6. Policy Advocacy and Social Sector Organizations

Jeff Unsicker discusses some of the most important policies that social sector organizations (SSOs) should monitor and seek to influence—policies that can enable or impede the work of SSOs in different national environments. He then addresses some of the reasons why SSOs do not engage in efforts to influence them. Next, as a resource for such organizations that wish to become (more) engaged, he provides an overview of some key concepts and practices of policy advocacy. In so doing, Unsicker draws on lessons that many SSOs have gained through decades of engagement in policy advocacy, including frameworks that are used in the School for International Training curriculum. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of one of the cutting edge issues facing the practice of policy advocacy: evaluation of outcomes and impact. At various places in the chapter, Unsicker illustrates points with relevant experiences from his own 40 plus year career doing and teaching advocacy.