Policy advocacy toolkit: How to influence public policy for social justice and gender equality in Africa

This toolkit outlines policy advocacy strategies that can be used to influence policy processes. In particular, it focusses on advocating for policies that support the principles of democracy, gender equality and human rights.

This toolkit provides definitions of policy advocacy. It looks at how policies are developed and decided upon. And it provides a step-by-step guide on how to successfully advocate for progressive policy change uptake, and implementation. This toolkit includes practical examples of advocacy strategies that can be used, as well as a detailed case study example.

This resource can be used to support advocacy on a variety of topics including:

• The achievement of gender equality;
• HIV and AIDS prevention
• Preventing and ending gender-based violence
• Promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights for all;
• Equitable parenting and unpaid care
• The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

Who will find this resource useful?

If you work to support civil society efforts for public policies that support social and gender justice in Africa then this is a useful resource for you. It is also helpful for anyone looking to oppose regressive policies that undermine gender equality and human rights.

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About the authors

This toolkit was developed by MenEngage Africa and Sonke Gender Justice. It was supported by United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), the Robert Carr Fund, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, (SIDA) and the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women administered by UN Women