Lobbying and Advocacy

Lobbying and Advocacy

MVIWAMA’s advocacy and lobby approach is based on the idea that effective lobbying results in a more favorable business environment for the members of MVIWAMA and farmer groups. Farm leaders have a strong case to propose: they represent farmers. They come to voice the feelings, concerns, interests, and opinions of the grass-root members of their organizations. FACT, ‘Farmers Advocacy and Consultation Tool’ is a method of support for farm leaders to build on the opinions of their farming membership. FACT helps with several questions: How to construct focused advocacy issues from the multitude of opinions? How to come to sound proposals and how to maneuver strategically among a multitude of interest groups?

By using the FACT designed by Agriterra, MVIWAMA introduces a structure that is designed to ensure effective lobbying. FACT is essentially a way for farmers’ organizations and their constituencies to relate to each other. It ensures that any policy proposal that the organization prepares takes root in the reality, needs, and concerns of members. While the success of any proposal is never guaranteed, the FACT approach certainly increases the possibility of success.