Strengthening Government Relations - Presentation

Strengthening Positive Government Relations International Development’s Role in Canada Presented to: Alberta Council for Global Cooperation Lunch and Learn Series – Dec. 1 and 2, 2011

Kendra Ramdanny A Better World Consulting

Agenda • Government relations: the ‘why’, ‘who’, and ‘how’ • Tips and tricks for meeting with the ill-informed official • Context: international development funding in Canada • Solutions and key messages for the international

development sector in Canada • Role play: practice initial meeting and key messages • Identify MPs to engage

Government Relations – the ‘why’ and ‘who’ Why The most successful models for advocacy are based on relationship building • Engage directly on policy development and be consulted on implementation • Influence policy and programs • Become a trusted resource on international development issues • Albertans care about these issues, and so should our elected officials •

Who Policy and decision makers Key ‘influencers’ Elected officials, particularly if in your riding • MLAs • MPs • Ministers • Opposition party members (MLAs and MPs) • Senior government bureaucrats • Senators, particularly if from Alberta and sit on relevant committee • • •

Government Relations – the ‘how’ 1) Written dialogue with policy and decision makers 2) Verbal dialogue with policy and decision makers 3) Build relationships with the media and create public

awareness

Source: RESULTS Canada

Government Relations – the ‘how’ • Do your homework!

• Know the individual’s: circle of influence,

initiatives they are involved in, connections • Be prepared: • Know the issues – facts, problems, and solutions • Be current on legislation

Government Relations – the ‘how’ 1) Written dialogue with policy and decision makers • •

• •

Very few constituents contact their elected leaders Inform them that you will be contacting their office to schedule an appointment to meet Send by fax or mail, plus email Firstname.lastname@ assembly.ab.ca (usually for MLAs)

From RESULTS Canada: • Write from your perspective

• Relate the issue to the

recipient • Keep it short (one to two pages for initial contact) • Use relevant facts and figures • Invite a response (and request a meeting)

Government Relations – the ‘how’ 2) Verbal dialogue with policy and decision makers During meeting Process • Confirm objective and duration of meeting • Call office two weeks after mailing letter to request an • Try to make a personal connection • Be aware of the official’s body language appointment and subtle messages • If no response after a week, • Often have to ‘decode’ messages following the meeting follow up with email • Ask questions • When meeting is From RESULTS Canada: confirmed, send meeting • Speak persuasively material (i.e. agenda) one • EPIC week in advance • E = Engage your audience • P = State the problem • Show up early for meeting • I = Inform about solutions for sign in and security measures • C = Call to action

Government Relations – the ‘how’ 3) Build relationships with the media and create public

awareness • Letter to the editor •

To the point with a few key details and maximum impact

•

250 words or less

Relate to a headline or current story/issue • Email your letter and send it to as many papers as possible (Bcc your email recipients) •

•

Include your name and telephone numbers at the bottom (this will not be published but is needed to confirm you wrote the letter)

Source: RESULTS

Tips and tricks for meeting with the ill-informed official •

Ask questions to get at the root concern or lack of understanding

•

Try to describe your issue in ways that they understand •

i.e. costs, environment, science, health, safety, infrastructure

•

Ask or suggest what you can do to help them and their caucus advance policy changes – show that you can add value

•

State that you would like to share additional material with them in the near future regarding your issue •

Tailor the material to the specific concerns or questions arising from meeting

Developing ongoing relationships •

Follow up is important – within a day of your meeting, follow up with a thank you note (handwritten is best)

•

Based on what you committed to in your meeting as a follow up (i.e. sending materials, scheduling another meeting), be sure to put this in your calendar and commit to doing so

•

In subsequent communication with MP, remind them of the date and topic of your previous meeting

•

Depending on level of interest from your MP, you can ask if there is anyone else in caucus you should meet with regarding your issue •

Can help you: develop new relationships, show that you want to help their caucus, and indicate you are serious about seeing change

Context: international development and funding • The international development sector employs thousands of

Canadians, engages hundreds of thousands of volunteers and makes a tremendous impact in Canada and around the world • Based on a recent survey to international development

organizations, more than 50% of these organizations’ budgets are sourced from federal CIDA funding • Provincial government funding is not a significant contributor

to most organizations’ budgets • Over 60% of organizations surveyed had applied to one or

more CIDA call for proposals in the last 12 months

A new reality?

•

The new CIDA Partnerships with Canadians Branch (PWCB) was created as a “new approach to engage Canadians and organizations in international development”

•

The promise to “streamline the application process and reduce the administrative burden for project applications” has not occurred.

•

Administrative delays are becoming standard

•

Organizations spend a lot of resources in developing proposals as part of the new CIDA competitive bidding mechanism

•

With additional delays in CIDA’s publications of results for calls for proposals, the situation is becoming critical for many Canadian NGOs and for their partner organizations in developing countries

What we need (i.e. solutions) •

To illustrate and communicate how the delays in publishing results of CIDA calls for proposals are negatively impacting Canadian (and Albertan) international development organizations

•

To increase public awareness about the issue and place pressure on the federal government (CIDA), so that they provide answers and better manage the process for calls for proposals

•

To speak as one voice (ACGC) for the sector, to demonstrate that we share the same concerns and to highlight the fact that we also channel the concerns of partner organizations in developing countries

What we say to get there (i.e. key messages) •

The delays in CIDA’s announcements of results for the different calls for proposals is likely becoming the norm and is impacting Canadian organizations (budget, staff, programming) as well as partner organizations in developing countries (capacity to deliver programs and services)

•

The CIDA funding announcement delays are undermining Canadian development organizations’ abilities to do effective international development work

•

Overseas projects that could improve living conditions and save lives are being delayed or shelved

•

CIDA should act immediately to communicate new deadlines for announcing the results of the Over and Under $2 million calls for proposals •

This should also include informing those organizations whose proposals have not been recommended for funding

Role play – meeting with MPs •

Practice meeting with an MP

•

Key point to get across: CIDA should immediately announce new deadlines for their Over and Under $2 million calls for proposals

•

Take turns playing MP One person should play a receptive MP • The other person should play a non-receptive MP •

•

Come back to the group with feedback on: What was challenging • What did you learn • Examples on how you dealt with difficult questions or comments •

Thank you!

Kendra Ramdanny, BA, MBA Principal Consultant A Better World Consulting (780) 863-4140 kendra@abwconsulting.ca