Here's how you can master the skills to navigate and influence policy-making in the social impact sector.
Navigating and influencing policy-making is a critical skill for anyone looking to make a significant social impact. Understanding the intricacies of policy frameworks, the stakeholders involved, and the strategies for effective advocacy can empower you to shape policies that align with your social impact goals. By mastering these skills, you can become a more effective change agent within your community or organization, ensuring that your efforts contribute to meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
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Federico Del Giorgio SolfaProfessor of Project Management at the UNLP
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Luciana H.Profissional e Liderança no Ecossistema de Inovação e Sustentabilidade (Impacto) - Educação corporativa - Palestrante…
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Veenda TedvikFounder of Integration Academy Ängelholm | Impact Entrepreneur Driving Social Integration & Inclusion
To influence policy-making, you must first understand how policies are formed, implemented, and evaluated. Familiarize yourself with the legislative process, the roles of different government bodies, and the ways non-governmental organizations can contribute to policy development. This foundational knowledge will allow you to identify entry points for advocacy and understand the mechanisms through which social impact can be achieved.
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Sempre digo que para participar de um processo de construção coletiva junto ao Ecossistema de Impacto, é necessário aproveitar as oportunidades que, na grande maioria, são voluntárias. Elas nos permitem interagir e conectar com pessoas e lideranças realmente significativas e relevantes. Tive a oportunidade de trabalhar por 10 anos no Governo Federal, junto a Programas Estratégicos Sociais e na construção de políticas públicas. Muito aprendizado e experiências muito significativas que contribuíram para que eu fosse o que sou hoje e tivesse o reconhecimento do Ecossistema de Impacto Nacional. Precisamos conhecer os princípios e manter relação com os diferentes segmentos da sociedade. Pois ele só acontece se tivermos a participação de todos!
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Mastering skills to navigate and influence policy-making in the social impact sector starts with understanding policy formation, implementation, and evaluation. This entails grasping the legislative process, government roles, and NGO contributions to policy development. Such knowledge aids in identifying advocacy entry points and leveraging mechanisms for social impact.
Recognizing key stakeholders is essential in policy-making. These include government officials, community leaders, and other influential figures who can sway or decide on policy matters. Building relationships with these individuals can be pivotal for your initiatives. Learn to map out stakeholders, understand their interests, and communicate effectively to gain their support or mitigate opposition.
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Identifying stakeholders is vital in policy-making. These encompass government officials, community leaders, and influential figures shaping policy. Cultivating relationships with them is crucial for your initiatives. Learn to map stakeholders, grasp their interests, and communicate effectively to garner support or address concerns.
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Na minha experiência, um diagnóstico é fundamental par termo conhecimento das principais dores ou problemas a serem trabalhados em políticas públicas de impacto. Mapear os Stakeholders é um dos processos necessários para podermos avançar de forma estratégica.
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☃️Use the snowballing technique: Ask stakeholders about what other stakeholders you should speak to or engage! Usually they can recognize other relevant groups that you hadn't thought of before! ❄️ Also consider the interest/power matrix and try to target those with low interest but high power. These groups, once mobilized, can make a huge difference! #stakeholderengagement
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En lo que respecta a mi actual experiencia, considero que identificar a las partes interesadas, actores y protagonistas de la construcción de nuevas políticas, se vuelve una práctica fundamental. Todo cambio de política o generación de una nueva política necesita de partir desde un principio de EMPATIA. Construir a partir del conocimiento de las realidades de cada sector, nos ayuda a comprender a fondo la estructura y línea de pensamiento de las partes interesadas. De este modo podemos trazar los mejores caminos que pueden generar las nuevas políticas: prevención, capacitación, generación de conciencia son los ejes que hacen a la construcción de nuevas realidades. Sin ello todo es más complicado.
Effective messaging is crucial for policy advocacy. Your ability to articulate the social issue and proposed solutions in a compelling manner can make or break your influence. Develop clear, concise, and persuasive messages that resonate with your audience. Tailor your language to different stakeholders, ensuring that your message aligns with their values and priorities.
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Crafting effective messaging is pivotal for policy advocacy. Articulate social issues and solutions compellingly, as this determines your influence. Develop clear, concise, and persuasive messages resonating with your audience. Tailor language to stakeholders, aligning messages with their values and priorities.
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O uso de uma linguagem assertiva pode encurtar caminhos. Podem demonstrar ao seu público específico, o valor agregado da sua ação, do se projeto, do seu serviço.
Your network can amplify your policy advocacy efforts. Engage with organizations and individuals who share your social impact goals to form coalitions. These alliances can provide a unified front, making your voice louder and your actions more influential. Attend events, join forums, and participate in discussions to expand your network and find collaborative opportunities.
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Leveraging networks enhances policy advocacy efforts. Engage with like-minded organizations and individuals to form coalitions, amplifying your voice. Attend events, join forums, and participate in discussions to expand your network and uncover collaborative opportunities, strengthening your impact.
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Desde que criei a Conecta Projetos, e passei a conviver com os diferentes atores do Ecossistema de Inovação e Impacto, percebi que o meu papel estava em mobilizar e fomentar, levando oportunidades para todos eles. Papel de uma Entidade, Startup ou até pessoa, "dinamizadora". De 2017 para cá, realizamos anualmente o Fórum de Inovação e Impacto, neste ano, denominado Fórum de Inovação e Sustentabilidade, devido a sua amplitude. Evento cujo foco é reunir os diferentes atores do Ecossistema de Inovação e Impacto para construção e debate de temas emergentes que podem ser aprofundados ou trabalhados na sequência do evento. Dando oportunidade para colaboração e construção em rede.
Media plays a powerful role in shaping public opinion and policy. Use traditional media outlets and social media platforms to raise awareness and generate public support for your cause. Develop a strategic media plan that includes press releases, op-eds, and social media campaigns to reach a broader audience and create pressure for policy change.
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Utilize media to shape public opinion and policy. Employ traditional outlets and social media platforms to raise awareness and garner support. Develop a strategic media plan, incorporating press releases, op-eds, and social media campaigns to broaden your reach and exert pressure for policy change.
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As divulgações em geral, sejam nas redes sociais ou na mídia, tem um papel fundamental na comunicação e construção de uma marca, no reconhecimento de uma pessoa ou de uma causa. Podendo, sim, alcançar um público mais amplo e construir espaços significativos e propícios para grandes ações e reflexões políticas.
Finally, assessing the impact of your policy advocacy is crucial for learning and improvement. Monitor the outcomes of policies you've influenced and analyze their effects on the social issue at hand. This evaluation will help you understand what strategies work, which ones need refinement, and how to better plan future advocacy efforts for maximum social impact.
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Evaluating policy impact isn't a solo act. I often work with community partners and stakeholders to gather data and analyze results. This collaborative approach not only strengthens the evaluation process, but it also fosters a sense of shared ownership in achieving positive social change. While evaluating policy impact can sometimes reveal challenges, it's ultimately a hopeful process. By understanding what works and what doesn't, we can keep moving forward and advocating for policies that truly make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
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Evaluating the impact of your policy advocacy is crucial for learning and improvement. Monitor policy outcomes, analyze their effects on social issues, and understand what strategies are effective. This evaluation guides refinement and informs future advocacy efforts for maximum social impact.
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⭐Don't just assess the impact of policy from an institutional lens. Ask the ⭐PEOPLE⭐ (hopefully those you've engaged with since the beginning) how are the changes impacting them. You'll uncover a richness of data that would otherwise be hidden or not easily apparent!⭐
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