Effective advocacy strategies for influencing government nutrition policy: a conceptual model

Abstract

Influencing public policy change can be difficult and complex, particularly for those with limited power and resources. For any one issue there may be several groups, including the commercial sector and public health advocates advocating from different policy perspectives. However, much of the public health advocacy literature and tools available for those wanting to improve their practice is based on research from one specific perspective of an issue. This approach deprives advocates of potential insight into the most effective levers for this complex and difficult process. To provide a more comprehensive insight into effective levers for influencing public health policy change, a conceptual model for poorly-resourced advocates was developed. The model was developed through the integration and synthesis of policy process and network theories with the results from three studies conducted previously by the authors: a systematic literature review; a social network analysis of influential actors in Australian nutrition policy; plus in-depth interviews with a sample of these actors who had diverse perspectives on influencing nutrition policy. Through understanding the key steps in this model advocates will be better equipped to increase political and public will, and affect positive policy change.

Generating political commitment for ending malnutrition in all its forms: A system dynamics approach for strengthening nutrition actor networks

“…Strategic capacities include the creation of spaces and opportunities (eg, formalized governing bodies, conferences, workshops, and informal networking events) for members to share information, build consensus, and manage conflicts. This in‐turn may help to facilitate the formation of strategic multisector partnerships and interpersonal networks with decision makers and enhance the responsiveness of NANs to emerging threats and opportunities. This includes their responsiveness to longer‐term changes in societal conditions (eg, epidemiological transitions) as well as shorter‐term focusing events (eg, government elections, famine, and economic crisis) that create opportunities and challenges for commitment building …”

“…The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, the world's largest initiative for building commitment and scaling‐up multisectoral implementation efforts, is driven by international as well as national nutrition networks in its 60 member countries. Nutrition policy scholars focused on national and subnational contexts also acknowledge the centrality of networks in mobilizing political systems, institutions and resources, designing policies, building capacities and coordinating responses across levels and sectors, as well as actions on‐the‐ground . Despite this growing body of scholarship, there is limited understanding of how NANs become established within countries, how they develop and evolve over time, and what ultimately drives their effectiveness at generating and sustaining political commitment among diverse actors.…”

Stakeholder Perspectives on the Effectiveness of the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership

“…Further to this, the political and social climates were viewed as barriers to achieving planned outcomes; particularly policy change, given the lack of public and political push for salt reduction. To achieve nutrition policy change, gaining public support, and demonstrating it to policymakers, is crucial for generating political will [33]. As a newly-formed coalition, the Partnership rstly needed to gain credibility and trust from the public [33].…”

Rethinking the public health model for injury prevention

“…Successful advocacy involves clearly communicating why an existing situation needs to change, who has a responsibility to act on it, and what should be done 19. To this end, advocacy often involves the strategic use of media—including news and mass media, social media, and personal communication—to target decision makers in a position to effect policy or programme change.…”

“…Consumers and community members can be engaged in the cocreation of research and design of prevention initiatives,21 22 as well as acting in the role of spokespeople and advocates from lived experience 20. Through diverse and strategic networks, advocates gather information on policy opportunities and gain a deeper understanding of the policy making process and factors influencing decision makers 19. Inside the formal policy sphere, advocates may influence policy makers through positions on advisory boards, expert committees, or through invited consultations and negotiations 16…”