Thank you Bailo. You must be reading my mind. Insha'Allah you and I will
work together for common relief.
Haruna.
In a message dated 2/16/2010 6:32:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
The following tips on coalition building is extracted from the 'Physicians
for Human Rights' website. Please review:
Advocacy Toolkit
Coalition Building
Guidelines for Successful Coalition Building
1. Choose unifying issues. The most effective coalitions come
together in response to a common issue. Make sure the development of group goals
is a joint process, rather than one or two group representatives deciding on
the goals and then inviting others to join.
2. Understand and respect each group's self interest. There must be a
balance between the goals and needs of the coalition and of the individual
organizations.
3. Respect each group's internal process. It is important to
understand and respect the differences among groups.
4. Acknowledge and use the diversity of each group. Every group has
something similar AND different to offer, and every group's ideas and
influence can help the coalition succeed. Not everyone will always agree with
everything the coalition does or wants to do, and sometimes the minority will
be right. Make sure to take everyone's opinion and restraints into account
and to use diversity to spur discussion, rather than as a source of
division.
5. Communicate openly and freely with everyone. Make sure that the
lines of communication within the coalition and among the coalition, the
media and the community are wide open. Open communication will ensure that no
one feels left out, and that everyone has the information necessary to make
coalition efforts successful.
6. Structure decision-making carefully. Finding consensus is very
important when making decisions as a coalition. Every group must listen to
each other, debate and discuss until they can find common ground.
7. Distribute credit fairly. Recognize that contributions vary.
Appreciate different contributions. Each organization will have something
different to offer— volunteers, meeting space, funding, copying, publicity,
leafleting, passing resolutions, or other resources. Each is important, so be
sure to acknowledge them all.
8. Be inclusive and participatory. Work at making the coalition a
group in which everyone in the community will feel welcome, and continue to
invite people to join even after the first meetings. Try to involve everyone
in the coalition in generating vision and mission statements, planning and
major decisions. The more people feel ownership of the coalition itself,
the harder they will work to achieve its goals.
9. Give and take. It is important to build on existing relationships
and connections with other organizations. Don't just ask for or expect
support; be prepared to give it.
10. Develop a common strategy. The strength of a coalition is in its
unity. Work together with other organizations to develop a strategy that
makes sense for everyone. The tactics you choose should be ones that all the
organizations can endorse. If not, the tactics should be taken by individual
organizations independent of the coalition.
11. Be strategic. Building coalitions requires a good strategy. Which
organizations to ask, who will invite them, in which order to ask them—
these are all questions to figure out.
12. Formalize your coalition. It is best to make explicit agreements.
Make sure everyone understands what their responsibilities and rights are.
Being clear can help prevent conflicts.
Potential Challenges
Bringing together diverse individuals and groups to reach common goals can
be both inspiring and challenging. There are often barriers to starting a
coalition, and it is important to be aware of them and to anticipate them.
Among the most likely are:
* Turf issues: Organizations and individuals may be sensitive about
sharing their work. Part of the work of starting a coalition may be to
convince a number of organizations that working together will in fact benefit
them all and better address community issues.
* Domination by one group or organization: Coalitions are by
definition diverse, and this diversity is part of what makes them strong. Create a
participatory atmosphere and encourage everyone to give their ideas and
time so no one group dominates.
* Poor links to the community: Coalitions must always keep in mind
the community they are working to improve, and keep community concerns and
needs at the forefront of their work.
* Failure to provide and create leadership within the coalition:
Coalitions demand a very special kind of collaborative leadership which can
harness the strength of everyone involved. Cultivation of this leadership is
important to success.
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