In a world where technology evolves rapidly, online safety advocacy holds the key to ensuring children’s voices are heard to drive positive change for the necessary safeguards to be in place so that children can thrive online. To equip members of ChildFund Alliance with the necessary tools and knowledge, we held the first capability building session on the 25th of May, 2023 during the ChildFund Alliance CEO Forum. The session aimed to introduce and familiarize participants with the national advocacy toolkit developed by our Head of Research as part of ChildFund Alliance’s WEB SafeandWise Campaign. This blog post highlights the key takeaways from the session and showcases the potential of this toolkit for empowering advocacy efforts.
Creating Awareness and Building Familiarity
Our session began by introducing the toolkit and its contents, to create awareness among ChildFund Alliance members and the Advocacy Task Force about its value. By exploring each of the 7 modules, members familiarized themselves with the toolkit’s rich content, learning how to apply its strategies to develop effective advocacy strategies. Practical examples of successful advocacy campaigns from ChildFund Alliance members were also shared, illustrating the toolkit’s versatility across various contexts.
Unlocking Contextual Relevance and Resource Optimization
One of the core strengths of this toolkit lies in its ability to be adapted to diverse contexts and advocacy stages, even in the face of limited resources. We emphasized the toolkit’s versatility in aligning with emerging trends and invited participants to explore its applicability in their unique circumstances.
Harnessing the Power of Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement:
During our enlightening discussion groups, participants expressed their enthusiasm for Module 4, focusing on stakeholder analysis. This provided them with valuable insights into understanding multiple stakeholders and their roles in contributing to advocacy efforts. Collaborations with INGOs were identified as powerful avenues for amplifying the impact of advocacy, particularly when connected to their work on child rights. The participants acknowledged the advantage of being part of an alliance, which opens doors to global actors. They also emphasized the importance of developing shared strategies to maximize resources and avoid duplication of efforts.
Child Participation and Safeguarding – “Nothing About Us Without Us”
The toolkit acknowledges the vital role of child participation in advocacy efforts, championing the principle of “nothing about us without us.” Through the discussions, we explored innovative methods for incorporating child voices and drew inspiration from diverse sources, including the learnings derived from the pandemic. We also emphasised the importance of safeguarding when involving children in the advocacy process to ensure they come across no harm.
Reflection, Clarification, and Development
Throughout the session, participants had ample space to reflect on their advocacy journey, how the toolkit can enhance these efforts, and clarify any related questions. These moments of introspection allowed for deeper insights and highlighted the need for additional support to address intersectionality issues. The toolkit emerged as an invaluable resource, consolidating diverse tools into a single, comprehensive framework.
Conclusion
ChildFund Alliance is no stranger to advocacy. The capability building session presented the toolkit’s potential to further enhance its capacities, especially in the realm of online safety advocacy work. harnessing the toolkit’s resources, can support ChildFund Alliance members in amplifying impact, capitalising on global networks, and developing shared strategies. We are confident that the toolkit will empower their members in navigating challenges, fostering collaboration, and effecting meaningful change. Through the power of advocacy ChildFund Alliance can unlock a brighter online future for children and young people.
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