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What's Being Done On . . . Using Advocacy to Achieve Democratic Reform?
Interview with Lyudmila Georgieva of Foundation Common Cause (Bulgaria) Ms. Lyudmila Georgieva is founding chair of Foundation Common Cause, a Sofia-based NGO that educates citizens in the art of political advocacy. She was recently a Reagan-Fascell Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy researching "Approaches to Political Advocacy." Q: How was Foundation Common Cause formed and what was its overall mission? A: By reading American books on advocacy, I "discovered" the importance of finding a simple and effective method for citizens in a country in transition to become more involved in deliberating and setting the public policy agenda. In 1997, I founded Foundation Common Cause, an NGO with a mission to strengthen and support citizens' active participation in the process of policy making. At that time, the concept of advocacy was completely unknown in my country, so I started meeting personally with members of Parliament, university lecturers, NGO leaders, and journalists. During our conversations, I presented the Foundation's mission and goals, explained the philosophy of political representation, and stressed the need to broaden and institutionalize citizen participation in the policy-making process. By doing this, we undertook our first project, "Citizen Lobby," which was supported by members of Parliament, Sofia University, and the National Public Opinion Research Center. Q: What are the most effective strategies and tactics used in your political advocacy work? Please describe your methodology in a particular case, perhaps in your recent project on "Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process. " A: In my view, the most successful strategy in advocacy work is to build trusting and long-standing relationships with members of parliament, committee staff, and the media. The project you mentioned, "Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process," was a research project we conducted to examine advocacy techniques applied by NGOs in their efforts to influence the decisions of parliamentarians and the relationships between rank-and-file group members and their leaders. We observed NGOs testimonies during the meetings of eight parliamentary committees and we interviewed the leaders of NGOs from Sofia, Varna, and Plovdiv and Members of the National Assembly. Q: What has been your greatest accomplishment in advocating for changes in policies or procedures that has had a direct effect on the political arena? A: In June 2003, we assisted the Public Council in preparing a proposal to pass a special article of the Local Self-Government and Local Administrative Act (LSLAA), which guarantees citizen participation in local government. The proposal was later approved by Parliament. After the local government elections, we supported the initiative of the Sofia Ombudsman and designed a draft document based on the new LSLAA that outlined the future Internal Statute of a newly-elected Sofia municipal council. The proposal included concrete articles and specific procedures and rules aimed at increasing transparency and accountability of the municipal council and broadening citizen participation. During a roundtable discussion with municipality councilors, NGOs, and leaders of the party headquarters, we presented and discussed our proposals. I am happy to say that about 98 percent of the proposals were approved. Q: What are some examples of the common challenges that political advocacy groups face in promoting reform? A: The first challenge we have to overcome is to let go of our mistrust and realize that it is possible to influence public policy by doing political advocacy work. Second, we must overcome our inertia and realize that our problems are our own concern. We have to focus the attention of the decision makers on issues that are important to us and raise awareness of these issues by formulating and presenting our interests before the governing institutions. Q: What are the most effective strategies for overcoming these challenges and effectively implementing your work? A: Our interest groups have to learn how to increase their representation and to involve their members in the deliberation of the group's policy agenda so as to become real mediators between the citizenry and the governors. It would also help to familiarize themselves with effective advocacy tools and strategies that will improve their capacity to influence the decision-making process more successfully. About "What's Being Done On . . . " For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889. |
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