STRATEGIC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGEMENT

Today, many organisations, businesses and not-for-profits are facing challenges relating with multi-level governments. There are new legal requirements that now have to be followed, and ethical challenges in influencing and lobbying governments all over the world. Government relations practitioners require a strategic approach to understanding the environment and techniques for effective proactive management of government relations and communication strategies.

Each government relations programme should support the organization’s overall goals and strategies. Because government relations plays an integral role, organizations need to prioritize their objectives based on existing resources and capabilities of personnel to best maximize outcomes. Also the communications programme should allow for regular and timely reporting of key issues or actions, using action alerts and other as-needed updates.

1. Government Relations Management : The function of managing the organization’s overall relationship with government ministries/departments and agencies as well as with the legislative branch. Board and executive management and oversight; hiring and managing consultants; developing, preserving and spending political capital.

2. Government Relations Strategy Development: The activities involved in developing and establishing an organization’s government relations strategy. Research and intelligence gathering; issue management; relationships building and maintenance including stakeholder mapping and engagement; coalition, partnership and strategic alliances; key contact programmes; networking; proxies and third party advocates; budgeting and planning government relations campaigns; monitoring.

3. Government Relations Management Planning: The development of plans for the implementation of the organization’s government relations strategy.

4. Government Relations Management Performance Management: The activities involved in managing the organization’s performance against the plans for implementing its government relations strategy. Activities include: Developing performance indicators and measurement mechanisms; measuring, monitoring and analyzing performance; conducting formal reviews of performance and responding to the results, including preparing and implementing action plans to address under-performance or other issues raised.

5. Government Relations Management Policy Development: Activities involved in developing and establishing the organization’s policies for the management of its relationships with government ministries/departments and agencies. Policy and political analysis including discerning the political and public policy environment; alternatives development; evaluations; policy development (general and issue specific).

6. Government Relations Management Procedure Development: The activities involved in developing the organization’s procedures for the management of its relationships with government ministries/departments and agencies.

7. Government Relations Communication Management: The activities involved in managing communications with government ministries/departments and agencies as well as with the public and the media (tactical public and media relations, reputation management, crisis management ); integrated communications strategies; liaison with government bodies carrying out surveys or consultations; participation in formal enquiries and investigations. Developing compelling narratives; preparing documentation for governments (briefing notes, position papers, cabinet submissions); writing and publishing articles; oral presentations for speeches and legislative hearings; using social media; grassroots communications and advocacy.

8. Government Relations Legislation Development: The activities involved in managing the organization’s input to the preparation development and implementation of legislation affecting the organization and the industry as a whole, relationships with parliament and legislative bodies, responding to proposals or consultations on legislation affecting the organization and the industry.