INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY PRACTICE: KEYS TO SUCCESS

In an increasingly demanding and competitive world it is critical for business to understand and engage with both elected representatives and public officials in order to have effective input into shaping the regulatory environment in which private enterprises operate. Making the most of opportunities that stem from government policy, legislation, and regulation requires a comprehensive, proactive strategy. Well-informed and pro-active business leaders are the most effective advocates for steering their enterprise through the fast changing terrain of public policy development.

International Public Policy Advocacy Practice specializes in communications strategies and advocacy for governments and businesses e.g. managing global mergers and acquisitions, analyzing major foreign policy developments, and promoting international business development and market penetration in competitive markets like China, India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Russia.

Success in international public policy advocacy requires a strategic vision and the development of long-term relationships with key government and business decision-makers in the world’s capitals, coupled with an  understanding of the complexities : political, economic, security, cultural and historic that shape their decisions.

Competency in international public policy advocacy requires a basic understanding of  the political management function in a globalizing environment i.e. advocacy, issue management, grassroots politics and media as well as a thorough knowledge of advocacy techniques within international regimes and multilateral settings to be able  to construct the outline of a global public policy advocacy campaign.

Core Skills Required

• Understanding public policy advocacy in a globalizing world
• Public policy advocacy as a universal activity
• Regional dimensions of international public policy advocacy
• Defining the environment and governance in national and multilateral settings
• Transnationalism and its application to the international advocacy practice
• Tools for analyzing countries and their advocacy environment (implementing an advocacy entry strategy; determining key variables that impact market entry; identifying important resources and constructing measures)
• Understanding different advocacy environments
• Interpersonal and intercultural communications and adaptation to different communications environments
• Multi-lateral public policy advocacy
• Impact of institutional settings on advocacy regimes and techniques (Shaping the advocacy program to the institutional setting)
• Understanding regulatory, institutional and cultural variables
• Approaches and frameworks for public policy advocacy in Europe (including individual Member States), Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Africa.

Professional Qualifications Required

• Experience working with government policy development and public administration.
• Experience with current political, socio-economic trends and issues in region.
• Knowledge of lobbying laws and regulations.
• Experience in developing, directing and managing multiple projects and implementing strategic program goals.
• Experience in preparing and presenting policy and project proposals to and/or negotiating with national, state, local government representatives.
• Experience working with development partners/government agencies, building effective and lasting relationships, without violating any restrictions related to conflicts of interest, lobbying former employers, or influencing decision makers.
• Stakeholder management, communications and influencing skills. Ability to operate in politically sensitive/charged environments and agility to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Experience in developing, directing and managing multiple projects in complex environments as well as setting and implementing strategic program goals.
• Building strong relationships with government entities and major public sector organizations in the territory.
• Proactive engagement with government bodies, understanding core requirements, communicating and showcasing services and capabilities across various business lines, working with relevant internal and external stakeholders to develop applicable propositions, and winning business with targeted institutions.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with regulators, government officials, and influential business leaders.
• Working with leadership teams in the development and enhancement of their government growth strategy, and ensuring delivery of revenue target.
• Identifying government and public sector targets based on strategy and priorities of business, arranging and attending meetings with senior government and public sector representatives.
• Leveraging existing contacts, working with third parties and prospects to establish relationships as appropriate.
• Attending high-level networking functions and social events providing access to senior government representatives.
• Communicating propositions to government and public sector representatives, qualifying scope of opportunity and providing clear, structured feedback to internal stakeholders.
• Proactively sourcing government tenders, formal requests for proposal and unsolicited proposals through engagement, clarifying the scope of work as appropriate, and prioritizing opportunities.
• Taking ownership for proposal writing and bid management, designing solutions matching the scope of opportunity in conjunction with internal and external parties, and submitting/presenting proposals/bids.
• Demonstrating thought leadership on public sector reform and opportunities in region of relevance, speaking at conferences as appropriate.
• Excellent communication/interpersonal skills, and demonstration of a track record of building long-term relationships with government entities.
• Strong consulting/strategy/advisory background.