individuals with interests concerning the issue identified or persuaded to take an interest (may include government organizations which share concerns) .
• Coalition formed (defined as any type of joint working group) .
• An existing or new coalition or network activated, such as by having informal contacts, joint meetings, identifying common interests, sharing resources, etc.
• Joint or coordinated actions planned (see #6 and #7 below, for carrying out the actions).

6) CSO takes actions to influence policy or other aspects of the issue

• News releases generated or public meetings held .
• Members/citizens encouraged to take appropriate actions, such as writing letters to legislators .
• Active lobbying conducted for the policy position, such as by testifying in hearings, personal visits to legislators, etc.
• Model legislation drafted and circulated to legislators and others.
• Policy relevant position papers and recommendations disseminated, based on the input collected and coalition’s joint interests .

 7) CSO takes follow up actions, after a policy decision is made, to foster implementation and/or to maintain public interest

• Monitoring the implementation of a newly passed law, policy or court decision, such as by making sure that authorized government funds are disbursed or implementing regulations written and disseminated, checking implementation in field sites, asking members for feedback on how well it is working, etc.
• Some staff or volunteer time and resources are allocated to the issue or policy for monitoring .
• [If desired policy was not passed] At least a minimal level of advocacy methods maintained to take advantage of next opportunity for pressing the issue, perhaps with a reformulated approach or different specifics .
• [If desired policy was not passed] Public awareness and interest in issue monitored, to look for examples, incidents, opportunities to create or renew a sense of urgency on the issue .