We had some great questions in the session that we didn’t have time to discuss so we have put some answers together.
Do you think there are different approaches for advocacy on a campaign that is related to global events – e.g. climate crisis, than to an issue related to communities in specific areas only, or are the fundamentals the same?
The fundamentals are the same, there may be a difference in terms of scale. Probably the most important consideration is to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to advocacy around a global issue like the climate crisis as its impact and the experiences of those being impacted are so varied. The experience of the climate crisis is very different for a family that has lost its home to flooding in Bangladesh compared to a wheat farmer in Europe affected by drought. With global issues and the associated campaigns, that diversity of experience is a real asset as, counter-intuitively, it can really help to hammer home the universal impact of the climate crisis and increase the number of touch points with the audiences you’re seeking to reach.
How do manage the challenge of research in country so it’s not extractive?
One way is to work through local partners who have a much closer understanding and relationship with the communities you are seeking to provide a platform for, as is sticking to the principle of quality over quantity and seeing the relationship with a community or an individual as a long term one rather than a one-off target.
We hope you found the session valuable and full of practical ideas to put to work straight away. We would love to hear what resonates or where it raises questions for you, so please do get in touch with peter@forster.co.uk