Policy influencing, Lobby and Advocacy: Case Studies

Programme group Political Economy and Transnational Governance

IOB, the Policy and Operations Evaluation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands, conducts an evaluation of Policy Influencing, Lobby and Advocacy (PILA) that centers around the aim to gain a better understanding of how the ministry may best support Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in developing countries. As part of the IOB evaluation, three PILA campaigns in relation to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) will be examined.

Methodology

The case studies are developed around the following three guiding questions:

1. How can the socio-economic/political environment regarding CSR in which policy influencing, lobbying and advocacy take place be characterized?
2. How can actors engaged in policy influencing, lobbying and advocacy in the field of CSR be characterized?
3. What is the practice of policy influencing, lobbying and advocacy in the field of CSR?

The analysis of the three case studies will offer insight into the leading questions in this research: “What evidence is there for the effectiveness of PILA strategies/programs in influencing policy in the public and private sector that is supportive of poverty reduction, justice and sustainable inclusive development? What factors explain levels of effectiveness?”.

Research Methods

For the purpose of these case studies, a combination of research methods will be used. These consist of a literature study, a policy document analysis and semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders relevant to the specific cases and the theme of PILA strategies for CSR in the Dutch policy framework at large.

Relevance

The research concerns strategies and/or programs that may be implemented by single organizations or collaborative associations (coalitions, networks) that may include organizations from the global South and North. The associated PILA targets may be based in developing countries, in the Netherlands or abroad (international organizations, multinational companies). The findings of the case studies will contribute to insights about effectiveness and explanatory factors of PILA campaigns/programs.

Vision

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has had no overarching policy document on PILA during the evaluation period 2008-2014, the cases will offer a first thorough insight and offer ground for recommendations in the field of PILA support for CSR. The case studies will eventually be complemented by findings from other research activities, which will contribute to a more comprehensive answer for the overall guiding question. 

Published by  AISSR

4 December 2014