DRAFT PROGRAMME ADVOCACY COURSE
DAY 2
SESSION 7
Coalition building
Quiz 4
What do coalitions bring?
What are the problems of coalitions?
Structures of the coalition
SESSION 8
Managing coalition problems
Importance of open communication
Listening skills
Managing tensions
Working with difficult members
Sound bite 4
93
For most of the ill-health conditions related to alcohol, the
dose response relationship has a threshold effect, with
no increased risk at low levels of alcohol consumption:
a. True
b. False
94
Alcohol reduces the risk of coronary
heart disease:
a. True
b. False
95
The level of alcohol consumption with the lowest risk of
death is zero for all ages:
a. True
b. False
96
It is quite safe for women to drink up to 1-2 drinks (10-20g
of alcohol) during pregnancy
a. True
b. False
97
Alcohol increases the risk of female breast cancer
a. True
b. False
98
For most of the ill-health conditions related to alcohol, the
dose response relationship has a threshold effect, with
no increased risk at low levels of alcohol consumption:
a. True
b. False
99
7
Relative risk
6
5
Cancer oral cavity
4
Hypertension
3
Haemorrhagic stroke
2
Pancreatitis
1
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
grams alcohol per day
100
Alcohol reduces the risk of coronary
heart disease:
a. True
b. False
101
Relative risk
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
.8
.6
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Grammes of alcohol per day
140
160
102
The level of alcohol consumption with the lowest risk of
death is zero for all ages:
a. True
b. False
103
Grammes alcohol/day
30
Women
Men
25
20
15
10
5
0
16-34
35-64
Age (years)
65+
104
It is quite safe for women to drink up to 1-2 drinks (10-20g
of alcohol) during pregnancy
a. True
b. False
105
Alcohol increases the risk of female breast cancer
a. True
b. False
106
Relative risk
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1
0.9
0.8
Longnecker 1994
Smith-Warner 1998
English et al 1995
Corrao et al 1999
Collaborative group
0 10 20 30 40 50
Level of alcohol consumption
(g/day)
107
Coalitions bring powerful benefits:





Strength in numbers.
Strength in diversity.
Shared workload and resources.
Cohesion and solidarity.
Creating a micro-model of a just,
decent society.
108
Resources That Groups Can Bring to Advocacy
Coalitions
Public Credibility
A Large Membership Base
Access to Decision Makers
Staff Time
Advocacy Experience
Media Contacts/Expertise
Funding
Space/Equipment/Postage
Volunteers
Diversity
People Directly Affected
Contacts With Potential Allies
109
Coalitions bring difficulties:

Differences among members could paralyze the coalition,
preventing it from making progress toward its goal and
discouraging members from working in future coalitions.

Working in a coalition may take time and energy away from
working closely with constituents and members.

The investment of resources could outweigh the benefits
received, especially if other members do not do their share of the
work.

Shared decision-making power could mean members surrender
control over the agenda, tactics, resource allocation, and other
strategic decisions.

An organization's identity could be masked by the coalition
identity, making it difficult to act autonomously.

The coalition may become too large or "bureaucratic" to function.

Rather than cooperating with each other, members may end up
competing with coalition partners for resources, funding, and
public recognition.
110
Alternatives to coalitions:
 Continue building and maintaining new relationships, on both
the individual and organizational level.
 Continue sharing information through networks.
 If no one else is ready to work on the issue, get started
anyway and keep others informed about your work.
 Collaborate with each other in less intense ways. For
example, work together on a single event or short-term
campaign. Or develop parallel organizations that work
separately toward the same goals. This may be an effective
way to bridge large differences between organizations,
such as the power differential between smaller and larger
organizations.
111
 For each key audience - especially the
decision makers - what or who
influences them? Who needs to be
involved to give your coalition
credibility and legitimacy?
 Whose expertise or information is
needed to create an effective
strategy?
 Who has the resources needed to
carry out an action plan?
112
Diversity by Issue Sector
Diversity by Civil Society Sector
Diversity by Geographic Region and Scope
Diversity by Organization Size
Diversity by Personal Background
113
Diversity by Organizational Resources:
Legitimacy and credibility
People power
Knowledge
Expertise
Relationships
Money
Facilities
114
Basic coalition structures:




Membership
Participation
Leaders
Making decisions
 Coalition identity and members'
autonomy
 Communication
 Logistics
115
There are four important components of a workable
coalition:




Clear coalition structures
Open communication
A unified platform
Campaigns with measurable long-term and shortterm outcomes
116
Coalition Types
Informal
Networks
*Information
sharing only
*No organized
meetings
*Do not take
joint positions
Formal
Ad Hoc
Coalitions
*Have a
specific
objective
*Have
informal
leadership
*May not have
a name
*Membership
fluid
Formal
Coalitions
*Have name,
letterhead,
etc.
*Have formal
leadership
*Eligibility
rules
*May have
fees
Permanent
Coalitions
*Bylaws
*Fees
structure
*May have
staff/office
*Have
executive
committees
117