This document provides an introduction to lobbying and building youth movements for change. It discusses key concepts such as advocacy versus lobbying, different levels of decision makers, and how to choose issues to lobby on. The document then provides guidance on effective lobbying strategies, including how to contact decision makers through letters, emails, petitions, public events and meetings. It emphasizes being prepared, specific, and following up after meetings. Overall, the document aims to equip youth with basic lobbying skills and strategies to influence decision makers on issues they care about.

1. INFLUENCING DECISION
MAKERS Part 1:
Lobbying & Building Youth
Movements for Change
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2. Welcome to part 2 of the
Capacity Building toolkit!
 Part 1: A basic guide to LOBBYING
 WHAT is Lobbying?
 WHO: 4 levels of Decision makers
 Deciding WHAT to lobby on
 HOW : contacting decision makers
 Top Tips for lobbying face-to face
 Youth lobbying at national and international level for
Rio+20
 In action: The campaign for Official Youth Delegates at UN
CSD.

3. Objectives of this session
• Be familiar with the ‘levels’ of decision makers and ways to get their
attention
• Learn some basic do’s and dont’s of lobbying
• Be able to start planning to lobby a decision maker
WATCH the webinar : http://earthcharter.wiziq.com/online-
class/799064-influencing-decision-makers

4. Advocacy vs Lobbying

5. WHAT is lobbying?
 “Advocacy” involves influencing attitudes or opinions on a
specific issue or cause.
 By advocating we ideally want to make long-term progress on the
issue.. E.g. eradicating global poverty.
 “Lobbying” is slightly different..
 It usually involves asking for a specific ACTION (or decision) to be
taken at a particular time.
 We ‘lobby’ governments or their representatives.

6. Levels of decision makers
...i.e. the people with responsibility (or jurisdiction) over the thing you want to
change...
Decision makers usually work at one of these 4 levels:

7. STEP 1: Decide WHAT you
want to change and WHY it
matters to you(th)

8. Choosing an issue
 Ask yourself: “Why do I care about this issue??”
 Write or draw a few notes about the issue and why it matters to you,
your group or young people in your country...
 If this problem were solved, who
would it help? How?
 Does it affect your daily life?
 Do you care because it affects others?
 Does it matter because it affects the
environment?

9. Getting on their radar
 Decision makers often focus on the “Big Picture”...
 Issues that affect everyone are likely to be priorities.
E.g.
Health Education the Economy (Money) Peace and Security
 This doesn’t mean they wont care about anything else, it does mean you
should try to link your issue to one of the priority areas.
 Doing a bit of research on your chosen decision maker(s) before attempting
to ‘lobby’ them will also help !

10. Step 2:
Find out WHO the decision
Makers Are !

11. WHO do you need to speak
to?
 Find out who is in charge of decisions on this
specific issue if you can. You could try:
Using the internet to look up their name/position
Looking through a local directory
Locating the offices of decision makers and ask in
person or writing a letter..
 When thinking about WHO to contact, try to think back to the levels of
decision makers and who has the biggest influence.
 Is this issue one that must be decided by a president? or is the town mayor
responsible?

12. Step 3: Decide HOW to
make contact

13. Letters & Emails
 Write a letter or email (1 page is enough).
 Keep to a few short paragraphs
- Check out http://www.avaaz.org/ for examples..
 The few paragraphs in your letter should include:
a. Who you are
b. What is the issue you are writing about
c. What would you like them to do about this? (a specific action).
d. How taking action would be beneficial for young people/your country/
the world!
e. Why it is important to you as a young person/citizen/community
group/organisation..

14. Petitions
 A petition is a statement which asks a decision maker to do something, and
includes the names/addresses of many people who support the proposal.
 Send a petition (make sure you sign, get other people to sign up too!).
 Be as creative as possible!
 You want them to remember your petition
before all others!
 How about a piece of art?
 A postcard from the future..?
 or a message in a bottle..?
 Doing some research on your chosen decision maker(s) before attempting
to ‘lobby them’ will also help !

15. Public Events
 Hold an event in your community and invite decision
makers to attend!
 Community-led events are a great way to involve
elected decision makers and get them to engage with
local people... Building a positive relationship.
 The event could have a theme, like a “teatime for
change” or a dramatic/music performance...
 Make it fun and creative!

16. Set up a Meeting
 Arrange to meet with decision makers to
discuss the issue
 DO invite other people who support your
cause .
 DO let them know in advance what you
would like to discuss (briefly).
 DON’T expect them to say yes the first time...you may have to
ask more than once.

17. MEETING DECISION
MAKERS
How to ‘lobby’
face-to-face

18. If you are lucky enough to meet with a
decision maker, remember..
lobbying is like a conversation...

19. Say THANK YOU...
Always begin by thanking the decision maker for the opportunity to
share your ideas and opinions.
BE ON TIME!..
Being late for a meeting isn’t a good thing, if you want to show
them how much you care.
Tell the truth..
Be honest and tell them how changing this would benefit other
people/the environment/save money.. and why it matters to you.
If you don’t know something, just say so.
Be prepared...
Plan to speak for no more than 5 minutes to explain your position
Expect to spend no more than 15 minutes with the decision maker.

20. Leave some information..
A short (1-2 page) briefing: who you are, who you represent, the
issue you are meeting about, your request for action & why it is
important.. If you are part of a larger campaign, provide some
background information about it.
Be Specific.. What do you want them to do??
If you want them to vote on something, provide more information,
answers to a question, a signature on a petition – whatever it is –
make it clear, and ask if they will agree to do it.
Follow up...
Send a note after the meeting, thanking the decision maker for
her/his time.
Also, find out if he/she did what they agreed (if they said yes!) and
respond with thanks..or ask them why not.

21. TOP TIPS FOR LOBBYING

22.  Work together with others who care about this issue.
 Form a group...share ideas!
 Contact other organisations/people who are working on this in your
area..
 Keep your messages short and simple .
 A few key points to give them ideas on how to solve the issue. Try not
to criticise what they have already done, but suggest ways to
improve through specific actions!
 Make it personal!
 Policy makers are more likely to remember letters and visits that
include real people’s experiences. Briefly describe a personal
experience that shows why YOU care about this issue.
 How does it affect young people in the community/country?

23.  Be creative! ...
You can also use art, music, photography to get your message across! How
about MAKING a giant piece of art with a message in it? Or send them a
video message (still keep this short!)
 Be Specific..
What do you want them to do?.
If you want a vote, information, answers to a question, a signature on a
petition – make it clear, and ask if they will agree to do it.
 Decision makers can show support in different ways
(like writing a letter to another decision maker, signing a petition, agreeing to
talk about the issue in an interview).
 Always give them your contact details so they can let you know when/if
they have done what you have asked.

24. Youth Campaigns, Lobbying & Advocacy - online resources
[UK] Christian Aid – How to Lobby
 This is a guide to lobbying success - how to put your case forward and make good
things happen!
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/ActNow/usefulstuff/how_to_lobby.aspx?Page=1
Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) - Youth In Action Advocacy Guide [USA]
 This guide offers a few tricks of the trade to help make advocating for your
causes a little easier. Use ideas from this guide to continue advocating for change
at a local level. http://www.tnoys.org/youth/WeWantChangeGuide.pdf
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) - Advocacy Guide
 Supporting and encouraging young people to speak out, educate,and take action
http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/resources/document/view/3384
[USA] Advocates For Youth.org:
 Tips for Lobbying on sexual and reproductive health specifically.. Includes:
Lobbying, Using the Media, Direct Action, Building Coalitions...
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/tips-for-advocates-sercadv
 Download their Youth Advocacy Kit:
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/storage/advfy/documents/advocacykit.pdf

25. [UK] British Youth Council Youth Guides
 These guides are most relevant to the UK and Europe. How -To Guides include :
Lobbying, Campaigning, Running an Organisation. http://www.byc.org.uk/resource-
centre/how-to-guides.aspx
Millennium Development Goals Youth Action Guide (World Health Organisation –WHO)
 This action guide was created by young people, to give anyone who wants to make
the world a better place everything they need to start a campaign, or link up with
movements already happening in their country. It includes: information on how to
plan and carry out an activity or campaign; ideas and tips for getting your friends
involved; brochures, stickers and postcards to tell others about the Millennium
Development Goals.
 Download it here:
http://www.who.int/pmnch/topics/mdgs/youthactionguide/en/index.html
*Other guides from Christian Aid:
 How to organise an event, How to speak in public, How to write a press release How
to produce a leaflet
 From WAGGGS - Campaign and advocacy tools
http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/resources/campaignandadvocacytools

26. Questions? Thoughts? Comments?
The MGCY capacity building team: mgcy-capacity-building-
team@googlegroups.com
UN CSD Major Group of Children and Youth
Website:
http://uncsdchildrenyouth.org
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/UNCSDYouthCaucus
Thank you for joining us!