Non-profits & Media advocating for good!

Description

Advocacy is an internationally acclaimed tool for Civil Society, in its efforts to bring institutional change to important social problems. In Greece, especially in the periphery, advocacy activities are either limited, or of limited efficiency, with exceptions in human rights, environmental or social welfare issues. 
This is attributed to 2 factors:
- Firstly, non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Greece lack knowledge and expertise regarding advocacy’s methodology and tools, in order to design and implement effective relevant activities
- Secondly, the negative image of non-profits in the media and the general public pose as an obstacle to the potential communication and collaboration of all parties for a good cause and their active participation to decision-making. 
Τhe project “Non-profits & Media advocating for good!” aims to strengthen civil society advocacy and watchdog role in Greece. To achieve that, the project offers a framework of experiential training & collaboration, benefitting 32 media representatives and 32 non-profits’ staff in 4 cities of Greece, selected based on that fact that they have both vibrant NPO communities and media as well as significant social issues, in order to co-create and implement together advocacy activities. 
HIGGS will act as a project promoter and will undertake the design, support and monitoring of the implementation of the project and the coordination of the participating NPOs. Also, HIGGS will be coordinating the 3 partners of the project:
-    the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,
-    the Open Knowledge Foundation Greece and 
-    the non-profit Journalism Initiative,
that will assist in organizing and implementing the seminars, in advisory support of the NPOs and the media and the dissemination of the project.

Summary of project results

The project aimed to address the limited presence and effectiveness of advocacy actions by civil society in Greece, particularly in peripheral areas. Challenges included the lack of capacity among civil society organizations to undertake impactful advocacy actions and barriers to accessing media for mobilizing local and national communities.

The project "Non-profits & Media advocating for good!" focused on:

1. Training and Capacity Building:

   • Provided intensive training to civil society organizations in four cities.
   • Covered advocacy techniques such as issue identification, stakeholder mapping, and using advocacy tools.

2. Practical Implementation:

   • Supported participating organizations in implementing advocacy actions as practical exercises in their newly acquired skills.

3. Strengthening Perceptions:

   • Conducted workshops to highlight the relevance and usefulness of advocacy in the sectors where these organizations operate.

4. Media Integration:

   • Reached out to journalists and media representatives.
   • Facilitated institutional and informal meetings to build better connections between civil society organizations and the media.

1. Outcomes and Impacts:

   • 7 advocacy actions were launched, showcasing the immediate application of the skills learned.
   • Improved know-how among organizations regarding advocacy practices.
   • Strengthened relationships between civil society organizations and journalists/media, addressing a key barrier to advocacy efforts.

2. Beneficiaries:

   • 139 Civil society organizations in the four intervention cities benefited from increased capacity and practical experience.
   • 32 Journalists and media representatives gained better access and understanding of civil society’s advocacy efforts.
   • Indirectly, the local and Greek communities benefited through more effective advocacy actions that addressed social issues.