Unified advocacy: The untapped elixir for advancing social change

Despite the diversity of efforts and the relevance of these interventions, a critical gap persists: the lack of unified advocacy. This absence of a cohesive, unified voice within the development narrative not only limits the impact of these interventions but also fosters confusion and apathy among those engaged in or affected by the sector.

This lack of unity, in turn, hampers the ability to garner widespread support and commitment to solving these global challenges.

Why unified advocacy is so important

Unified advocacy is a powerful tool for amplifying social change. It refers to a collaborative effort in which individuals, communities and organizations pool their resources, expertise and influence to amplify impact.

While successful advocacy efforts abound, stories of unified advocacy are less frequent. Where unified advocacy has been implemented, the results have been transformative.

1. Amplification of the issue

A unified front makes it difficult for the state, policymakers and influencers to ignore the cause. Greta Thunberg’s climate action began with her solitary protest outside the Swedish parliament and rapidly gained global momentum as millions joined her in demanding climate action from their governments.

This movement’s unified voice captured the world’s attention and placed climate change at the forefront of the global agenda.

A collective front fosters trust and credibility, normalizes diverse perspectives and reinforces narratives through repetition, leading to a shift – at scale. The marriage equality campaign in the United States is a prime example. By framing the conversation around shared values such as love, family, and commitment, the campaign garnered national support, ultimately leading to the Supreme Court guaranteeing same-sex couples the right to marry.

Collaboration allows partners to play to their strengths while compensating for their limitations. This approach fosters innovation and reduces duplication of efforts. The Migrants Resilience Collaborative exemplifies this by combining the strengths of government, the private sector and civil society to secure safe employment and social security for vulnerable migrant workers.

Unified advocacy can lead to significant policy changes by creating a compelling, evidence-based narrative. Through collaboration with Indigenous peoples and allied organizations to force stronger environmental standards, the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative successfully stopped a harmful Forest Law bill in Peru and secured a referendum to halt oil extraction in Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park, protecting vital ecosystems and indigenous lands.

Barriers to unified advocacy

Despite its potential, unified advocacy is not without challenges. As practitioners of collective action over the past years, we also acknowledge that unified advocacy is neither easy to formulate nor cheap to execute. Many changemakers recognize its value but struggle with the practicalities of engagement. Key barriers include:

Slow pace of action: Unified advocacy efforts, like any collective action initiative, require significant time to shape up and to achieve systemic change. Often, it leads to frustration among participants.

Resource constraints: Both material and human resources are often stretched thin, making it difficult for organizations to commit to collaborative efforts.

Brand and theory of change concerns: Organizations may fear that unified advocacy could dilute their brand identity or compromise their specific theory of change.

Funders’ attribution issues: Discussions with funders about the attribution of outcomes can be complex and contentious, deterring organizations from participating in unified advocacy.

Lack of local case studies: The absence of regional examples of successful unified advocacy can discourage engagement.

Potential conflicts with the authorities: Unified advocacy efforts also attract attention. However, when they challenge the status quo, there is a risk of conflicts with authorities and power structures, which further inhibits organizations from joining unified advocacy efforts.

Pathways to overcome barriers

Recently, we attended the Schools of Tomorrow Summit with an eclectic group of school leaders from around the world. In one rare instance of unified advocacy, five education civil society organizations came together to spotlight education leadership and how it is critical to drive improvements in the school system. We quickly found synergies with our own mission and were glad to co-advocate. The lessons we have shared twice earlier continue to guide our collective efforts.

To overcome the barriers to unified advocacy, a multifaceted approach is needed:

Mentorship and capacity building: Seasoned organizations with resources, experience and networks must step up to mentor and support others, helping them navigate the complexities of unified advocacy.

Clear governance structures: Establishing governance systems with clear strategies, timelines, incentives and defined roles and responsibilities can facilitate smoother collaboration and action.

Long-term resource deployment: States and philanthropic networks must recognize that systems change is a long-term endeavour that requires sustained collective effort. Resources should be allocated accordingly, supporting long-term unified advocacy initiatives.

Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint.

Achieving systemic change requires patience, persistence, and a long-term perspective. Unified advocacy, when effectively harnessed, has the potential to amplify the development discourse, making this century one where we collectively build an equitable and sustainable future for all.