Evaluation of the Business Sector Advocacy Fund Ghana

2.1.2 Advocacy Methods on IE legal and policy framework development

Recommendations: 

• 2. Take the complex nature of advocacy as related to IE issues into account.

Reference: Oxford Policy Management, 2014, Evaluation of the Business Sector Advocacy Fund Ghana, Final evaluation, Danida, Copenhagen.

Evidence sample: Danida’s BUSAC project was mostly focused on the demand side of advocacy. Unfortunately, the lack of duty bearers’ knowledge on advocacy (necessary reforms to be enacted, funding constraints, priorities etc.) has hindered the overall achievement of project results.

• 3. Develop actions aimed at strengthening advocacy with deep consideration of:

  - Necessary number of involved stakeholders finding a good balance between efficiency and effectiveness

  - Scope of the advocacy action

  - Preferred and most effective timing.

Reference: Oxford Policy Management, 2014, Evaluation of the Business Sector Advocacy Fund Ghana, Final evaluation, Danida, Copenhagen.

Evidence sample: The evaluation shows that single issue advocacy actions involving relatively few stakeholders, and with limited budgetary implications, tend to be the ones that are mostly likely to achieve their objective within the stipulated timeframe. The topic of these advocacy actions typically relate to weak enforcement of existing legislation, inadequate delivery of public service, or simple sensitization of the public about a particular issue.

Secondly, district level projects involving sub-sector or product-based associations tend to have a relatively high success rate. On the contrary, whether new legislation at central level is required, every project has a tendency to be more complicated and time consuming. The time allocated by BUSAC for the dialogue and post-dialogue parts of the advocacy process is often too short for national level policy issues.

Finally, timing is crucial, especially where advocacy has budgetary implications. Agreeing an advocated change before the passing of the relevant budget and well before elections or a predicted change of duty bearers is of course a critical success factor.