Advocacy Practice Research Articles

The Influence of Business Sector Challenge (BUSAC) Funded Grantees on Sustainability of Policy Advocacy in Ghana

Theoretical development has been outpaced by the practice of policy advocacy by organizations and interest groups. Nonetheless, the relevance of grounding for advocacy campaigns has increased with the need for an understanding of contributions of advocates’ to policy development and accountability. This study therefore evaluates the influence and contributions of organizations and interest groups on the sustainability of policy advocacy with focus on BUSAC Fund. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to satisfy its objectives, where data was obtained through interviews and questionnaire administration. The data was obtained from 50 grantee organizations under BUSAC Fund and 5 officials of the BUSAC Fund sampled by convenience. Findings of the study revealed that the BUSAC Fund as an interest group has greatly influenced and contributed immensely to policy advocacy sustainability in Ghana’s private business sector.Their contributions to policy formulation and implementation has impacted major sectors including the agriculture, industrial and the services sector. It is obvious that in ensuring policy change and sustainability of advocacy, it is important that support and lobbying is effectively undertaken through formidable interest groups and organizations. BUSAC Fund however in the delivery of their mandate has been entangled by challenges such as poor collaboration between stakeholders, low government commitment and inadequate legislative regulatory instruments. Keywords : Business Sector Challenge, Sustainability Of Policy Advocacy, Ghana DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-19-06 Publication date: July 31 st 2020

Feminist social work pedagogy: personal, cultural and structural advocacy in the academy

ABSTRACT The principles of social justice underpin the various professional standards that guide social work practice in Australia and internationally. Although the work of practising social workers is explicitly guided by these principles, little is currently known about how social work academics enact these principles in their pedagogical practice and administrative work within the neoliberal academy. As a response to the managerial ethos of the university, the authors developed a feminist collaborative, research, teaching and advocacy centre called Critical Edge Women (CrEW). Drawing on the literature and our own reflections as feminist social work academics, CrEW interrogates the processes and tensions experienced in trying to embody a socially just pedagogy and practice in a social work program. We report on what has been trialled over the past two years. In this article, the connection between the administration role of social work academics and feminist social work pedagogy is foregrounded. An introductory framework is offered outlining principles of a feminist social work lens for socially just pedagogy and practice. Although focused on an Australian context, the pedagogical processes and advocacy practices discussed have implications for feminist pedagogies more broadly in higher education, and for social work practice in organisations.

Evaluating equity in scholarly publishing

AbstractThe Workplace Equity Project (WE) conducted a global survey in 2018 to map the parameters that define the scholarly publishing landscape, understand the drivers for change, and recommend solutions for delivering improved outcomes. Results find that there are imbalances in diversity inherent in the workforce (96% with a Bachelor's degree or higher, 76% female, 83% heterosexual, 81% White, and 89% report no disabilities) and that outcomes diverge for respondents based on their gender and ethnicity, highlighting distinct inequities in the workplace. The leadership profile is more male (33% vs. 21%), and more White (91% vs. 81%) than the sample as a whole. Moreover, those respondents with characteristics more reflective of the leadership profile are more likely to report that they believe they are fairly compensated, recognized by the leadership, and have fair opportunities for advancement. The article recommends improvements to current practice in recruitment, sponsorship and advocacy, and staff retention to drive change towards creating a more equitable, inclusive workforce.Key points Senior leaders in scholarly publishing are more likely to be older, White males with master's degrees. The chances of attaining a senior position in scholarly publishing are higher for White males with no tertiary‐level qualifications than for Black females with postgraduate degrees. Most demographic groups (with the exception of the Black cohort) recognize their own challenges but are blind to the bias experienced by other groups. Direct line management practice defines individual experience irrespective of organizational policy. White and Asian males are more likely to be satisfied with career prospects and rewards than other groups. White women are more likely to be satisfied with their current positions than other groups. Job satisfaction in scholarly publishing varies according to ethnicity and gender, and companies have a duty to be more inclusive and diverse in their employment.

Richard Hoefer, Advocacy practice for social justice

Richard Hoefer, <i>Advocacy practice for social justice</i>

MODERATING INFLUENCE OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON BOARD LEADERSHIP PRACTICES AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN RWANDA.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to test the moderating influence of Legal Framework on board leadership practices and corporate governance performance in public institutions in Rwanda.Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive and explorative design. The target population for the study was 214 managers from 10 public institutions in Rwanda. Stratified random sampling technique was used to get a sample of 195 respondents who were selected from the top management and middle managers staff. Data collected was analyzed through SPSS version 21.Findings: The R2 for Board composition practices before moderation was 57% but after moderation, the R2 increased significantly to 63.6%. The R2 for Ethical practices before moderation was 44% but after moderation, the R2 increased insignificantly to 49.6%. The R2 for Local Advocacy Practices before moderation was 65.8% but after moderation, the R2 increased significantly to 77.4%. The R2 for Decision-Making Practices before moderation was 44% but after moderation, the R2 increased insignificantly to 49.6%. The hypothesis was tested and the study found out that Legal Framework was a positive and significant moderating variable for Board composition practices0.02&lt;0.05 and Ethical practices at 0.02&lt;0.05. However, Legal Framework did not have a significant moderating effect on Local Advocacy Practices0.24&gt;0.05.Contribution to theory practice and policy: Resource identification and utilization form the legal framework of are successful program. The utilization of these law must directly affect the immediate Moderating role of legal framework and corporate governance performance public institutions in Rwanda. It can therefore be concluded that respondents in the study utilized in public institutions in Rwanda in activities that directly and positively impacted on moderating role.

Historic and Contemporary Influences on HIV Advocacy in Vietnam

HIV civil society advocacy in Vietnam is shaped by a unique fusion of historic and contemporary influences, resulting in nuanced ways in which advocacy is practised. In this study, we interviewed representatives from civil society, the Government of Vietnam, international NGOs, multilateral and research organisations and commercial consultancies to identify the influences on advocacy practice today. Aspects of Confucianism, Buddhism, Communism and changes to international funding were all identified as shaping HIV civil society policy advocacy practice directed towards government. These influences have resulted in a strong respect for hierarchy, non-confrontational and collaborative working relationships between civil society and the government, decision-making by consensus and changes in advocacy practice corresponding to fluctuations in international funding. This study shows how, as civil society continues to develop its role in the HIV sector in Vietnam, it is critical to understand these complex influences so that program designers, funders and evaluators can appropriately support HIV civil society policy advocacy.

Using the Larry Nassar Case to Create a Coach Education Module to Prompt Social Change

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how case study methodology, an advocacy practice and policy model (APPM), and new directions in feminist theory can be utilized to educate coaches about sexual misconduct. Case studies are useful for both research and teaching purposes because they provide a potential framework for analyses of “real-world” problems. The APPM provides guidance on moving from analysis to action; in particular, advocacy is about education, negotiation, and persuasion. Feminist theorists push us to consider how the embodied experiences of female athletes and feminine subjectivities can unsettle and disrupt normative assumptions about the way that sport should be conducted. The case of Larry Nassar is utilized because of the amount of reporting available to analyze; this includes female athlete survivor voices. Having coaches wrestle with such questions as (a) Do I know the definitions of sexual misconduct? (b) Do I understand the warning signs a female athlete might be displaying if she is being abused by significant other in sport? (c) When do I have to report abuse to authorities? and (d) Do I know how to intervene on the athlete’s behalf? is important if we are to increase the likelihood of creating systemic change.

Developing a Policy Advocacy Practice for Preventing and Ending Homelessness

ABSTRACT The Policy Advocacy and Social Change course is a specialized practice course offered in the Master of Social Work Program (MSW) at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. The course is designed to introduce MSW students to a variety of policy frameworks (i.e., Kingdon’s policy window, political model of reasoning) and analytical approaches (i.e., intersectionality and stakeholder analysis) that focus on developing their policy advocacy practice. Both the instructors and students are challenged to develop new ways to engage, distribute, and share knowledge about improving the lives of homeless individuals. Through the course assignments, which include a social issue report, policy brief, and policy advocacy campaign using social media, social work graduate students gain the skills and competencies needed to activate their agency and build capacity to become effective policy advocates.

Influence Of Local Advocacy Practices On Corporate Governance Performance Public Institutions In Rwanda

The public bodies’ Corporate Governance as leadership and control method involves a set of clear rules and principles (integrity, honesty / sincerity, transparency and responsibility), clear risk management and control mechanisms, elements needed to achieve the purpose of public entities, which is satisfying public needs.

Spoken word performance as activism: Middle school poets challenge American racism

This study explored how middle-level teachers can combine a public platform for student voice, content related to the American Dream, and pedagogy informed by Tatum’s racial identity development to prompt students to: explore their racial and civic identities; engage in critical, inclusive dialogue; complicate traditional narratives about America; and practice advocacy and activism within-and-beyond the classroom. The primary research questions addressed were: 1) When given a platform, what do racially diverse students say about the American Dream? 2) What pedagogy prepares students to engage in advocacy and activism within-and-beyond the classroom? 3) What is the effect of using spoken word pedagogy? We used inductive coding and thematic analysis of student poems and teacher reflections to derive findings. This study evidenced that students used their voices as activists to confront American racism, seek racial identity affirmation, advance racial equality, and question racial oppression. Further, it demonstrated how the concept of the American Dream and the use of spoken word pedagogy have the unique ability to help students and teachers build understanding across lines of racial difference, engage in dialogue that increases learning, and make the classroom a place of liberation. We provide Implications for racial identity work in middle-level teacher preparation and among middle-level students.

Systems thinking: advancing health advocacy training; a perspective from junior family physicians in the Middle East

ABSTRACTHealthcare systems are becoming increasingly complex. Physicians are expected to be agents of change to meet the growing health needs. In the Middle East, young family doctors are subtly creating a space for advocacy. Recognising the need for compulsory advocacy training in undergraduate medical curricula, allows health workers and students a concrete exposure to social determinants of health by carrying out clinical encounters from the hospital setting to outpatient dispensaries in underprivileged areas. At the community level, they organise mobile clinics and engage in collaborative initiatives to provide primary healthcare services to vulnerable populations. To be successful, advocacy practice and training should move towards systems thinking. Family doctors need to engage and collaborate with other stakeholders within the healthcare system and understand the dynamics of the relationships between them. This empowers their role in national health agendas, especially those related to universal health coverage (UHC). Future physicians and all members of primary care teams need to partner with people outside their discipline; the idea of interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration should be integrated into their schooling and all forms of vocational training.

Teaching Advocacy in the Nonprofit Classroom: Three Pedagogical Approaches

Nonprofit organizations that engage in advocacy strengthen their ability to meet their mission by supporting systematic change. As such, students enrolled in nonprofit management programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels should develop both the knowledge of and the skills to engage in advocacy. Students should be trained to consider advocacy as part of a long-term strategic plan to accomplish their mission; however, there is little research or training on how to best teach advocacy to nonprofit students. This paper presents an active learning pedagogical approach. First, we present the literature documenting the role of advocacy in nonprofit organizations and related government regulations. Next, we outline three pedagogical techniques instructors may use to allow students to understand and practice advocacy. With each technique, we include resources and suggestions for faculty. The goal is to provide an opportunity for students to engage directly in policy issues being considered at the local, state or national levels, understand how these issues impact the sector and those being served, and how to take concrete steps to inform the public. These strategies can help shape the debate and offer solutions to decision makers.

YENİ TOPLUMSAL HAREKETLERDE YENİ MEDYA ETKİSİ: KUZEY ORMANLARI SAVUNMASI ÖRNEĞİ

Yeni toplumsal hareket (YTH) kavramı, 1960’ların sonlarından itibaren içerik ve biçim değiştirmeye başlayan, sınıf temelli olmaktan çıkarak, her sınıftan bireyin katılım sağlayabildiği insan hakları, çevre, barış, toplumsal cinsiyet gibi sorun alanlarına odaklanan toplumsal hareketleri anlatmak üzere kullanılmaya başlayan bir kavramdır. Genel olarak medya her zaman, geniş kitlelere ulaşması yanında, niteliksel olarak da toplumsal hareketleri etkileyen, ideoloji üreten önemli bir güç olmuştur. Şüphesiz yeni iletişim teknolojileri de YTH’yi derinden etkilemiştir. Yeni medyanın hayatımıza girmesiyle yaygınlaşan sosyal medya kullanımı yeni bir kamusal alan biçimi ortaya çıkarmış, YTH’nin etkinliğini artırmış, savunuculuk yapma pratiklerini etkilemiş, protesto ve hak arama amaçlı mesajların daha hızlı, kolay ve ekonomik biçimde yaygınlaştırılmasını sağlamıştır. Bu çalışmada yeni toplumsal hareketlerin yeni medyaya taşınma biçimi ve etkileri Kuzey Ormanları Savunması (KOS) hareketi üzerinden ele alınacaktır. Çalışmada nitel araştırma geleneği içerisinde yer alan doküman incelemesi yöntemi kullanılarak, KOS’un web sitesi, sosyal medya profilleri, sosyal medya hesaplarından yapılan paylaşımlar analiz edilecektir.

EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE OF LEGAL REGULATION OF ATTORNEY PROFESSIONAL ETHICAL BEHAVIOR

The European experience in the legal regulation of the lawyer’s professional ethical conduct is important and necessary for any civilized community. Its positive characteristics can be useful for reforming the current legislation of Ukraine and further scientific research. Since the profession of lawyer is designed as a benchmark for the protection of human rights in relations with the government, the existence of clear standards of attorney ethics that meet the generally recognized world standards – is a necessary prerequisite for the effectiveness of the advocacy as such. It is Europe’s universally recognized values, such as the right to life, liberty and security of person, property, fair trial and others, that will only be true values if they can be protected in a civilized legal way. The article reviews the work of the eminent lawyer M. Mollo “Rules of the Bar in France” which outlines important and necessary professional personal requirements that a lawyer in a modern democratic society must meet. The individual provisions of the German Bar, which is an independent organization in the justice system, are examined. The German Bar system allows attorneys to practice law virtually as free entrepreneurs. Moreover, it is determined that the practice of advocacy in Germany contains a lot of innovations, first of which is its concern with countries that are members of the European Union. It should be noted that the author has suggested the first step for Ukraine – based on the experience of Germany – is to establish a single minimum tariff, which would be used by both law firms and individual lawyers. Based on the review of the provisions of the General Code of Practice for EU lawyers, an important next step for Ukraine has been identified is the rules on professional insurance. Attorneys should always be insured against unfounded claims that are related to insufficient professional competence, and the size of the insurance should be set within reasonable limits. It is important to note that the laws of other European countries trace the principles of the autonomy of the legal profession, independence, exclusivity, self-government and self-financing.

Students with Disabilities: The Disconnect between Self Advocacy and Social Justice Practices of Teachers

This paper explored the perceptions of special education staff and college students with disabilities about self-advocacy instruction through the lens of social justice. Investigated were three public schools and one community college. Data revealed differing perceptions between educators and students regarding the level of self-advocacy instruction that students with disabilities received. The implications for this research and practice include that high school personnel understands and implements principles of social justice to teach students with disabilities to have self-advocacy skills.

A ATUAÇÃO DA ASSOCIAÇÃO DOS ADVOGADOS E ADVOGADAS DE TRABALHADORES RURAIS DA BAHIA: uma reflexão no campo das teorias críticas do Direito

Fundada num contexto de intensos conflitos no campo agrário baiano, a Associação de Advogados e Advogadas dos Trabalhadores Rurais (AATR), em quase quarenta anos de existência, coincide muitos pontos de sua trajetória com o curso da questão agrária baiana nesse período e constituiu-se numa entidade referenciada no conjunto das assessorias jurídicas populares (AJP) no Brasil. A partir dessa experiência de AJP estabeleceremos um diálogo com as principais tendências que permeiam o campo de práticas jurídicas e políticas da advocacia popular no Brasil – Direito Achado na Rua e Direito Insurgente. A nosso ver, por abordagens distintas, essas tendências tratam a relação dos diferentes interesses no Estado em termos dicotômicos, seja por reduzi-lo à institucionalidade e ao “oficial”, seja por uma leitura tendente à encará-lo como um instrumento da classe dominante, com decorrências nas concepções sobre o Direito e a sua funcionalidade no modelo social capitalista.

‘It Is Time to Operate Like a Woman’: A Corpus Based Study of Representation of Women in STEM Fields in Social Media

This study explores the discourse of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or medicine (STEM) fields produced by Twitter users on social media, with a particular focus on language usage and function in this discourse. The exploration of the women in STEM discourse was achieved by collecting a body of tweets using popular hashtags addressing women in STEM from the last week of October 2017. Following a corpus-based approach, this study analyzes the most frequent evaluative adjectives and 4-grams. Results from the analysis of evaluative adjectives show that Twitter users represent women in STEM fields positively by using positive adjectives such as great, amazing, inspirational etc. Furthermore, the analysis of the most frequent 4-grams reveals that Twitter users employ hashtags such as #ilooklikeasurgeon and #womeninSTEM to promote the work of women in STEM fields, show their appreciation of women working and studying in STEM and challenge prevalent gender stereotypes of STEM professions. It was found that the production of women in STEM discourse by most Twitter users has contributed to increasing the strength of women in the STEM community in social media, evidenced by their practices of advocacy, networking and challenging gender biases online. The discourse of women in STEM in social media is an example of discursive activism that focuses on the larger dialogue of women in STEM and highlights dominant forms of sexism and gendered stereotypes of women&amp;rsquo;s work in male dominated professions.

River Goddesses, Personhood and Rights of Nature: Implications for Spiritual Ecology

Designating rights for nature is a potentially powerful way to open up the dialogue on nature conservation around the world and provide enforcement power for an ecocentric approach. Experiments using a rights-based framework have combined in-country perspectives, worldviews, and practices with legal justifications giving rights to nature. This paper looks at a fusion of legal traditions, religious worldviews, and practices of environmental protection and advocacy in the context of India. It takes two specific legal cases in India and examines the recent high-profile rulings designating the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and their tributaries and glaciers as juristic persons. Although the rulings were stayed a few months after their issuance, they are an interesting bending of the boundaries of nature, person, and deity that produce Ganga and Yamuna as vulnerable prototypes. This paper uses interview data focusing on these cases and document and archival data to ask whether legal interventions giving rights to nature can become effective avenues for environmental activism and spiritual ecology. The paper also assesses whether these legal cases have promoted Hindu nationalism or ‘Hindutva lite’.

Transnational Advocacy and NGOs in the Digital Era: New Forms of Networked Power

AbstractInternational relations (IR) scholars have recognized the importance of technology in enabling nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to build transnational networks and enhance their influence. However, IR scholars have typically focused on elite networks across NGOs, states, and international organizations. This article considers how digital technologies generate new types of networked power between NGOs and their members. Digital tools allow for fast feedback from supporters, rapid surges in mobilization, and more decentralized campaigns. Importantly, in the digital era, NGOs must decide not only which digital platforms to use, but also whether to devolve decision-making to their supporters. Two questions arise: First, do NGO staff or supporters primarily define and produce advocacy content? Second, is the goal of digital activism to broaden or intensify participation? Answers to these questions generate four digital strategies: proselytizing, testing, conversing, and facilitating. These strategies change advocacy practices, but only facilitating strategies open up new forms of networked power based on supporter-to-supporter connections. Digital strategies have profound ramifications for individual organizations, the nature of the advocacy sector, and its power in relation to states, corporations, and other nonstate actors. Digital adoption patterns shape how NGOs choose campaigns, how they legitimate their claims, and what strategies they rely on.

Youth Documentary Academy: The social practices of filmmaking and media advocacy

Abstract Youth Documentary Academy (YDA) is a seven-week documentary workshop in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Through ethnographic research and collaborative filmmaking, I examine documentary production and exhibition as social practices that foster meaningful relationships between media makers and community organisations working for social justice. Between November 2016 and July 2018, I conducted 20 interviews with current and former YDA filmmakers, faculty and community organisers. Many YDA filmmakers produced films through first-person point-of-view testimonials, which explored intimate details of their lives and the issues facing their families and communities. Although this narrative style may individualise systemic injustices, I argue that the affective nature of filmmaking and film exhibition, and the partnerships that YDA developed with community organisations, helped youth realise an advocacy role. For filmmakers, the empathic dialogues that emerged at public screenings of YDA films illuminated the way media have the potential to foster solidarity.