Liberia Accountability and Voice Initiative (Lavi)

LIBERIA ACCOUNTABILITY AND VOICE INITIATIVE (LAVI)

NRM Advocacy Policy, Inclusive Citizen Compliance Monitoring and Media Framework

January 2017 AID-669-C-16-00003

This report is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID.) The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of DAI and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

LIBERIA ACCOUNTABILITY AND VOICE INITIATIVE

NRM COALITION

Advocacy Policy, Inclusive Citizen Compliance Monitoring and Media Framework:

Advocating for Good Governance and Participation in the Natural Resource Management Sector

LAVI NRM Coalition January 2017

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Section 1: Policy Advocacy Framework

I. Advocacy Coalition Goal and Objectives

II. Awareness Building IIA. Identifying Advocacy Audiences 1. “Primary” Audiences 2. “Secondary” Audiences / “Influencers”

Section 2: Public Information Strategy and Messaging

III. Awareness Building: Strategies for Reaching Audiences a. Primary & Secondary Audiences (Decision-Makers and Influencers) b. Civil Society Allies - Issue/Advocacy Organizations c. Media d. General Public

Section 3: Inclusive Citizen’s Compliance Monitoring Framework

IV. Bott om Up Advocacy & Inclusive Cit izen’s Compliance Mo nit oring IVA. Community Level Advocacy and the Political Process IVB. Inclusive Citizen Compliance Monitoring IVC. Compliance Monitoring Mechanisms

Section 4: Evaluation and Monitoring

Section 5: Key Assumptions

Appendix A and B: Policy Advocacy Capacity Strengthening Framework and Inclusive Citizen Compliance Monitoring Capacity Strengthening Framework

Appendix C: Media Capacity Strengthening Framework

2 Introduction

This Framework was developed as a guide to help LAVI Coalition members and other actors in the NRM Sector to think through how expected changes occur in the Sector. The concept of this framework has been adopted from an advocacy framework developed by Julia Coffman & Tanya Beer’s Advocacy Strategy Framework (March 2015). It focuses two key dimensions of advocacy: 1) the target audiences; and 2) the anticipated changes.

Audiences are the individuals and groups that advocacy strategies target and attempt to influence or persuade. They represent the main actors in the policy process and include the public (or specific segments of it), policy influencers/secondary audiences (e.g., media, community leaders, the business community, thought leaders, political advisors, other advocacy organizations, etc.), and decision makers/primary audiences (e.g., elected officials, administrators, judges, etc.). Strategies may focus on just one audience or target more than one simultaneously.1

Changes are the results an advocacy effort aims for with audiences to progress toward a policy goal. Successful advocacy focuses on evidence-based research, objective analysis, coordinated coalition and network initiatives and effective messages. The three points on this continuum differ in terms of how far an audience is expected to engage on a policy issue. The continuum starts with basic awareness or knowledge. Here the goal is to make the audience aware that a problem or potential policy solution exists. The next point is will. The goal here is to raise an audience’s willingness to take action on an issue. It goes beyond awareness and tries to convince the audience that the issue is important enough to warrant action and that any actions taken will in fact make a difference. The third point is action. Here, policy efforts actually support or facilitate audience action on an issue. Again, advocacy strategies may pursue one. Change with an audience or more than one simultaneously. 2

To be effective, CSO/NGO advocacy must be built on evidence based research and careful analysis; it needs to be focused on constructive engagement with government, rather than confrontation. 3 Research and analysis is critical in demonstrating why an issue is important and why the solutions presented are effective. Where government is constrained by a lack of capacity, well-researched arguments and solutions are particularly important in providing government with a base of information from which to work. Further, by demonstrating the capacity to conduct evidence-based and objective research and analysis, CSOs/NGOs are able to gain credibility with government and work as constructive partners in future reform efforts.

In addition, effective advocacy also requires a united voice: Government is less likely to heed the arguments of one organization that is representing an issue or policy-recommendation. Indeed, when confronted by a multitude of different demands regarding the same issue, decision makers may have difficulty assessing which demands are most legitimate, and consequently may focus on none. Unified

1 Julia Coffman & Tanya Beer’s Advocacy Strategy Framework (March 2015); al the framework first appeared in Coffman, J. (2008). Foundations and Public Policy Grantmaking.Paper prepared for The James Irvine Foundation.

2 Ibid

3 Credible information sources include analyses/statistics from international organizations, e.g., World Bank, UNDP, UNEP; donor reports; International NGO; university/academic studies; news articles (from respected news outlets); government data/statistics; national/local NGOs (if research is credible).

3 sector representation and a coherent set of demands or recommendations that is made possible by a coalition are therefore critical. The Advocacy Coalition plays such a role and is in a position to affect change as it works together to ensure good governance and citizen-centered sustainable management and monitoring in the NRM sector.

Beyond a guide to advocacy, the framework serves as a roadmap to the achievement of LAVI objective under which efforts of the Coalition is directed. Alone this line, it captures suggestions from all actors within and without the Coalition including inputs from international consultant and those from LAVI. Most importantly, it considers relevant findings from baseline assessment conducted by the Coalition in the NRM sector as benchmark for engagements. It thus assists communities in planning, designing, conducting, holding and evaluating advocacy campaigns to advance the implementation of existing policies and laws, with a specific focus on Natural Resource Management (NRM).

While the framework is holistic in scope, it has been developed to focus County and Social Development Funds (CSDF) with the view that community-based advocacy is crucial and that much more needs to be done to equip grassroots groups, networks, CSOs with advocacy skills and strategies and information to demand that community needs and priorities in relation to the CSDF are properly addressed.

The framework is designed in a way that it is accompanied by training modules that are intended for capacity strengthening of CSOs and communities, citizen engagement and advocacy training for CSOs and communities. Also, the framework outlined target audiences, methods and activities and advocacy tool for citizen engagement, advocacy training, community dialogue, consultative and accountability forum.

Expected Results

Advocacy Goal

To contribute to and enhance accountability and transparency in CSDF management through citizen- centered sustainable management and participation by establishing adequate and long term mechanisms for effective and participatory CSDF governance

Specific Objectives:

1. Objective 1 (National Level): To encourage political parties and candidates in the 2017 elections commit to establishing long term policy mechanisms for effective and participatory CSDF governance.

2. Objective 2 (National Level): To influence the 54th National legislature to introduce necessary reform agenda/draft legislation focused on establishing long term effective and participatory CSDF governance.

3. Objective 3 (Local Level): To increase communities and citizens’ active engagement in the CSDF governance reform advocacy initiatives through election-related initiatives. (See Section 3)

4. Objective 4 (Local Level): To enhance communities and citizens’ active engagement in the CSDF governance reform advocacy initiatives through local monitoring/reporting. (See Section 3)

Section 1: Policy Advocacy Framework4

I. Advocacy Coalition: Goal and Objectives

Broad country-wide, county-level research of issues related to the Community Social Development Fund (CSD) was conducted by the members of the Advocacy Coalition from November – December, 2016. The assessment uncovered a wide range of governance challenges that constrain the effective and participatory implementation of CSDF including: (i) limited citizen participation in CSDF allocation decisions; (ii) lack of community-level understanding and skills regarding advocacy and engagement in local level governance processes; and, (iii) lack of knowledge regarding CSDF laws and regulations among stakeholders, ranging from citizens and CSOs, to formal and informal local leaders5, and law makers.

The governance of CSDF is mandated in the Budget Law and is reviewed and revised annually. Any reforms in CSDF governance that may be accepted and applied one year, may be discontinued the next. As such, advocacy for any reform may have to be repeated year after year. It is critical that effective and participatory CSDF governance processes and rules be developed carefully and that they are given a level permanence that eliminates yearly revisions.

The Advocacy Coalition is focusing on a four-part advocacy strategy to address the core challenge noted above. It will (i) advocate for commitments by political parties and candidates, in the 2017 election cycle, to establish adequate and long term mechanisms for effective and participatory CSDF governance; (ii) advocate for the introduction of effective, participatory and long-term CSDF laws in the new 2018 legislative session; (iii) engage citizens and communities in local level election-related activities that will provide opportunities for advocacy regarding CSDF; and (iv) develop capacity and mechanisms for advocacy through the monitoring of CSDF activities.

Based on the above considerations, following are the Advocacy Coalition Goal and its Objectives.6

4 The stages of the Advocacy Framework are not linear. For example, activities may occur concurrently.

5 Formal leaders are those who are appointed by central government or elected by the public. Informal leaders include traditional chiefs, leaders of information groups such women leaders and social club leaders; informal leaders are not elected or appointed, but rather naturally emerge in a community.

6 An advocacy goal identifies longer term change/impact the Coalition hopes to achieve.

Advocacy objectives focus on short term changes and specific actions that support achievement of the goal. Objectives are specific and measurable.

Identification of core issues and possible solutions on which the goal and objectives are developed, is based on evidence-based research.

The goal and objectives need to address issues that are possible to resolve.

Goal

To contribute to and enhance accountability and transparency in CSDF management through citizen- centered sustainable management by establishing adequate and long term mechanisms for effective and participatory CSDF governance

Objectives:

1. Objective 1 (National Level): To encourage political parties and candidates in the 2017 elections commit to establishing long term mechanisms for effective and participatory CSDF governance.

3. Objective 3 (Local Level): To increase communities and citizens’ active engagement in the CSDF governance reform advocacy initiatives through election-related initiatives. (See Section III)

4. Objective 4 (Local Level): To enhance communities and citizens’ active engagement in the CSDF governance reform advocacy initiatives through local monitoring/reporting. (See Section III)

II Awareness Building

The Advocacy Coalition will build the political will for establishing participatory and effective long term CSDF legislation by ensuring that relevant audiences understand the issues, and that continued local and national level advocacy activities keep the reform agenda at the foreground. Target audiences include (i) core decision-makers (primary audience); (ii) those who are able to influence the views core decision- makers (secondary audience); (iii) the media; and (iv) the public, 7 including other civil society organizations/networks and coalitions.

II.A Advocacy Coalition Audiences

1. Primary Audience

Primary Audience targets include both the institutions that are critical to the decision-making processes on which the advocacy campaign is focused, and the specific individuals, in all these institutions, who are responsible for moving the reform process forward and/or for approving the reform.

7 Citizens and communities may act as watchdogs of CSDF processes and implementation and as information conduits for the information gathered. The public is also a target audience by virtue of its voting power.

6 Primary Audience targets on which the Advocacy Coalition will focus include:8

Objective 1 – Advocacy: Political Parties and Candidates in 2017 Elections

National Level

The primary audiences to identify at the national level include:

Political parties leadership; Political parties coalition leadership; Political parties presidential candidate; Political parties coalition presidential candidates; and Independent presidential candidates

These audiences are not specific because, at present, the National Elections Commission of Liberia has not certificated political parties’ candidates as well as independent candidates.

County Level

At the county level, the primary audiences include:

Political parties representatives candidates; Political parties coalition representative candidates; and Independent representative candidate

Objective 2 - Legislative Process/Introduction of Reform Legislation

Audiences at this level include

House Committee on Lands, Mines and Energy: Chair Allies in Committee; House Committee on Concessions and Natural Resources: Chair Allies in Committee; Ways and Means Committee: Chair Allies in Committee; Speaker of the House; National Legislature Plenary Voting Members; Deputy speaker; House committee Judiciary; and House committee on Local Government/MIA

Objectives 3 and 4 - Local Level Advocacy / 2017 Elections and CSDF Monitoring

Audience at this level includes:

House of Representatives Candidates; Superintendents;

8 Clarifying the institutions and the central decision-makers in those institutions is critical. It may be useful to begin advocacy-focused dialogues with persons/institutions that are sympathetic to the cause and/or are reformists. These individuals may support advocacy efforts with other “primary” audience actors who are undecided about, or opposed to the Coalitions core issues.

7 Paramount and clan chiefs; Commissioners; and Senators

2. Secondary A udien ce / “In flu encers ” : Persons who might have influence on the primary audience and could be enlisted in the advocacy effort are “influencers” (secondary audience). In some cases, primary audience actors may serve as a secondary audience if they are able to exert influence over views held by other primary audience actors.

In addition to persons who may have direct sway over candidates (staff, professional associates, friends), secondary audiences include the media (national and local), and other civil society actors (CSOs/NGOs, networks and coalitions).

Following are possible secondary audiences/influencers relevant to the initiative.

Objective 1: Secondary Audience – Advocacy for 2017 Election Period

National Level Secondary level audiences include: National Civil Society council of Liberia; Concession working group; CSOs consortium of NRM Political parties/executive committee leadership Concessionaires, private sector Labor unions; Trade and other professional association County Level Candidates; Civil Society Allies; including different civil society organizations, community based organization and private organizations that work in NRM Sector; Other Organizations, Networks, Coalitions; such as the National CSOs Coalition and National Coalition of Women in Peace Network (WIPNET), tTraditional leaders; and Paramount and clan chiefs

Objective 2 - Secondary Audience – Legislation Introduced in New Legislative Session

National / Local Level Some of the audiences at this level include: National Investment commission; Ministry of state and Presidential Affairs; Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy; Ministry of Internal Affairs; National Bureau of Concessions; Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LEITI); Ministry of Public Works; Concession Companies

Staff of Key Legislative Committees

8 House Committee on Lands, Mines and Energy; Committee on Concessions and Natural Resources: Ways and Means Committee Speaker of the House

Staff of Key Ministries/Institutions

Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy: Ministry of Internal Affairs; National Bureau of Concessions; Ministry of Public Works; Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LEITI); Labor Unions

Secondary Audiences- Objective 2

Local Authorities

District Commission Commissioner Traditional leader Paramount and clan chiefs

Civil Society Allies: National Coalition of Women in Peace Network (WIPNET) National Civil Society Council of Liberia Women NGO Secretarial of Liberia (WONGOSOL) Concession Working Groups Public What you Pay Coalition CSOs Consortium on Natural Resource Management, etc.

All Objectives – Media

National Radio:

EBC Truth Radio Liberian Women Democracy Radio UNMIL Radio

Community Radio:

I. Community Radios in Bong County Name of community radio Location Voice of Reconciliation Palala 1. Super Bongese Gbarnga 2. Christ Vision Radio Gbarnga 3. Hott FM Gbarnga 4. Radio Gbarnga Gbarnga 5. Bong Mines Bong Mines

6. Radio Gbartala Gbartala 7. Radio Kwageh Salala 8. Radio Jorwah Jorwah 9. Radio Totota Totota 10. YMCA Gbarnga 11. Radio Salala Salala 12. Radio Zota Zota II. Community Radios in Bomi County 1. Radio Bomi Tubmanburg III. Community Radios in Gbarpolu County 1. Voice of Kpo Bopopu 2. Human Rights Radio Gbarma 3. Radio Gbarpolu Bopopu IV. Community Radios in Grand Bassa County 1. Radio RACSA LAC 2. Radio Dukpa Buchanan 3. Voice of Wee WayZohn 4. Radio Gbezohn Buchanan 5. Daihn Blae Compound 1 6. Magic FM Buchanan V. Community Radios in Grand Cape Mount County 1. Radio Piso Robersport 2. Radio Salam Bambala 3. Morwopnet Tienii 4. Radio Cape Mount Sinje VI. Community Radios in Grand Gedeh County 1. Top FM Zwedru 2. Smile Radio Zwedru 3. Peace Radio Toe Town VII. Community Radios in Grand Kru County 1. Voice of Grand Kru Barclayville 2. Voice of Sesstown Sesstown VIII. Community Radios in Lofa County I. Radio Kintoma Voinjama 1. Radio Life Zorzor 2. Radio Tamba Talkor Foya 3. Radio Harleyngee Kolahun 1. Vahun Community Radio Vahun 2. Voice of Lofa Voinjama 3. Radio Makona Foya IX. Community Radios in Margibi County 1. EL- Sky FM Harbel 2. Radio Kakata Kakata 3. Atlantic Radio Kakata 4. Radio Joy Africa Kakata 5. Stone FM Harbel 6. Peace FM Harbel

7. Sawu FM Weala X. Community Radios in Mary Land County 1. Phonix FM Harper 2. Voice of Truth Pleebo 3. Voice of Pleebo Pleebo 4. Barrobo Community Radio Glofaken 5. Radio Harper Harper XI. Community Radios in Montserrado County 1. LWDR 2. Voice of rural Montserrado Bensenville 3. United Methodist Radio Monrovia 4. SKY FM Monrovia 5. Truth FM Paynesville 6. Radio Monrovia Monrovia 7. Magic FM Monrovia 8. Radio Al Fallaah Monrovia 9. Fabric FM Monrovia 10. Radio VERITAS Monrovia 11. Liberty Radio Monrovia 12. Radio Bethel Monrovia 13. ELWA Paynesville 14. ELNET Radio Monrovia 15. Red Power Virginia 16. Super FM Monrovia 17. Power FM TV Monrovia 18. Capitol FM Monrovia 19. Voice FM Monrovia 20. Okay FM Monrovia 21. Hott FM Monrovia 22. LIB 24 Monrovia 23. Destiny Monrovia 24. Advent Monrovia 25. Voice of Hope Monrovia 26. Prime FM Monrovia 27. Worship FM Monrovia 28. Radio 5 Paynesville 29. D-15 Bushrod Island XII. Community Radios in Nimba County 1. Kergheamahn Ganta 2. Voice of Mainpea Kpain 3. Voice of Tappita Tappita 4. Flumpa FM Flumpa 5. Voice of Gompa Ganta 6. Radio Saclepea Saclepea 7. Radio Sehnwai Sanniquellie 8. Hott FM Ganta 9. Voice of Kam Kamplay

10. Radio Nimba Sanniquellie 11. ABC Radio Yekepa 12. Voice of Camp 4 Camp 4 13. Yalamba Saclepea 14. Radio Sehkyimpa Sehkyimpa XIII. Community Radios in River Gee County 1. Voice of Webbo Webbo 2. Radio Gee Fishtown XIV. Community Radios in Rivercess Co unty 1. Rivercess Broadcasting Cestos 2. Echo Yarpeh XV. Community Radios in Sinoe County 1. Voice of Sinoe Greenville List submitted by G. Ralph Jimmeh Jr. (LMC) and table customized by Peter S. Dolo (DEN-L)

Section 2: Public Information Strategy and Messaging

III. Awareness Building: Strategies for Reaching Audiences The various audiences that play a role in affecting the course of the Coalition’s advocacy initiative require different approaches, message content and formats to have an impact.9

1. Primary and Secondary Audiences

Advocacy Coalition strategies for reaching Primary and Secondary audiences include:

Formal face-to-face meetings with decision makers and secondary audiences.10 National/local consultative meetings/public forums/ national debates on NRM issues Letter from the Coalition as an entity Program site visits for candidates, members of the legislature, political party elite (CSOs should not branded as partisans)

9 For each audience group, the coalition will determine on a case by case basis (i) what action it wants the audience to take, (ii) what the message will say/how it will say it; (iii) what format(s) will be used and (iv) when the messages will be delivered; and (iv) who will deliver the messages (i.e., credible messengers for each audience group). LMC will be responsible for public information strategies and messaging. LMC will collaborate with DEN-L to provide TOT in developing advocacy messages.

Message Tips:

Be clear about what you want to achieve, why and how. Tailor messages and message delivery formats for each audience category identified. Develop messages that are concise, persuasive, and consistent. o Unless the message is targeted at experts, limit any data used and do not use technical terms or jargon. Develop messages that specify what action each particular audience is being asked to take. Repeat message for each audience group through a variety of avenues/sources. Deliver message through sources that the audience perceives as credible. Ensure that all data can be documented and is derived from credible sources.

In addition to discussing the issues in the context of problems/gaps and possible solutions, it is useful to present success stories from Liberia and similar contexts. Success stories serve as valuable lessons learned for decision-makers, as well as organizations and communities throughout the country. They demonstrate that it is possible to improve the system, increase citizen participation and improve governance, and serve as models for related actions.

10 Coalition partners will consider the most direct and effective avenues through which to arrange meetings with key actors; which organizations/persons will attend meetings based on which organization/person has the most credibility with the actor and can most effectively make the presentation. Assess (i) the attitude of the primary actor toward your issue; (ii) the actor’s level of knowledge regarding the issue; (iii) the issues in which the actor is interested; (iv) any potential loss or gain that the will affect the actor through the reform; and (v) how to win the support of the actor.

13 Fact sheets/policy briefs Pamphlets or brochures Short video or slide presentations Newspaper articles or advertisements Broadcast commentary or coverage Joint training on NRM issues e.g., joint training on NRM issues for legislative/ministerial staff and NGOs Informal conversations at social, religious, political, or business gatherings (e.g., ATAIE)

2. Civil Society Allies - Issue/Advocacy Organizations

The Coalition will expand its reach and impact by engaging with organizations, networks and coalitions that may be interested in the issues on which the Advocacy Coalition is focused. These allies may support the initiative through their own channels or join in Coalition efforts/campaigns.11

Coalition strategies for engaging allies in the civil society sector include:

Meetings with organization leaders and staff o LEITI – NBC- RRF (National) o NGO –Coalition of Liberia o Publish- What you pay (PWYP) o Leaders of CSOs o Leaders of CBOs in the counties o Leaders of PVOs The Coalition members will contact Key person(s) in the organization/network coalitions Joint meetings with Advocacy Coalition members (i.e., to discuss joint action) Ready-to-use fact sheets Briefing meetings for advocacy organizations Joint activities (e.g., press conferences, dialogues with communities or with decision-makers and secondary audiences)

3. Media

Media outreach will be led by Advocacy Coalition member LMC. All forms of media that effectively reach various audiences and populations will be targeted, including national and community radio, national and local newspapers, and on-line sources/social media/mobile platforms.

Coalition outreach strategies for the media include:

News releases

11 Possible allies with which the Advocacy Coalition might work include National Coalition of Women in Peace Network (WIPNET); the Coalition on Transparency and Accountability in Education; Local Governance and Decentralization Platform; the Natural Resource management Coalition; the NGO Coalition, the Education NGO Forum; other environmental organizations; human rights organizations, including those representing marginalized populations; lawyers associations; and private sector associations representing business that may lose out when concessions are given.

14 Press conference or media events Issue briefings for editors12 Issue briefing for journalists Fact sheet or back ground sheet Letters to the editor Joint training on NRM issues, e.g., media staff and NGO staff Bill board – stickers- caps- T-shirts Jingoes- Drama – Radio Talk shows Coalition (NRM) Website – News letters LAVI/NRM Calendar

4. General Public

Messages for segments of the public that are interested in the issue on which the Coalition focuses and that can be mobilized to support the advocacy effort are useful tools for creating public pressure for reform. Such messaging will also give the interested public an opportunity to understand the issues, to become aware of linkages between local challenges and national advocacy, and to engage in advocacy initiatives through local mechanisms.

Public outreach will focus on a wide range of approaches. These include:

Theatre (DEN-L supported theatre groups will perform in the counties and/or conduct ToT for partner organizations.); Concerts/music events (National and local level discussion events will be followed by concerts and music programs.); Town hall meetings; Community and national radio discussions. Discussion programs in which candidates are present will include call-in segments; Live presentation and radio broadcast jingles, dramas and message-focused performances; Messaging through mobile phones and social media; and Fliers National and local level newspaper ads or articles Banners, tee shirts Coalition Media Strategy

The media and outreach strategy includes

Introduction A situational analysis of the media landscape in Liberia as it impacts CSDF advocacy and outreach Objectives for the coalition’s media and outreach strategy Preliminary messages tailored to the coalition’s audiences

12 Editors are generally critical in determining what stories/reports are included and how they are presented. The “buy-in” of editors regarding the issues on which the Coalition focuses is therefore an important element in media outreach.

15 A timeline for media and outreach activity implementation A proposed monitoring and evaluation plan for media and outreach

Overview

This media and outreach strategy is designed to support the Natural Resource Management Coalition to connect internally and externally about the roles, responsibilities and functions and to communicate with community dwellers, media, concessionaires, government, civil society actors and other stakeholders. It is an all-inclusive plan that defines what the coalition wants to say to stakeholders and through what medium communication will be done. This communication strategy takes into consideration specific proposed activities as well as attached timeline and budget that will be necessary to implement it.

One of the core task of the coalition media and outreach strategy is to communicate to the affected community dwellers, media, civil society organizations and other stakeholders that they can advocate to play a major role in decisions on how the County Social Development Fund is use to impact their lives and in the setup of Concession Agreements. The strategy is targeted at all the actors stated early in the document but specifically the affected community dwellers who suffer the most as a result of poor decisions that are made about the usage of these funds and concession contracts that do not involve them.

The second core task of the media and outreach strategy is designed to support the goals and objectives of the coalition and the advocacy plan designed by DEN-L. There are two sub- strategies to the overall media and outreach strategy: 1) the development and publishing of messages across the country by means of billboards, jingoes, flyers, T-shirts, caps, radio dramas, etc. 2) Training of media actors to properly investigate stories of the CSDF, engage national and local authorities on the usage of the CSDF and how communities could be included into decision of concessions and the CSDF. Through the billboards, jingoes, flyers, T-shirts, caps and radio dramas the people at the county level, government actors, concessionaires, CSOs and affected community dwellers will be informed of how they can collaborate for a the CSDF to have impact on the lives of the people and then how voice can be given to those communities were concessions are on-going.

III. Strategic Objectives & Initiatives

Coalition has identified the following strategic objectives and corresponding Initiatives. In order to help the coalition attain these, important stakeholders must be defined, key messages developed and the tools to reach them need to be designed.

Table 1: Objective/Initiative Table

Objectives Initiatives

Improve media coverage of Provide the Liberian media, especially community radios, the the CSDF and the NRM requisite skills to analyze concession agreements management in Liberia Provide training in conflict sensitive reporting, investigative journalism and concession contract reporting Conduct media training for community radio journalists and

CSOs partners to strengthen their capacity to discuss CSDF issues.

Increased understanding of Conduct dialogue forum on natural resource management natural resource management and county social development fund and concession agreement in Provide intelligent and transparent engagement between the local communities concession companies and people residing in and around the areas of operation

V. Messages

The messages are linked to the objectives and goals of the project and designed to reach the citizens and every stakeholder so they understand what the coalition and LAVI hope to achieve by giving voice to the people.

The messages are custom-made for the audiences that they going out to, depending on the needs, perceptions, interest, knowledge and level of understanding of the issues.

Target Tools Outputs Messages Audience

General public Commercial Skits/dramas, CSDF belongs to the people of Liberia. (include all & talk shows, other Community news program audiences) Radio feature, spots The citizens benefit from the concession agreement of the Government through the CSDF. SMS Bulk messages, county specific

Information about the CSDF—your money-- Print media Ads, op-eds, should be shared publically. feature articles

Graphic Flyers, t-shirts, People have the right to know when the CSDF is media murals, disbursed and what the funds are being used for. illustrations, billboards

Television Call-in talk People have the right to know the budget of the show CSDF for their county.

Social media

Local Flyers, County Social Development Funds benefit all Liberians. Football banners,

Matches songs/jingles

It’s my right to know the CSDF projects.

Let government include citizens into developing CSDF projects.

It is my right to decide how CSDF will be spent.

The elections are an ideal time to change CSDF processes.

Political Parties Face-to-face Lunch We support the next administration to establish a long-term solution to inclusive CSDF governance. and Candidates meeting, in 2017 dialogue One of the first priorities of the new National Elections and/or town session should be the introduction of legislation that hall, establishes long-term and inclusive reforms for Print media Letters the effective and participatory CSDF governance.

In order for project to impact the lives citizens we Commercial News spots, want lawmakers to include citizens in CSDF Radio talk shows, project decision-making. jingle

House Face-to-Face Lunch We want lawmakers to include citizens in CSDF Committees meeting, project decision-making. and National dialogue Engaging citizens in CSDF processes will help Plenary Voting and/or town prevent conflict. Members hall, One of the first priorities of the new National Print media Letters Legislature session should be the introduction of legislation that establishes long-term and inclusive reforms for effective and participatory CSDF Commercial News spots, governance. Radio talk shows, jingle

Local Face-to-Face Dialogue Including citizens in CSDF decision-making will authorities and/or town help you serve your county better. (county hall

superintendent, Community News spots, Citizens can help you monitor CSDF projects. district Radio talk shows, commissioners) jingle

Local Flyers, Football banners, Matches songs/jingles

Concessionaries Face-to-face Town- The government should be more transparent meetings about how your contributions to the CSDF are spent.

The people in the communities where you operate should know how much you’ve contributed to their CSDF. Print media Billboards, Publicizing your contribution to the CSDF will letters or e- improve community-company relations.

mails Successful CSDF projects will reflect on your company.

Civil Society Face-to-face Network or The more we work together the bigger the voice Allies (includes coalition we’ll have/ The larger we are the stronger we are/ other CSOs, meetings Strength in numbers! CBOs, traditional Your constituents can use the CSDF to address leaders, labor their needs if the decision-making process was unions, and more inclusive. faith-based Speak out- resources are the rights of the people organizations) you represent.

Section 3: Inclusive Citizen’s Compliance Monitoring Framework

IV. Bot tom Up A dvocacy & In clus ive Cit izen’s Com p lian ce Mon it or in g

Advocacy Coalition strategies and activities will ensure that (i) that all citizens understand how national and local problems and needs are interlinked; (ii) that the voice of all citizens is heard; and, (iii) that national level advocacy efforts represent, and are supported by, local level constituents. The Advocacy Coalition will implement activities that are (i) focused on supporting citizen engagement related to CSDF reform during the 2017 election cycle, and (ii) focused on community advocacy for CSDF governance reform advocacy initiatives through local monitoring/reporting of CSDF implementation.

IVA. Community Level Advocacy and the Political Process

19 (Objective 3: Communities and citizens are actively engaged in the CSDF governance reform advocacy initiatives through election-related initiatives.

The forthcoming 2017 elections provide local communities the opportunity to participate in NRM political/advocacy processes that have an impact beyond their immediate communities. The Advocacy Coalition, through its county-focused partners, will provide local community information on select NRM issues, as well as Party and candidate positions on the issues. The information will give citizens information with which to participate and advocate for NRM issues at community campaign meetings, and will make candidates aware that their stand on NRM issues is a determinant of constituency votes.

As indicated in Section IIB, a range of tools will be utilized to inform citizens and support election- related events at the community level. In addition, DEN-L will lead an advocacy/citizen engagement training activity that will inform communities on how to become effective advocates at the community level.

IVB. Inclusive Citizen Compliance Monitoring Objective 4 (Local Level): Communities and citizens are actively engaged in the CSDF governance reform advocacy initiatives through local monitoring/reporting.

Bottom Up/Community Engagement activities respond to a number of community level NRM concerns and objectives. They

o Provide citizens and communities the opportunity to actively participate in compliance monitoring of natural resource and concession management.

o Increase the capacity of local communities and CSOs to engage in processes related to allocation and benefit sharing of the CSDF.

o Raise the level of awareness regarding gaps and obstacles in NRM management/CSDF implementation and thus increase demand and pressure for transparency, accountability and participation in NRM resource and concession monitoring.

o Identify gaps and obstructions to effective participation, governance, and implementation related to CSDF that will inform wider NRM policy advocacy initiatives.

o In the longer term, following passage of a long term mechanisms for effective and participatory CSDF governance, communities undertaking compliance monitoring will give communities the wherewithal to monitor enforcement as well as responsiveness of the CSDF to community needs and inputs.

IVC. Compliance Monitoring Mechanisms

At the local level, social accountability mechanisms that identify gaps in decision-making, service delivery, policy and policy implementation, will be utilized by a range of local organizations including youth groups, women’s groups, and student groups. Such accountability mechanisms include score cards, social audits, public expenditure tracking and citizen monitoring/reporting through mobile phone transmissions.

Information uncovered and gathered will serve to identify implementation gaps and corruption activities that will increase pressure for more effective CSDF implementation. Linkages between local and

20 national groups that are established through the Advocacy Coalition will also ensure that information gathered contributes to wider advocacy and reform campaigns.

The Advocacy Coalition strategy for Inclusive Compliance Monitoring includes:

1. Identification of local level groups that will be trained and engage in compliance monitoring.

2. Development and implementation of information gathering tools at the local level. These tools will be developed from February 20 to March 31, 2017; this process would start during the Advocacy and ICCM Training in Gbarnga. This includes identification of social accountability tools to be utilized and development of processes through which information produced by various local actors in one community may be consolidated.)

3. Training of local groups on social accountability tools.

4. Establishment of a bottom up mechanism that will allow local level information/issues to move to the national level to inform advocacy initiatives.

Monitoring Mechanisms The coalition communication’s activities will be monitored and evaluated over time to understand if it has been effective and where adjustments need to be made if necessary. This will help the coalition to understand and assess the level of impact it is having on stakeholders. When it becomes obvious that the activities are not effective it therefore becomes necessary to discontinue the activities or make whatever necessary adjustment will be needed for the messages to reach the targeted audiences.

The means of verification will be to have a constant journalist investigative reporting tour to key affected communities to conduct interview with community dwellers, and media practitioners assessing the level of understanding of these actors and the behavioral change that has occurred as a result of the messages.

The establishment of observatories in each county to conduct regular impact assessment surveys after every other month and field the information to the Liberia Media Center indicating the level of change that have occurred within the community and media programs at the community radios. These observatories can consist of two persons, one ordinary citizen and the other a journalist who will be training to conduct the impact assessment survey.

Training Strategy Compliance Monitoring Training will be part of the TOT conducted by DEN-L; however, the TOT section on compliance monitoring will be facilitated in collaboration with IREED and P4DP. The TOT will provide knowledge and skills in compliance monitoring for Coalition members and their network members who will then cascade the training to communities for citizen compliance monitoring process

Strategies for coalescing information at local level

Information from the local level will be collected through: Score and commitment cards for politicians and administrators;

Indicator matrix for CSOs and CBOs;

Section 4: Evaluation and Monitoring13

An NRM Coalition M&E Framework is being developed by P4DP, which will be finalized in February.

Section 5: Key Assumptions

Advocacy campaign is not derailed by national emergency (e.g., outbreak of disease).

All necessary information needed for the Advocacy Coalition CSDF initiative is accessible. Media coverage of the issues is not constrained. The enabling environment for CSO advocacy and monitoring efforts remains positive.

Coalition partners are willing and able to focus on cooperation and joint implementation of initiative for greater good.

13 Milestones and indicators developed to reflect the Advocacy Coalition’s initiative help to measure the progress made. Beyond indicators, however, the Coalition will to look at the big picture to determine if the strategy and activities initially developed are having the intended effect. IE, are individual indicators being achieved with little overall impact; is the sum of the parts bringing you closer to your goal.