Description

Policy advocacy is a specific type or form of advocacy, of which there are many. It is the process of taking action, using a series of strategies, to influence the creation and development of public policy. It makes use of multiple targeted actions directed at changing policies, positions or programmes.
Specifically, policy advocacy seeks to:
• Establish new policies;
• Improve on existing policies and/or;
• Challenge pieces of legislation that impact negatively on particular individuals or groups:

Policy advocacy looks specifically at public policy, which is a set of laws (or other types of legislation) taken by government, or other governing bodies that have a local, national, regional or international reach. Its development involves a system of courses of action (or inaction), regulatory measures, legislative acts, judicial decisions and funding priorities concerning a particular issue. In summary, policy advocacy is directed at shaping public
policy.

Policy advocacy is therefore the deliberate process of informing and influencing decision-makers to effect policy change or improved implementation of existing policies.
Before commencing the policy advocacy process, you will need to have a good understanding of the policy  environment on particular issues.