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.