LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS
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Communication and Advocacy

• Brainstorm on communication
• Working groups
• 1 Table of stakeholder interest
• 2 Training programme
• 3 Benchmark analysis on advocacy
• 4 Advocacy strategic plan
• Reporting of the 4 groups
• Wrapping up on Communication and advocacy

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Communication

• Spokesperson
• Messages
• Audiences
• Tools
• Feedback
• Obstacles

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Advocacy

• Primarily oriented towards
• 1. The Government (civil servants as well as
  politicians)
• 2. The Parliament
• 3. Civil-society organisations, institutions and
  companies
• 4. Trade unions (representing the municipalities
  as employers)
• This is done through
• Regular consultations
• Letters
• The media
• Internetsite, www.vng.nl

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Successful advocacy

• One voice
• Quality of the arguments
• Political influence

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One voice

• One organisation or strong coordination
• A shared vision
• Space for minority positions
• Like to be member
• Services
• Intensive communication
• One spokesperson

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Quality arguments

• Knowledgeable staff
• Direct access to Ministries
• Involvement in the preparatory phase
• Participation in committees

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Political power

• Stay out of party politics!!!!!
• Have influence in all political parties
• Directors have direct access to Ministers
• Accepted by Ministries
• Accepted by Parliament

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Advocacy tools

• Attitude
• Formal tools
• Informal tools

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Formal tools 1

• Submitting policy proposals
• Consultation by CG on specific issues
• Consultation or parliament on specific issues
• Participation on committees or advisory bodies
  set up by CG
• Official arrangements or contracts between CG and
  LGAs
• Direct LGA representation on parliamentary
  committees

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Formal tools 2

• Submitting amendments or proposals to Parliament
  
• Correspondence with
• individual ministers
• government or
• parliament
• Weekly Magazine
• Web-page
• Open House of the municipality

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Informal tools 1

• Influencing public opinion
• Expressing LGA opinion through the press
• Articles
• Press releases
• Interviews
• Invite them for seminars etc
• Go to the places where the journalists or the
  politicians are
• Inform journalists

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Informal tools 2

• Informal meetings or telephone contacts between
  LGA staff and a ministry
• Inviting the Minister or PM to conferences, study
  visits
• Inviting him or her to write a preface in a
  brochure presenting specific local governments
  developments
• Personal approaches to politicians
• Contacts with parliamentarians
• Party meetings

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Informal tools 3

• Co-operating with other relevant actors
• Networking
• Make the name well known
• Business cards
• Logo
• LGA leaflet
• Participation in local activities