THE ‘HOW’ OF PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY

Lobbying as a term has negative connotations in many countries and is used to define the practice of advancing narrow interests by using non-transparent means. In short lobbying is often being accused by lobbying targets and civil society organisations. While the term ‘interest representation’ or ‘political representation’ is seen more positively, we consider it to be too broad as everyone has de facto an interest to represent. Furthermore, it fails to take account of the different specialisations associated with patterns of interest representation. For this reason we believe that the term ‘Public Policy Advocacy’ is more distinctive of what we do: Some Public Policy Advocates specialise in legislative policy while others focus on legal and regulatory matters. Some are Contract Public Policy Advocates that explicitly promote themselves as focusing on one or a few industries or issues and General Public Policy Advocates. Some are In-house Public Policy Advocates. Some are legislative policy and process experts and they focus on policy issues in government or parliament. Some are Legal and Regulatory Public Policy Advocates although the majority are also legislative advocacy specialists as well. 

Public Policy Advocacy is a specific practice, which allows you to position your messages, influence decision-makers and maximize your impact. Public Policy Advocacy puts you in a position to advocate a defined interest that is affected, actually or potentially, by the decisions of governments and, in the case of Brussels, the European institutions. The end-aim of Public Policy Advocacy is, therefore, to influence and advance the messages on your agenda. In other words, Public Policy Advocacy is not so much about the “what”, which can be very different (for example defending the environment, limiting emissions, advancing the fight against climate change, more competitive industries, better legislation, etc) but Public Policy Advocacy is about the “how”: Its added-value is supporting you in how to exercise influence, tracing a plan to position your views and messages powerfully and effectively.

Public Policy Advocacy includes envisioning your desired outcome, planning, coordinating, implementing, building consensus, identifying potential allies, using synergies, the strength of numbers and collective actions: it is a real team work exercise!

People and stakeholders’ participation should always be encouraged. In order to participate you need to be aware of your possibilities and potential you have to shape and influence decision making. You are more powerful, if you gather together and take action.

Public Policy Advocacy is also about the “where”, if we talk about European legislation, the “where” is Brussels because it is where most of the European institutions, European Commission, Council and the European Parliament are located.

Public Policy Advocates are networkers and connectors. Public Policy Advocates connect people, identify and use the inter-linkages and connections between issues. Therefore the ability to connect very quickly with people, to develop trust, to develop and nourish good, long-term relationships is important: everything is based on confidence and reliability. Flexibility and adaptability are also crucial skills to cope with the “tempo” of Public Policy Advocacy, meaning that for some issues you are under a tight calendar with lots of time pressure while at the same time other dossiers are dragging on and you have to show resilience and work for the long-term. You also need to be able to juggle with several subjects at the same time. As a Public Policy Advocate in Brussels, it is also very useful if you speak several languages so as to facilitate connecting with as many nationalities as possible and you must master oral and written communications. Good Public Policy Advocates also value and use the huge diversity in the EU, must understand and anticipate counterparts positions and also manage “egos”.  In a nutshell the top ability is to know how to develop good strategies and reach consensus and then navigate through the Public Policy Advocacy process, anticipate, create momentum and take the key people with you.

Public Policy Advocacy is very much about process. You have to have the determination, the resilience and focus. You must keep the process and the relationships going, you have to quickly notice the windows of opportunity available along the way, use, coordinate and implement necessary actions, build bridges and, very much in Brussels, where you have so many stakeholders involved, it is all about finding win-win solutions.