How can evidence-led advocacy be organized with conflict-affected communities, and what role can I/NGOs play in helping to bring these local(ized) advocacy priorities to policy processes? With the support of the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law and Cordaid, The Broker and Cordaid present a new tool on ‘Data advocacy with conflict-affected communities’.
I/NGOs are increasingly using localization as a framework to advocate for human security and community-responsive rule of law in conflict-affected settings. The underlying assumption is that people and organizations in these communities know best what challenges they face and the solutions that should be adopted. As the digital revolution continues globally, data advocacy provides small and medium-sized I/NGOs with a unique opportunity to directly connect local perspectives of conflict-affected communities with policy processes that directly affect them at local, national and international levels.
Starting with the lessons from Cordaid’s Women, Peace and Security Barometer and the Human Security Survey of PAX, this tool is designed for small to medium-size I/NGOs that aim to effectively connect locally collected data to policy discussions in order to improve human security in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Based on a quick scan of the literature, interviews with practitioners and a validation workshop with policymakers and advocacy experts, this tool helps I/NGOs to work more effectively on data advocacy together with their local partners.
Based on a grey literature quick scan, validated and added to through interviews with advocacy experts and a multi-stakeholder workshop. The Broker joined forces with Cordaid’s Women, Peace and Security Barometer experts to implement this project. The tool provides a short introduction on data advocacy and relevant resources that INGOs and their partners can use to define the rationale and theory of change underpinning their advocacy efforts. The main body of the tool consists of six tip sheets that outline key strategies, common challenges and helpful tools to inform data advocacy initiatives.
Cordaid will now use this tool in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Barometer by piloting it in the activities with its local partners. The Broker intends to continue its involvement, learning about how the tool is applied in practice and how it can be improved to further support the localization agenda.
For questions and interest to participate in implementing and further developing this tool and related research, please contact knowledge broker Kiza Magendane (kiza@thebrokeronline.eu) or Rojan Bolling (rojan@thebrokeronline.eu).