Abstract

The paper is a case study of a conflict resolution and policy advocacy initiative by LePMIL – The Institution for Coastal and Hinterland Community Development, an NGO in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. The paper seeks to answer two types of questions: (1) How effective was LePMIL’s multi-stakeholder approach for resolving conflict and creating a new management policy for the two forest reserves? What are the outcomes and impacts of the initiative? (2) What general lessons about advocacy can be learned from the experience? The paper examines extensive data obtained through participant observation, surveys and interviews through the lens of two frameworks. One is a framework that I synthesized from the work of J. Schultz and is used to look at the effectiveness of the advocacy by assessing several key issues, including the objectives, targets, messages, messengers, and strategies. The second is a rights based development framework developed by M.A. Brocklesby and S. Crawford and is used to measure the outcomes and the impacts of this advocacy initiative by looking at voice, participation and accountability; transformation of power relationships and linkages; institutional response; and some other areas. In its examination of lessons to be learned, the paper identifies six principles, each of which carries specific implications for good and effective advocacy work. They include that advocacy and related reform programs have been less effective when they have not taken enough account of the local political circumstances; that the advocacy should be more focused on ideas and/or voices that could connect various stakeholders; and that it is best to start from something easy, and then move to the challenging.

Disciplines

Peace and Conflict Studies | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Public Policy

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