Policy influence by less powerful people often requires strength in numbers. Effective organisations are relevant to members’ priorities, legitimate, active, accountable and low on transaction costs so that members find it worthwhile to participate. In other words, effective organisation is hard to achieve. Groups may benefit from tools for:
- Running a local group according to agreed standards of representation, transparency and financial management
- Developing and maintaining networks and alliances with like-minded organisations
- Mobilising support locally and in society more broadly
- Raising external legitimacy
- Building local capacity to make the most of gains in power
Keywords: mobilise, alliance, network, association, solidarity, representation, participation, pluralism, capacity |
List of Tools:
Associations for business partnerships
Activities to help smallholders engage with, compete in, and benefit from market economies, based on experience with migrant smallholders in Brazil.Interactive radio drama
Use of radio to gain public participation in natural resources policy, based on experience in biodiversity conservation in India.Mechanisms for organisation
Organisational options for community groups (cooperatives, trusts etc), based on international experience.Organising pitsawyers to engage
Framework for developing organisations and business partnerships for small-scale producers, based on experience in Uganda.
