Advocacy and Policy Program
Duration
The Advocacy and Policy Program (APP) will become
the independent Advocacy and Policy Institute (API) at the end of
2007.
Donors
Danida, British Embassy Phnom Penh, Diakonia,
Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation (ICCO), CIDSE,
Forum Syd, Dan Church Aid, Oxfam. The current donors include: ICCO,
Forum Syd, DanChurchAid (DCA), and Pact.
Overview
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Participants at an Advocacy Expert Training
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In early 2002, Pact Cambodia, under guidance from
an Advocacy Advisory Committee (AAC) composed of representatives
from nine Cambodian and International NGOs initiated research into
advocacy campaigns conducted in Cambodia from 1997 to 2001. This
research highlighted the urgent need for Cambodian civil society to
increase their advocacy skills and to create stronger relationships
with government and other stakeholders. In response to this need the
Advocacy and Policy Program (APP) was established in July 2003. The
APP's dedicated mission was to increase Cambodia's democratic space
by creating more effective advocates and more responsive government
institutions to address issues of public policy, justice, human
rights, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.
The APP provides civil society
organizations working on securing justice and human rights for
vulnerable populations with the technical knowledge to effectively
conduct advocacy campaigns and create stronger relationships with
government to address policy issues. The APP's hands-on
training and mentoring program helps Cambodian civil society design, implement and
monitor effective advocacy campaigns to further equitable sustainable
development and a more democratic and prosperous Cambodian society.
In 2005, the APP broadened the scope of its
focus to include grassroots advocacy. An increase in local level
movements by villagers protesting against land, fisheries and forestry
issues suggested the need for less traditional advocacy methodologies.
Consequently, training by the APP now also offers approaches and
methodologies enabling Cambodian citizens to conduct advocacy activities on
issues directly affecting their communities.
Consistent with Pact’s
mission to empower local stakeholders to speak for themselves and to
strengthen the Cambodian NGO sector, the APP will continue to seek
ways to institutionalize the advocacy and policy program and integrate
advocacy at all levels of Cambodian
society.
Goal
The goal of the APP is to increase Cambodia’s
democratic space by creating more effective advocates and responsive
government institutions.
Objectives
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Increase the number of Cambodian NGOs and local elected
officials skilled in the development and implementation of advocacy
campaigns.
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Increase the number of communities initiating and
participating in advocacy activities on issues directly affecting
their livelihoods.
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Establish opportunities through which advocacy
stakeholders have access to an experience-based body of knowledge
about advocacy in Cambodia.
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Increase public access to public institutions,
information, and the legislative process.
Achievements to Date
Since its reception, APP has earned a reputation
as one of the leading advocacy capacity building programs in
Cambodia. APP has;
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Developed eleven advocacy publications in
Khmer and English. APP has researched and published eleven
different advocacy publications. Included are an advocacy
handbook, an assessment report on advocacy in Cambodia, six
books that make up the advocacy expert series, a parliamentarian
handbook, a grassroots advocacy handbook and a grassroots
advocacy training manual.
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Provided Intensive Advocacy Training.
APP provided 25 days of intensive Advocacy Expert Training (AET)
to 24 NGOs to improve their ability to design, plan and
implement effective advocacy campaigns. The training focused on
advocacy campaign management, building relationships with
government, working with the media, building and maintaining
coalitions, and using legal services for advocacy. APP also
provided between 6 and 15 days of Advocacy Skills Training
to a range of civil society members to improve their ability to
design, plan and implement effective advocacy campaigns. Since
its formation APP has trained 135 individuals from 59 different
civil society organizations on advocacy skills and techniques.
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Provided Tailored Advocacy Skills
Training Courses. APP provided tailored advocacy training
courses to staff from several local and international
organizations. These included; Oxfam Great Britain, the
Cambodian League for the Protection and Defense of Human Rights
(LICADHO), and the National AIDS Authority. A further ten
courses have been individually tailored to meet the specific
advocacy requirements of different organizations
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Lead and supported the Freedom of
Information campaign. The APP has played a leading role in
facilitating the campaign for the passage of an
international-standard FOI Law. APP has been heavily involved in
the FOI Working Group -made up of a group of Cambodian and
International NGOs- that organized a one-day “Freedom of
Information” workshop. This workshop sought to discuss
commitments from the Government to move forward on drafting a
FOI law; gather broad community support for the FOI campaign;
and to develop an FOI advocacy and campaign strategy. The
workshop was attended by over 90 people, including Senators,
National Assembly members, government officials, media agencies,
international and Cambodian organizations, and legal experts.
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Organized a National Advocacy Conference.
In partnership with a group of Cambodian and International
organizations, APP helped host "Working Together for Change: A
National Conference on Advocacy and Anti-Corruption". This
conference was attended by over 300 representatives from various
national and international organizations and community
representatives from both urban and rural areas.
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Developing a Grassroots Advocacy Program.
In partnership with the Lutheran World Federation and the
Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), APP
has equipped Cambodian NGOs and community advocates with the
tools needed to manage and implement advocacy local campaigns.
In 2006, APP teamed up with Concern to carry-out two 2-module
Grassroots Advocacy training sessions in Kampong Cham and Siem
Reap provinces. 40 participants were involved, including staff
from 10 local NGOs, local activists and community leaders. The
courses taught advocacy skills relevant to local issues with the
objective of building the capacity of local advocates so that
they could conduct Echo training in their own community.
2007 Plans and Activities
APP will continue to provide throughout its
transitional year, training and capacity building services to
Cambodian and grassroots advocacy experts. The key activities
planned are:
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Advocacy Expert and Advocacy Skills
training courses. In 2007, APP in partnership with the
American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS) will
conduct two advocacy skills training courses of 5 days each for
ACILS’s partners. After training APP will also provide follow-up
support to the participants as they plan and implement their
advocacy campaigns. APP is also revising its advocacy training
courses, curriculum and materials for future API advocacy
training and marketing purposes. Each course will now directly
link to that which came before it, with the classifications
being; a) Grassroots Advocacy Training (GAT); b) Introduction to
Advocacy Training (IAT); c) Advocacy Skills Training (AST), and
d) Advocacy Experts Training (AET).
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Grassroots Advocacy training and support.
APP conducts Training of Trainers (ToT). This year, APP, in
partnership with Church World Service (CWS) will conduct
Grassroots Advocacy training courses for 25 participants from
CWS’s NGO partners in Kampong Thom, Battambang, and Svay Rieng
provinces. CWS will provide ongoing support by conducting Echo
training to a wide range of community beneficiaries.
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Freedom of Information (FOI) Campaign
development. APP continues to lead and support the Freedom
of Information Working Group. In 2007 three major FOI activities
will be organized; a FOI training course for Working Group
members; a FOI workshop that will be open for all members of the
community; and the development of community-orientated FOI
resource materials. These activities aim to increase knowledge
of FOI and gain widespread community and government support for
an international standard FOI law.
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Localize the APP/API by the end of 2007.
To localize effectively, APP is undertaking a Market Analysis
and Program Development Assessment Study that seeks to identify
needs and demands, areas of operations, strengths and
weaknesses, and potential partners. It is anticipated that the
findings of this Study will help guide APP/API's program
development and Fundraising strategies.
For further information, please conduct:
Mr. SINTHAY NEB, APP
Director
Email:
sinthayneb@pactcambodia.org
Tel: +855 (0)23-217-855
Publications
Please see the
Publications
page.
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