Influencing for Impact Guide: How to deliver effective influencing strategies

Abstract

Oxfam’s Influencing for Impact Guide is designed for civil society organizations, Oxfam teams and partners, activists and campaigners. It aims to support them to develop and deliver effective influencing, advocacy and campaigning strategies that tackle the structural causes of poverty, inequality and environmental crisis: strategies with impact to help shift unequal and unjust power relations, and to lead to changes in policies, practices, attitudes, behaviours and social norms. The guide covers steps in designing effective influencing strategies, whether for programmes or stand-alone campaigns. It has tools, examples and guidance on topics such as understanding context, power analysis, setting objectives, developing strong narratives and deciding the best tactics to use. It describes the various tactics you can use to make change happen through your programme and advocacy activities. There are sections on research, lobbying, digital and social media, mobilization and influencing behaviours and norms. The guide is informed by the learning, experiences and courageous influencing and campaigning undertaken by social movements, civil society networks, Oxfam partners, allies and staff over many years, as well as from evaluations and academic research.