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
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.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.Respect each group's internal process. It is important to understand and respect the differences among groups.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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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