MISA Collaborates with partners to strengthen advocacy”
By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka, Zambia24 (27-02-2024) – The collaboration between the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), USAID, fh1360, and Internews signifies a pivotal step in bolstering advocacy endeavors within Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and journalism across Southern Africa.
Michael Njovu, MISA’s assistant programs officer, aptly articulated during the training session the multifaceted nature of effective advocacy.
He emphasized that successful advocacy necessitates a deliberate fusion of mobilization, collaboration, education, persuasion, legal recourse, and activism.
“Advocacy serves as a linchpin for catalyzing societal progress and molding policies that resonate with communities,” he explained.
Among the strategies delineated by Njovu is the imperative of uniting diverse stakeholders to amplify advocacy endeavors.
By forging coalitions among entities with aligned objectives, Njove explained, the collective voice gains resonance, exerting substantial pressure on policymakers to address public concerns.
Njovu underscored the pivotal role of citizen empowerment through knowledge dissemination, fostering the emergence of informed discourse and policy alternatives.
Furthermore, Njovu espoused the utilization of litigation and legal advocacy as pivotal instruments in challenging unjust policies and holding decision-makers accountable.
Additionally, he advocated for the deployment of visible dissent as a means to thrust pertinent issues into the spotlight, stimulating public discourse and catalyzing action.
In tandem with these strategies, Njovu emphasized the significance of leveraging digital platforms to amplify advocacy messages and mobilize wider audiences.
“Harnessing the power of online campaigns and social media activism augments the reach and impact of advocacy efforts, fostering broader engagement and eliciting meaningful change,” he explained.
Moreover, Njovu accentuates the importance of direct engagement with policymakers and stakeholders, advocating for policy reforms grounded in lived realities and inclusive dialogue.
He said fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange will help advocates to propel substantive policy changes and systemic reform.
Ultimately, Njovu underscores, shaping public discourse and actively participating in policymaking processes are indispensable facets of effective advocacy.
He said voicing concerns, proposing evidence-based solutions, and persistently advocating for policy reforms, will lead advocates to spearhead progress on critical issues and effectuate enduring societal change.