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Effective Strategies To Build Advocacy Effective Strategies To Build Advocacy Capacity Among Service Provider CoalitionsCapacity Among Service Provider Coalitions
OCASI ConferenceOCASI Conference24 April, 200924 April, 2009
S. Gopikrishna (Gopi)S. Gopikrishna (Gopi)on behalf of the City of Toronto’son behalf of the City of Toronto’s Immigrant and Refugee Housing Committee Immigrant and Refugee Housing Committee
(IRHC)(IRHC)
Scarborough Housing Help CentreScarborough Housing Help Centre416-285 -8070 416-285 -8070 [email protected]@shhc.ca
This workshop will exploreThis workshop will explore
AA. . Birth, Life Cycle & Functions of Birth, Life Cycle & Functions of
CoalitionsCoalitions
B. Traditional Membership of coalitions B. Traditional Membership of coalitions
C. Challenges before coalitions C. Challenges before coalitions
D. Non-traditional member recruitment and D. Non-traditional member recruitment and capacity augmentationcapacity augmentation
A. Birth and Functions of a A. Birth and Functions of a CoalitionCoalition
What is a coalition?What is a coalition?
How are coalitions born? What is How are coalitions born? What is
the life cycle of a coalition?the life cycle of a coalition?
What do coalitions do?What do coalitions do?
What is a Coalition?What is a Coalition?
““to grow togetherto grow together” – an alliance of people, ” – an alliance of people, parties or nations pursuing a common goalparties or nations pursuing a common goal
Defined usually as “a mutually beneficial and Defined usually as “a mutually beneficial and well defined relationship by people and well defined relationship by people and organizations to achieve common goalsorganizations to achieve common goals “ “
Advocacy focusAdvocacy focus distinguishes coalitions from distinguishes coalitions from ““partnershipspartnerships”, where the implied goal is direct ”, where the implied goal is direct serviceservice
How are coalitions born? How are coalitions born? What is the life-cycle?What is the life-cycle?
Birth of a coalitionBirth of a coalition: : Response to an immediate crisis Response to an immediate crisis e.g. e.g. HRSDC funding HRSDC funding
crisis of 2003crisis of 2003 A group of organizations/individuals looking to increase their A group of organizations/individuals looking to increase their
influence in decision makinginfluence in decision making e.g. e.g. Ontario Medical Ontario Medical AssociationAssociation
Decision makers initiate consultations to get community feed-Decision makers initiate consultations to get community feed-back and buy-inback and buy-in e.g. e.g. Ontario Early Years Centre tablesOntario Early Years Centre tables
Life-cycle of a coalitionLife-cycle of a coalition:: TemporaryTemporary- - coalition dissolves upon achieving goalcoalition dissolves upon achieving goal Long term-Long term- coalition takes on new causescoalition takes on new causes Dormant-ActiveDormant-Active- - Coalition takes on causes when Coalition takes on causes when
necessarynecessary
What do Coalitions do? What are the What do Coalitions do? What are the benefits ?benefits ?
A coalition may focus on information sharing, birthing A coalition may focus on information sharing, birthing partnerships or advocacypartnerships or advocacy
Benefits :Benefits :
Draw attention to emerging issues and research the Draw attention to emerging issues and research the impact on target populationimpact on target population
Identify options and solutions to an existing Identify options and solutions to an existing challengechallenge
Lobbying governments /lawmakers to implement Lobbying governments /lawmakers to implement identified options identified options
B. MembershipB. Membership
What is the traditional membership of a What is the traditional membership of a coalition?coalition?
How does membership impact the work of a How does membership impact the work of a coalition?coalition?
How do members interact? What is the How do members interact? What is the decision making process?decision making process?
Who traditionally are members of a coalition? Who traditionally are members of a coalition? How does membership impact coalition work?How does membership impact coalition work?
Organizations and/or individuals interested in a given topic become members. In our work, most members
are non-profits.
Members are the coalition’s biggest resource- even with membership fees, coalitions are under resourced
Ability to negotiate common goals and implement the goals by working as an “organization” is key to getting things done
How do members interact? How do members interact?
What is the decision making process?What is the decision making process?
Members meet regularly to discuss Members meet regularly to discuss
issues, exchange information and make decisionsissues, exchange information and make decisions
Decisions are made usually through consensus. If Decisions are made usually through consensus. If consensus is not possible, then decisions are consensus is not possible, then decisions are made through a simple majoritymade through a simple majority
C. CHALLENGESC. CHALLENGES BEFORE BEFORE COALITIONSCOALITIONS
What challenges can a coalition face?What challenges can a coalition face?
Can the challenges be classified?Can the challenges be classified?
How can coalitions addressHow can coalitions address
challenges?challenges?
Types of ChallengesTypes of Challenges
Challenges classifiable into two types:Challenges classifiable into two types:
Internal Internal and and External ChallengesExternal Challenges
INTERNAL CHALLENGESINTERNAL CHALLENGES Agreement on a common goalAgreement on a common goal Progress is slow and frustratingProgress is slow and frustrating Lack of Resources Lack of Resources Concern about consequences of Concern about consequences of
advocacy – advocacy – will I get into troublewill I get into trouble??
Types of ChallengesTypes of Challenges
EXTERNAL CHALLENGESEXTERNAL CHALLENGES Do the funders/community view it as aDo the funders/community view it as a legitimate legitimate
body? body? How quickly can a coalition react to a situation How quickly can a coalition react to a situation
and how?and how? Understanding of policy formulation- Understanding of policy formulation- decision decision
makers are concerned about financial makers are concerned about financial impact, non-profit sector is concerned impact, non-profit sector is concerned about social impactabout social impact
Characteristics of strong coalitionsCharacteristics of strong coalitions
Coalitions that speak for a cross section Coalitions that speak for a cross section of the community are seen as legitimateof the community are seen as legitimate
Develop a common goal that reflects reality Develop a common goal that reflects reality
Understand that progress is “Understand that progress is “relentless relentless incrementsincrements””
Ability to state issues in the language of decision Ability to state issues in the language of decision makers makers
D. Non- Traditional MembersD. Non- Traditional Members& &
EffectivenessEffectiveness What is the definition of non-traditional What is the definition of non-traditional
members? What are examples of this group?members? What are examples of this group? How will non-traditional members increase How will non-traditional members increase
capacity?capacity? Where and how can we recruit non-traditional Where and how can we recruit non-traditional
members?members?
What are examples of non-What are examples of non-traditional members? traditional members?
A non-traditional member refers to an organizationA non-traditional member refers to an organization
outside the service provider non-profitoutside the service provider non-profit
sector whose beliefs align with our sector whose beliefs align with our
BeliefsBeliefs
Examples are: Examples are: Students and university professorsStudents and university professors Journalists and radio/TV personalitiesJournalists and radio/TV personalities Bureaucrats and fundersBureaucrats and funders Unions Unions
How can non-traditional members How can non-traditional members increase coalition capacity?increase coalition capacity?
new perspectives in strategy,new perspectives in strategy, research and policyresearch and policy Ability to advocate without fear of direct impactAbility to advocate without fear of direct impact
Increases legitimacy ( constituent concern) and Increases legitimacy ( constituent concern) and helps disseminate information outside the sectorhelps disseminate information outside the sector
Develop “Champions” – spokespersons Develop “Champions” – spokespersons insideinside government to make subtle but important government to make subtle but important changeschanges
Where can we recruit Where can we recruit non-traditional members?non-traditional members?
To find “To find “non-traditional membersnon-traditional members” to champion ” to champion your cause, consider:your cause, consider:
Civil servants who know policy worksCivil servants who know policy works Academicians and Students- Academicians and Students- advocacy is a advocacy is a
given in academic life given in academic life Journalists/broadcasters - Journalists/broadcasters - a voice to reshape a voice to reshape
public opinionpublic opinion Unions who support social causesUnions who support social causes
How can we recruit How can we recruit non-traditional members?non-traditional members?
No magic formula for recruitment. No magic formula for recruitment.
However, it is important to thoroughly understand However, it is important to thoroughly understand Impact of the policy in question on a group that you want Impact of the policy in question on a group that you want
to recruitto recruit
Do their skills and interest match and increase your Do their skills and interest match and increase your capacity?capacity?
What can you offer them in return? What can you offer them in return?
The IRHC storyThe IRHC story
A brief review of the experiences and practices of A brief review of the experiences and practices of
City of Toronto’s The Immigrant and Refugee City of Toronto’s The Immigrant and Refugee Housing Committee (IRHC)Housing Committee (IRHC)
How did IRHC evolve?How did IRHC evolve? What is the membership of IRHC?What is the membership of IRHC? What challenges did IRHC face? How did it What challenges did IRHC face? How did it
respond to the challenges? respond to the challenges? How did non-traditional members assist IRHC?How did non-traditional members assist IRHC?
IRHC was born out of a consultation held by the IRHC was born out of a consultation held by the City to respond to an influx of refugees in 1992 City to respond to an influx of refugees in 1992
Mandate is “Mandate is “Developing strategies and initiatives Developing strategies and initiatives to address housing needs of refugees and to address housing needs of refugees and marginalized immigrants”marginalized immigrants”
Goals includeGoals include: Addressing housing needs of : Addressing housing needs of newcomers, collaboration, public education and newcomers, collaboration, public education and informing public policyinforming public policy
Birth of IRHCBirth of IRHC
IRHC MembershipIRHC Membership
Membership consists of: 24 non-profit organizations active in the housing and
immigrant serving sectors, minutes sent to 120 agencies Academicians and Researchers IRHC has been supported by the Shelter, Support and
Housing Administration Division and meeting on a regular basis for over 15 years
Works closely with other coalitions such as Canadian Council of Refugees, Alternative Housing & Services
Committee
Challenges and IRHCChallenges and IRHC
CHALLENGES:CHALLENGES: There was no comprehensive study of housing issues There was no comprehensive study of housing issues
among refugees and immigrantsamong refugees and immigrants Addressing the issue of who is a “newcomer”?Addressing the issue of who is a “newcomer”? Addressing the perspective that the panacea to housing Addressing the perspective that the panacea to housing
is employmentis employment
RESPONSES:RESPONSES: Created credible reference material - Created credible reference material - ““Refugee Housing Refugee Housing
StudyStudy” (1992), the first study of refugee housing issues ” (1992), the first study of refugee housing issues in Canadain Canada
Coordinated services by designing “First Contact Coordinated services by designing “First Contact Program” offered by Red CrossProgram” offered by Red Cross
Non-traditional members and IRHCNon-traditional members and IRHC
IRHC’s refugee housing study was possible because of IRHC’s refugee housing study was possible because of the assistance from academecians the assistance from academecians
IRHC intervened with CIC to address the issue of IRHC intervened with CIC to address the issue of documentation for Haitian refugee claimants ( late 2007)- documentation for Haitian refugee claimants ( late 2007)- City of Toronto participation crucial
IRHC intervened to get refugee claimants eligibility to access the Rent Bank program
IRHC Welcomes New IRHC Welcomes New MembersMembers
http://www.toronto.ca/housing/irhc.htmhttp://www.toronto.ca/housing/irhc.htm
Contact: Ms. Azar Farahani @Contact: Ms. Azar Farahani @
416 392 0068 or416 392 0068 or
[email protected]@toronto.ca
