The POLICY ENGAGEMENT CLUSTER - The Global Alliance

AGENDA and BACKGROUND NOTES
For Global Alliance POLICY ENGAGEMENT CLUSTER Conference call
Thursday May 17th at 10am EST
CALL IN NUMBERS follow at bottom

To: Organisations within the Alliance that have committed to working in the POLICY ENGAGEMENT CLUSTER - UNICEF, JHU CCP, BBC Media Action, Breakthrough (India), Save the Children, Soul City

cc: Other organizations in the Alliance - if you have not yet indicated the cluster that you wish to join and wish to participate on Thursday in the Policy Engagement cluster you are most welcome. Please confirm to Warren by reply email. 

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AGENDA AND BACKGROUND NOTES

CHAIR: Rafael Obregon (UNICEF)

1. Review of the initial strategy developed by the Alliance Interim Group - see note that follows “Appendix: 12-month plan – POLICY ENGAGEMENT”

2. Assessment of revised plan for the July High Level Political Forum - see notes that follow “Outline: Revised plan for the July High Level Political Forum”. 

3. Decisions on next steps for the Policy Engagement process by the Alliance at the High Level Political Forum

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Appendix: 12-month plan – POLICY ENGAGEMENT

This is the plan that was developed by the interim group for the development of the Alliance.

Focus:

The July 2018 meeting of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf that has as its theme "Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies"

Goal:

Within the formal statement from the High Level Political Forum, obtain two specific mentions of the importance and added value of communication and media development, social and behaviour change (however expressed) for accelerating progress towards the SDG.  

Products/Steps:

1. Develop a position paper with analysis, data, and recommendations from this field of work on the theme of “transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies”.

2. Consider a specific emphasis on one of the SDGs that will be the focus of the July HLPF meeting – for example, “Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

3. Identify 20 to 30 people who are engaged in planning the HLPF meeting and/or will be prominent participants in that meeting.

4. When the position paper is completed, arrange meetings with those people in advance of the HLPF meeting in order to introduce them to and explain the position paper.

5. Communicate the HLPF regional preparation information to relevant people in our field who are in the countries/cities in which those meetings will be held. Provide them with the position paper and support key people to engage at the regional level.

 
6. Learn from their regional engagement for the global meeting in July.

  
7. Review the HLPF meeting process and identify the best intervention points in the meeting itself.

 
8. Ensure that 2 people (minimum – could be more if available) attend the HLPF as representatives of the Alliance.

9. At the meeting, the Alliance representatives to identify people engaged in the HLPF process who have an understanding of the value of the case being made for this field of work.

 
10. Develop and contribute draft text from our perspective for the HLPF statement from the meeting. 

 
11. Develop and implement a follow-up strategy post the HLPF meeting.  

Supporting this field of work:

a.    Inclusion of our perspectives in the HLPF statement will enhance the policy positioning of this field of work and provide the platform to pursue policy goals in other local, national, and international policy environments.

b.    The positioning paper for this field of work relative to the SDGs (or one or more of them) will provide an important document that any organisation involved in media, communication, social and behaviour change work can adapt and use in their policy environments for their policy and positioning goals. 

Responsibility:

A small action group from within the Alliance to pursue this goal and develop these products with updates on progress and issues reported to meetings of the Alliance.

This action group would nominate their own Chair. Interim Secretariat support would come from The Communication Initiative.

Commitment: Staff time as available from the Alliance participants involved.

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Outline: Revised plan for the July High Level Political Forum

Feedback has been received that the plan outlined above related to the High Level Political Forum in July 2018 should be revised. Three main reasons are given: (a) that the full blown strategy outlined may be more appropriate for the July 2019 meeting of the High Level Political Forum when the SDGs of focus will be more resonant with out field of work- namely “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality” (b) that the Global Alliance’s initial steps in relation to such an important group as the HLPF should be more cautious and (c) that there is not much time until July 2018 to get ourselves organised.

The following alternative plan for the High Level Political Forum is proposed for discussion. It is designed both to have influence and to enable the Alliance to test the waters as to how best to engage the High Level Political Forum.

SDG Focus: The focus of the HLPF in July 2018 will be “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies” with a focus on SDG 6 (Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Energy), SDG 11 (Cities), SDG 12 (Sustainable consumption and production) and SDG 15 (Ecosystems et al).

Dates: The High Level Political Forum are stated as follows: “The meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2018 convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council will be held from Monday, 9 July, to Wednesday, 18 July 2018; including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Monday, 16 July, to Wednesday, 18 July 2018.” Can we reasonably assume that the best days for any side-events would be Thursday 12th and Friday 13th July.

Activity proposal:

1. That the Global Alliance organize a 3 hour morning session on Friday 13th July, hosted by UNICEF if they agree, with a focus on the theme of “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies: the social change, behaviour change, communication for development and media development perspective and learning”. We might want to agree a snappy name, but those elements are important).

2. Though it would be good to get the Ministers on the HLPF to attend it may be more reasonable to focus  on people from the country Missions to the UN, government officials who will be attending ECOSOC, staff of the UN supporting the SDGs process, staff from major bilateral agencies and other funders and organizations accredited to ECOSOC as potential participants.

3. Though UNICEF would be asked to host, there would be approaches to the SDG part of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and/or the UN Foundation to co-host. This would extend the reach and status of the event.

4. That the centre-piece of the session on the morning of Friday 13th July would be a reprise of the key note presentations at the Summit by 2 of the following 3 options:

a. Anibal Gaviria (past Mayor of Medellin and Past Governor of Antioquia) on the role of communication in the transformation of Medellin. This directly addresses the overall theme of “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies” and the specific SDG Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Though it also has relevance and resonance across all SDGs of course.

b. David Chiriboga (former Minister of Health in Ecuador) on the  connection between sustainability, resilience and equity across all SDGs. From the perspective of the Alliance of course this provides a policy agenda rather than the strategy and programming principles and evidence outlined by Gaviria in his address.

c. Senator Ayesha (Prime Ministers Focal Point on Polio in Pakistan) on the learnings from the polio experience in Pakistan for sustainability and resilience in complex contexts. Again this would be across all 17 SDGs.

Just to note that these people are compelling not just because of the analysis and data that they present but also because they are government people in what is essentially a government environment. Ex-Ministers, Ministers, Mayors and Governors have an immediate peer status with those involved in the HLPF and ECOSOC meetings. 

5. This would be followed by a well prepared statement that draws from the presentations to make the overall argument for a greater strategic and investment emphasis on social change, behaviour change, communication for development and media development in order to strengthen and accelerate effective action towards the SDGs. If available this would also draw from and include the compelling evidence and impact data points that are being worked on by the Evidence and Impact Cluster.

6. This would be followed by open debate and dialogue amongst the participants.

7. Finally there would be a closing statement - perhaps the Executive Director of UNICEF - that consolidates our perspective on the added value of our field of work to effective action on the SDGs.   

8. This could of course all be complemented by a short paper to the HLPF group, a one page key points handout for everyone involved and other communication products.

Thoughts?

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CALL IN NUMBERS

Skype for Business
https://meet.unicef.org/cbondanza/5LNYLMCH

Join by phone
Conference ID: 580467795
 
United States : +16467571480 (Global)                        
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Panama : +5073017399 (Global)                     
South Africa : +27879403508 (Global)                          
France : +33176542732 (Global)                  
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Australia : +61730628687 (Global)                  
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UNICEF VOIP: 4103010000 (Global)                                 
 
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Conference ID: 580467795

Notes: Policy Engagement Cluster of the Alliance
Meeting: May 17, 2018
Chair: Rafael Obregon

Participants

Patrick Cook (ISMA)
Urvashi Gandhi (Breakthrough)
Adelaida Trujillo (CILA)
Sohini Bhattacharya (Breakthrough)

Apologies

Sue Goldstein (Soul City)
James Deane (BBC Media Action)
Radhika Gajjala (ICA)

Main theme:

Consideration of a kick-off policy engagement action related to the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, July 9th to 18th

The focus of the meeting was on the background paper shared in advance and the follow up notes from Rafael Obregon

Short-term Decision:

There was agreement to proceed with the strategy outlined with the following points taken into account:

1. Need to distill the evidence from the Evidence and Impact Cluster and the Summit and see what can be compellingly presented - preferably evidence and impact data related to the SDGs 6 , 7, 11, 12 and 15 which are the focus for the 2018 meeting of the HLPF.

2. Someone from the Alliance to make a presentation of that data.

3. Also to prepare a user-friendly (postcard style) communication that can be distributed in the context of ECOSOC, HLPF and side meetings

4. Support for Anibal Gaviria doing a presentation at the side event that is outlined in the planning notes - Cities is a big focus for HLPF; there is clear impact data related to communication; he is not “one of us” so does not look like self-interest; he will have standing with peers in government, etc; we have seen the presentation and the very positive and resonant response to that presentation so the is not a gamble; and he could bring a committed government with him - Colombia (more below from Adelaida re this)

5. But we also need to consider other options either because they will be better than Gaviria and Medellin or as an additional presentation to the one on Medellin. Participants in the call will consider and revert with ideas soon.

6. To be clear that the strategy related to HLPF needed to operate at 2 levels - first the data-driven case for our field of work having demonstrated impact on the SDGs and second the visibility, role and profile of the Alliance itself.

7. Opportunity to work with Alliance participating organizations that have ECOSOC status - for example Breakthrough, IAMCR and Civicus (others?) - complementing and strengthening their engagement at ECOSOC - for example a statement from the Alliance.

8. Adelaida highlighted her direct contact with the Colombian Ambassador to the UN and his   (check - him?) deputy. They may be interested in being a sponsoring government for any event. She is prepared to help.

9. Proposals of engaging SG’s office (through Nahla) and UN Foundation as other possible co-sponsors were endorsed.

10. Warren to bring all of above together into a draft 2 page concept paper for review by the Policy Engagement Cluster.
 

Alliance meeting around the ECOSOC and HLPF meetings

It was noted and suggested that the process above would be greatly strengthened with the engagement of as many Alliance orgs was possible - and that this would also provide an opportunity for a 2nd Alliance face-to-face meeting. Warren and Rafael asked to work out the details.  

Longer term considerations

There was a brief discussion on the longer term process for the Policy Engagement Cluster. Considerations included:

1. That this HLPF strategy would provide significant learning for the next HLPF in 2019 that will be much more directly related to our filed of work and strategic concerns.

2. That we need to develop a list of other possible policy engagement - for example the next set of World Bank meetings 

3. Following the HLPF 2019 we require a longer term planning exercise.

Please use this one - apologies that I just sent the previous verison that had errors - this is the one to access

Hi - as a quick follow up to the Policy Engagement cluster meeting yesterday I took a brief look at which countries are presently part of ECOSOC and refreshed my understanding of how the High Level Political Forum works.

1. The presently elected ECOSOC countries (54) are at this link. Of interest to us in terms of access for Alliance participants could be India (Breakthrough), South Africa (Soul City), UK (BBC Media Action) and USA (numerous). Others?

2. There is an interesting summary of the HLPF process at this link with further links for more detail including on the 2018 meeting.

Hope that this is also helpful to you as a refresher/orientation - Warren

To: Participants in the Global Alliance Policy Engagement Cluster:

Joumana Kalot (American University of Beirut); Miriam Pragita (ANDI); James Deane (BBC Media Action); Sohail Agha (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation); Sohini Bhattacharya (Breakthrough); Priyanka Kher (Breakthrough); Sunita Menon (Breakthrough); Lynda Rowlands (Civicus); Ricardo Corredor (GFMD); Mira Milosevic (GFMD); Elizabeth Serlemitsos (JHU CCP); Eliana Elías (Minga); Lebo Ramafoko (Soul City); Sue Goldstein (Soul City); Rafael Obregon (UNICEF); Charlotte Lapsansky (UNICEF); Warren Feek - Secretariat - (The Communication Initiative)

cc Other contacts for Alliance organisations - for information and coordination purposes.

Best wishes to all.

Recently Charita at UNICEF will have sent you the email notification for the next meeting of the Global Alliance Policy Engagement Cluster which is scheduled for Tuesday June 19th, 2018 at 10am to 11am New York time. I have repeated the call in links and numbers below. Please do confirm your attendance. The meeting will be chaired by Rafael.

The draft agenda follows but please do make suggestions. By way of background the notes from our previous meeting are at this link. This is part of the overall background and threads for this cluster at this link.

AGENDA - Policy Engagement Cluster - Global Alliance - Tuesday, June 19, 2018 - 10 am New York time

1. Introductions - there may be people joining for the first time.

2. Recap on the purpose and role of the Policy Engagement Cluster.

3. Rafael will provide an update on plans for the Global Alliance session in the context of the High Level Political Forum - please see this link that includes the work undertaken to date;

4. Update on the work of the Evidence and Impact Cluster as the data they are producing will play an important role in the policy engagement work, in particular the results from this survey amongst Alliance participating organisations - please complete!

5. Discussion and Decisions: The focus and structure of the HLPF related policy engagement session - for example a recap on overall purpose; main people we wish to attract; framing of the session; how to present and promote; time and length; speakers; and, how to present the Alliance.

6. Longer term ideas for the work of the Policy Engagement Cluster - there is agreement to commence with the very specific HLPF related event. This part of the agenda will provide an opportunity for the initial sharing of ideas related to the focus and action of the Policy Engagement Cluster post the HLPF related process.

7. Any other items that people wish to raise.

CALL-IN DETAILS

JOIN BY SKYPE AT THIS LINK - https://meet.unicef.org/cbondanza/WN03YG4W

Join by phone:

United States: +16467571480
Switzerland: +41225083200
United Kingdom: +443300102423
Jordan: +96265509679
Panama: +5073017399 \
Cambodia: +85523260206
South Africa: +27879403508
Netherlands: +31705680050
Brazil: +556136860910
Belgium: +3228080292

Please let us know if you need the number for another country. 
 

Conference ID: 57641139

Notes - Policy Engagement Cluster meeting - June 19th, 2018

Participants: Sue (Soul City), Eliana (Minga), Charlotte (UNICEF), James (BBC Media Action), Miriam (ANDI), Elizabeth (JHU CCP), Sohini (Breakthrough)

Chair: Rafael (UNICEF)

cc Others in Alliance for information and update purposes.

1. Introductions: As there were new people involved there was a round of introductions so that people got to know each other.

2. Purpose: Rafael recapped on the purpose of the Policy Engagement cluster with emphasis on: (a) long term to provide the component of the Alliance that advocated for this field of work with a particular emphasis on ensuring impact and policy ideas are well known and (b) commencing this process with some work in the context of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York in July, 2018.
 

3. HLPF - July 2018: Rafael updated the cluster on plans for the HLPF and sought ideas and suggestions for that effort. Key parts of this agenda item include:

a. As Cities (SDG Goal 11) is one major area of focus for the HLPF in July 2018 and there was such a successful and well received presentation by Anibal Gaviria on Medellin at the SBCC Summit, an invitation has been issued to him by UNICEF to repeat that presentation in New York in July. His confirmation is awaited.

b. This was endorsed and supported by the Cluster with a suggestion that there is work with Anibal, given the different audience, to be a little more explicit about the communication strategy and the role of media in the Medellin transformation.

c. Elizabeth suggested that if it did not work out to reprise the Medellin presentation, we look at the possibility of Lagos (Nigeria) and Iloilo City (The Philippines). She will check details and contacts.

d. James suggested we complement the Cities presentation with one on SBCC Evidence and Impact related to Water and Sanitation (SDG Goal 6) as this should be an area on which we have good strategic insights, action initiatives and compelling evidence. Rafael responded that he would explore within UNICEF as there was a strong Water and Sanitation (WASH) section there that would need to be engaged.

e. There was consideration by the Cluster of making this event a general presentation on the relevance and effectiveness of SBCC in all of its forms. But the overall view was that we need to be specific to one or more of the priority Goals being considered in 2018.

f. It was stressed and recognized that the efforts in July, 2018 would be a dry-run from which we could learn for the HLPF in 2019 when the issues will be more “friendly” to the SBCC policy analysis and experience, namely “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality” which will include an emphasis on Goals, 4, 8, 10, 13 and 17.

g. There was discussion about the format of the event - for example a series of presentations or a panel?

h. James suggested that we consider some kind of show reel of SBCC highlights related to Cities and WASH for example.

i. The important relationship to the Declaration was stressed.

j. Sohini highlighted that Breakthrough had formal ECOSOC status and so could, for example, submit statements for the consideration of the HLPF in the context of ECOSOC. This was welcomed by all.

k. Eliana wanted to check on the profile of people who we will be engaging and what do we want them to do?

l. Building from that point Eliana asked that we reduce messages to being very simple and understandable for people outside our field of work.

m. Rafael highlighted that this would also be an opportunity to “introduce” the Alliance. 

ACTION: Based on the inputs above develop a specific plan for the HLPF. (assigned to Warren for review by the Cluster).  

4. LONGER TERM: Rafael indicated that he wanted to discuss some of the longer term strategies for the Policy Engagement Cluster but we would need to wait till a future meeting.

ACTION: Build this into the next agenda

5. POLICY ENGAGEMENT CLUSTER PARTICIPATION: Sue asked for a boost in the number of people from a Southern perspective on this cluster

ACTION: Review and seek expanded participation 

6. POLICY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES: There was discussion on other policy fora related to international development that could provide an opportunity for the Alliance policy engagement cluster - for example the World Bank spring meetings. 

ACTION: Warren was asked to develop a survey of Cluster participants to identify the policy opportunities that they would regard as priorities. 

7. FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT: Elizabeth reminded the Cluster of the planned Francophone SBCC Summit to be held in Abidjan.

ACTION: Elizabeth to share details
 

To: Policy engagement cluster

cc Others in Alliance for information and update purposes.

At the last Policy Engagement cluster meeting I was asked to put together a brief concept note related to the HLPF in New York. The draft follows for your review and comment. 

Draft Concept note - The Global Alliance and the High Level Political Forum

Focus: The mandate for the Policy Engagement cluster is to advance the common policy interests of the people and organizations working to advance SBCC action and effectiveness. The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) is charged with monitoring and accelerating progress on the sustainable Development Goals. As such it is a highly important Development policy forum that provides an opportunity for some initial policy engagement work by the Alliance.

1. Opportunity:

High Level Political Forum meeting in New York 9th to 18th July 2018 with a focus on Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns; and Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

2 Goals:

a. That 30 countries in their reports back to their capitals on the HLPF reference social change, behaviour change, informed and/or engaged societies as important strategies to expand and deepen in order to advance action in relation to SDG Goals 6, 7, 11, 12 and/or 15.

b. That the report of the HLPF contains reference to social change, behaviour change, informed and/or engaged societies as key strategic elements for advancing action in relation to SDG Goals 6, 7, 11, 12 and/or 15.

3. People to engage:

The priority people to engage through this process will be:

a. Relevant staff in the United Nations Missions and Embassies of countries

b. Government officials traveling to New York to attend the HLPF

c. United nations agency and organisation staff attending the HLPF

d. Civil Society organizations attending the HLPF
goals

4. Strategy

There are three main elements to the strategy seeking to achieve the goals outlined above with the people identified: (A) an open forum (B) formal presentation of the SBCC Summit declaration and (C) briefing of key UN officials

A. Open Forum:

Theme: Presentation of compelling stories about the effectiveness of social change, behaviour change, informed and engaged societies strategies with specific reference to Goal 7 - Cities and Goal 6 - Water and Sanitation.

Co-Hosts: UNICEF and the Colombia Mission to the United Nations

Structure:

i. Presentation on the effectiveness of an informed and engaged society strategy in Medellin, Colombia.

ii. Presentation on the social change and behaviour change impact evidence related to water and sanitation.

iii. Panel of Alliance particpants to respond to questions.

Attendance:

This will be an open event. It is not part of the formal proceedings of the HLPF. A simple “flyer” will be developed. Notification of the event will be done through the following:

- Request to and support for the Colombia mission to the United Nations to communicate with the missions of other countries

- UNICEF to highlight to other UN Agencies

- All participants in the Alliance to communicate through their processes.

- The Communication Initiative to promote through its network  
 

Venue: UNICEF HQ - 44th Street New York between 1st and 2nd Avenues (room - Board room? - to be arranged - assigned to Rafael).

Date and time: July 17, 2018; 3pm to 5-30pm. 

B. Summit Declaration:

The SBCC Summit Declaration provides the most recent agreed statement of the added value of social change, behaviour change, informed and engaged societies strategies for effective and principled development action. Breakthrough has accredited status within ECOSCOC and has offered to table the Summit Declaration as part of its participation. We will all support this work.

C. Bilateral meetings with key UN personnel:

Working from the base created from past relationships with the Secretary-Generals office, the United Nations Foundation (a key ally of the SGs office for the SDGs) and engagement with and participation of Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General (by video message) and Nahla Valji, Sr. Gender Adviser, UN's Executive Office of the Secretary-General (Keynote address) seek to arrange a series of bilateral meetings.  

***

To: The POLICY ENGAGEMENT CLUSTER - The Global Alliance for Social and Behaviour Change - Informed and Engaged Societies

cc Other Alliance participants for information and coordination

From: Warren

Many best wishes. Following your guidance from the recent Policy Engagement Cluster meeting, Rafael and myself have been developing the details of the HLPF event. Adelaida Trujillo has been extremely helpful, particularly in relation to the Medellin presentation given that Anibal is unavaiable and links to the Colombia Ambassador and Mission to the UN. The WASH section of UNICEF have also been closely working with Rafael on that element of the event. 

The updated concept note for this event is attached for your review and comment. (To open when you receive this email click on  "Please click to review, comment and access any attachments" scroll down to the bottom of this message and it will be an attachment).  Before you review a few comments:

1. There are some WASH gaps to fill. We still require a paragraph on the WASH perspective. The WASH data examples in the Purpose may change. These will be finalised tomorrow.  

2. There will be further details about Michael sho is the head of WASH in UNICEF (and has worked in C4D in UNICEF)

3. Please see the roles suggested for some of you in this event - please let us know if you are available to do this.

4. Feedback on the title would be good.

5. Rafael meets with the Colombia Mission to the UN on Thursday to hopefully gain their agreement to cosponsor. If they are not comfortable doing this (there was a recent election in Colombia) then we will ask at minumum that they use their communication channels to ifnorm other UN Country Missions abotu this event and encourage attendance. Draft text for this purpose has been prepared for their review.

6. There will be a registration link

7. We are looking to get the communications out the door by Thursday evening so feedback on receipt of this note would be excellent.

8. Just a heads-up that when we have the concept note agreed we will be asking everyone to communciate this event to their networks. Some draft text will be provided. Really important that we all work to maximie the possibility of a good attendance. 

9. A flyer for digital and print communications is being prepared.

10. Preparation is underway for a designed 2 pager on the Alliance and a designed version of the final Concept note.

Thanks for reviewing and commenting - all inputs most welcome and very valuable.

Warren

To: Global Alliance for Social and Behaviour Change - Informed and Engaged Societies

From: Warren

Hi and many thanks for the work of the Policy Engagement Cluster designing and guiding the HLPF event. The Colombia Mission to the UN just confirmed their co-hosting (thanks again to Adelaida for initiating and facilitating the contacts and Rafael for closing the deal). The Colombia Mission will also communicate with other UN country missions in New York encouraging attendance. (As an FYI I was invited in my The CI capacity to speak at a UNESCO event hosted by the Argentinian Mission to the UN and there were about 50 people there - interesting process).

1. Attached please find the final version of the flyer for our event (Click "Please click to review, comment and access any attachments" above and scroll down this message to attachments.)

2. Also attached is the concept note for this event.

(NB These are at present only in English. We are workking on a Spanish version but time may be against us this time around)

3. As per previous communications can we please encourage everyone to as quickly as possible communicate this event with your networks, contacts, social media etc etc - can I suggest this hashtag #peoplecitieswater    

4. In case helpful below is the draft langauge we have developed for a note to the CI network.

Thanks - this has all been a real rush but as well as potentially having a very valuable event on the 11th we are learning lots re engaging with the next HLPF - as was always the intention. 

The CI netork note draft language

DRAFT

RAISED HANDS - PEOPLE, CITIES AND WATER

Greetings Warren

Hi and best wishes. There are some suggested action points for your consideration below. But first, some background.

The United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) that monitors, guides, and accelerates action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) meets in New York July 9th to 20th (starts this week!). For the purpose of highlighting the impact of social change, behaviour change, informed and engaged societies strategies, as well as to share the learning from all of our work, the Colombia Government Mission to the United Nations, UNICEF, and the Global Alliance for Social and Behaviour Change - Informed and Engaged Societies have organised an event focused on Cities (SDG 11) and Water and Sanitation (SDG 6) - two of the SDGs that are the focus for this HLPF.

The concept note for that event is attached. You can also find the RAISED HANDS event outline and support materials - concept note and flyer - at this link.

As you will see, the focus is on the demonstrated impact of our work - for example, 86% reduction in poverty and 95% reduction in murders in Medellín; improved drinking water sources up from 76% to 91%; and use of improved sanitation facilities rising from 54% to 68%.

The RAISED HANDS event will take place from 3pm to 5pm on Tuesday July 17th in the Manhattan Conference Room, the Millennium Hotel, 44th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. A reception will follow. The registration form is at this link.

This is where you come in!

In order to ensure that this event has impact with the extensive group of government officials, policymakers, and funders who will be in New York for the HLPF, can we please ask you to do the following in the period Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th this week:

With GOVERNMENTS: Please forward the attached concept note and the registration link to any of your government contacts, encouraging them to encourage the government officials from your country who will be attending the HLPF/ United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to participate in this event.

With FUNDERS: Please forward the attached concept note and the registration link to any of your non-government funding contacts (e.g., foundations, bilaterals), encouraging them to encourage their staff who will be attending the HLPF/ECOSOC to participate in this event.

Within your NETWORKS and ORGANISATIONs: Should people in your networks or organisation be attending the HLPF/ECOSOC over the next two weeks, please contact them, share the concept note and registration link, and encourage their participation in this event.

The more people we can get to attend, the better for all of our work - now and in the future. Again, the concept note and flyer are attached as a file to this email, and the registration form is at this link.

Of course, this is also designed to support your work through the engagement of government officials, funders, and senior staff in learning about and reviewing the impact and effectiveness of social change, behaviour change, and informed and engaged societies strategies and action.

Thanks - much appreciated - most happy to answer any questions.

Best - Warren
   

To: Global Alliance for Social and Behaviour Change - Building Informed and Engaged Societies

Hi - a number of you were interested to see abd review the 2 presentations at the event in the context of the High Level Political Forum. There are summaries with links to the full powerpoint presentations at these links:

Urbanismo Social: El Caso de Medellín, Colombia by Federico Restrepo-Posada

Sustainable WASH Services for All (SDG 6): Using Social and Behavior Strategies to Improve Water Sanitation and Hygiene by Michael Emerson Gnilo

Both summaries have been reviewed by the presenters and approved by them.

If anyone has any questions please post them on the platform (eg in relation to the relevant summary when logged in) simply by reply email. There were a number of Alliance folks present who can respond and comment.

Thanks - Warren

Hi - below is the suggested agenda for the Policy Engagement Cluster meeting on Wednesday August 22nd at 10am New York time. UNICEF will send the call in numbers. The Chair is Rafael Obregon. He is on vacation and may or may not join. Charlotte - could you step in if Rafael is not able to join?

The Policy Engagement Cluster thread is at this link:

From my records the participants in this Cluster are: Joumana Kalot (American University of Beirut); Miriam Pragita (ANDI); James Deane (BBC Media Action); Sohail Agha (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation); Sohini Bhattacharya (Breakthrough); Priyanka Kher (Breakthrough); Urvashi Gandhi (Breakthrough); Sunita Menon (Breakthrough); Lynda Rowlands (Civicus); Ricardo Corredor (GFMD); Mira Milosevic (GFMD); Elizabeth Serlemitsos (JHU CCP); Eliana Elías (Minga); Lebo Ramafoko (Soul City); Sue Goldstein (Soul City); Chair: Rafael Obregon (UNICEF); Charlotte Lapsansky (UNICEF); Warren Feek - Secretariat - (The Communication Initiative). But we are sedning this to all as everyone is most welcome!

AGENDA - Policy Engagement Cluster - Global Alliance - Wednesday, August 22, 2018 - 10 am New York time

1. Introductions - there may be people joining for the first time.

2. Your policy engagament initiatives - a quick round of the policy engagement work being undertaken by each organisation.

3. Reflections on the HLPF event - Raised Hands - in New York in July.

4. Next steps - where do we go from here? What could the long-term plan for the Policy Engagement Cluster.

As a starter for this discussion please see attached the Policy Engagement section of the draft plan of action of the Alliance. This outlines some possible key actions for each quarter from Oct 1 2018 to Sept 30 2019.  

4. Any other items that people wish to raise.

Background documents:

Notes - POLICY ENGAGEMENT Cluster - June 19, 2018

Notes - Global Alliance Meeting - July 18, 2018

NOTES - Policy Engagement Cluster - Global Alliance - Wednesday, August 22, 2018 - 10 am New York time

Participants: Rafael Obregon (UNICEF - Chair), James Deane (BBC Media Action), Elizabeth Serlemitsos (JHU CCP), Charlotte Lapsansky (UNICEF). Warren Feek - The CI - Interim Secretariat). There were a number of apologies due to northern summer vacations and other work commitments.

1. Introductions - there may be people joining for the first time.

There were no new people on the call

2. Your policy engagement initiatives - a quick round of the policy engagement work being undertaken by each organisation that could provide opportunities for the Alliance to engage.

In brief, highlights from these included (please feel free to provide more details by reply email or online).

BBC Media Action (through James)

a.  The DMI study on RCT in Burkina Faso just published in final form provides an opportunity for policy discussion to advance this field  of work. james has kick—started this with a letter to the BMJ and DMI have replied. 

Task; James to share links so that others can join the process.

b. There will be a “Free and Independent Media” donors meeting in Paris

c. BBC Media Action Fund is seeking to advance a Global Fund for Free and Independent Media

4. There are discussions within GFMD (Global Forum for Media Development) commencing the planning for advocacy related to SDG 16 in the HLPF 2019. This will include initiatives related to the voluntary national reviews.

Questions raised and opportunities noted from James’ key points included: On the media development themes is there anything that we can do collectively in relation to the fund and the donors meeting; Related to the DMI RCT how can we best respond as part of the debate and highlight this to wider networks.

Johns Hopkins CCP (through Elizabeth)

Elizabeth outlined the planning for West Africa SBCC Summit to be held in French, in Abidjan in February 2019. This is designed to build on the  the SBCC Summit in Indonesia. The partnership involved includes Gates, UNFPA and the Ouagadougou partnership. The focus is narrower than Indonesia - mainly on neonatal and reproductive health. The event is expected to attract about 250 people. It will follow a similar format to the Bali event with skills workshops etc. Elizabeth highlighted that if others wish to join and have funds to support that would be excellent! The following discussion points arose:

Charlotte asked about the relationship between the Bali Summit and the West Africa Summit? There was a need to clarify that relationship.

Charlotte also asked if the Abidjan Summit would be an opportunity for a French version of Summit declaration.

Rafael highlighted that the forthcoming Summit Secretariat call next week would be an opportunity to clarify the relationship to the Bali event and how these processes connect.

He also asked if the Francophone event could be an opportunity to more actively engage policy makers in the region - eg Health Ministers, donors and other policy people in the region - perhaps to a one day event or a discussion.

Elizabeth responded by saying she would communicate these issues and ideas into the Abidjan planning process and would revert soon.  

UNICEF (through Rafael) 

a. Global Conference on Primary Health Care is coming up in Astana Kazakhstan on October 25th and 26th, 2018. This is a possible opportunity for the Alliance.

b. UNICEF has been approached by UNDP to co-host a side-event in context of UN General Assembly at end of next week. The event is on the  integration of behavioural insights. 

Elizabeth asked if there would be an opportunity for others to participate in the UN GA related event. Rafael explained that yes this would be an open event and all were welcome.

3. Reflections on the HLPF event - Raised Hands - in New York in July.

Warren was asked to run through some of the learning from the Raised Hands HLPF event. There had been a immediate review at the Global Alliance meeting the day after the event. Additionally there had been a number of conversations with and amongst the Alliance participating organizations. Some the learning outlined by Warren as an opening contribution to this discussion included:

a. Obviously needed to have more time to prepare - next time should be better.

b. The work to engage the Govt of Colombia was highly valuable - gave excellent credibility.

c. For the 2019 HLPF we will need to make a decision as to whether to plan and conduct a session as part of the formal agenda (an approved session) or to run a parallel event as happened in July.

d. The HLPF is a crowded space so will need a joined-up approach with other networks and alliances if we are to have an effect on the overall agenda.

e. There is a feeling (disputed by some) that the voluntary national reviews may play a larger role in the HLPF process - so will need to work out the best way to engage if this is important strategically.

f. Likewise with any regional preparation events conducted under the auspices of the HLPF.

g. At the next HLPF we will be more on top of the Alliance profile, branding and recognition - this one was very early in our life. This was an opportunity to introduce the Alliance but we will be much better known and presented in 2019.     

Rafael added some thoughts including: reinforcing that this was an opportunity to start talking about the Alliance; that UNICEF had sent a summary of the HLPF event from UNICEF went to all missions; stressing that the Alliance will be more prominent next year; and asking that at some stage we review how best to connect with the HLPF country level process.

James suggested that: (a) need to keep in mind that the SDGs that are the focus of the HLPF 209 include Climate, Education, Inequality, Peace and Justice not just SDG 16; and (b) Not all need to be in context of national reviews

4. Next steps - where do we go from here? What could the long-term plan for the Policy Engagement Cluster. As a starter for this discussion please see attached the Policy Engagement section of the draft plan of action of the Alliance. This outlines some possible key actions for each quarter from Oct 1 2018 to Sept 30 2019. 

As time was short everyone agreed to review the draft action plan and comment/suggest online.

4. Any other items that people wish to raise.

Three items were raised:

Rafael forwarded the comments from Susan Krenn in the Evidence Cluster meeting where she stressed the need for a close relationship with the Policy cluster. All agreed and will think about the best way to do this as we all review the action plan. 

Warren to develop the brief questionnaire that asks for ideas from the Alliance participating organizations about opportunities for engagement in advancing the policy engagement.

Rafael also communicated that Charlotte would be taking a more prominent role from UNICEF within the Policy Engagement Cluster.

ACTION POINTS

1. James to send a note with his his points and ideas.

2. Elizabeth to follow up with more information about the Abidjan event.

3. UNICEF to look at a French version of the Declaration.

4. Warren to draft the questionnaire on policy engagement opportunities. 

Best wishes - below is the suggested agenda for the Policy Engagement Cluster meeting on Wednesday September 19th at 10am New York time. Please see email fom Charita Bondanza (Unicef) on Tuesday September 18th for details of the Skype Business and call in numbers for this Policy Engagement Cluster meeting. (Send a reply email if you cannot locate). The Chair is Rafael Obregon.

The Policy Engagement Cluster thread is at this link:

The notes from the most recent Policy Engagement Cluster meeting - August 22nd 2018 - are at this link

From my records the participants in this Cluster are: Joumana Kalot (American University of Beirut); Miriam Pragita (ANDI); James Deane (BBC Media Action); Sohail Agha (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation); Sohini Bhattacharya (Breakthrough); Priyanka Kher (Breakthrough); Urvashi Gandhi (Breakthrough); Sunita Menon (Breakthrough); Lynda Rowlands (Civicus); Ricardo Corredor (GFMD); Mira Milosevic (GFMD); Elizabeth Serlemitsos (JHU CCP); Eliana Elías (Minga); Lebo Ramafoko (Soul City); Sue Goldstein (Soul City); Chair: Rafael Obregon (UNICEF); Charlotte Lapsansky (UNICEF); Warren Feek - Secretariat - (The Communication Initiative). But we are sedning this to all as everyone is most welcome!

AGENDA - Policy Engagement Cluster - Global Alliance - Wednesday, September 19th, 2018 - 10 am New York time

1. Introductions - there may be people joining for the first time so we will  do a round of welcomes

2. Your policy engagament initiatives - at the last meeting we did a round of policy engagement initiatives being undertaken by organisations in the Alliance (see items 2 here in notes from that meeting). Without repeating those it woukd be good to a quick round of:

a. Review of the draft Alliance Policy Engagement Opportunities - your recommendations survey - see this link

b. Specific policy engagement opportunities that participants wish to bring to the attention of this Cluster at this time.

b. Any further information or details about the events highlighted in the Aug 22 meeting - see item 2 of the notes at this link.

3. Next steps - where do we go from here? The one year plan for the Policy Engagement Cluster.

Please see attached the draft workplan for the Alliance for October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. The Policy Engagement cluster section is cells A8 to E17. As part of this agenda we will work through the overall activities proposed and the specific actions proposed for each quarter. 

a. High Level Political Forum 2019

b. 3 x other Global meetings - for example possibly the Women Deliver Conference

c. 1 x Policy Document - development of a document that puts forward an overall policy position form this field of work related to international development progress

4. Any other items that people wish to raise.

Background documents:

Notes from most recent meeting - POLICY ENGAGEMENT Cluster - August 22, 2018

Notes from most recent full Global Alliance Meeting - August 30, 2018

To: Global Alliance for Social and Behaviour Change - Building Informed and Engaged Societies

Survey: Policy Engagement Opportunities

Best wishes. This note is on behalf of the Policy Engagement Cluster for all participants in the Alliance process. The Policy Engagement Cluster is interested to learn your assessment of the best policy engagement opportunities for the remainder of 2018 and until September 2019.

In order to identify, share and decide the best opportunities could you please complete and submit the very brief survey at this link before October 12th, 2018. 

Though it would be best if there was one response per organization, multiple responses are OK. 

Please note that we will be sharing the responses to this survey amongst all participants, identified to the submitter.

Thanks - Warren

Best wishes folks. Below is the suggested agenda for the Policy Engagement Cluster meeting on Wednesday October 17th at 10am New York time. Please see the email fom Charita Bondanza (Unicef) for details of the Skype Business and call in numbers for this Policy Engagement Cluster meeting. (Send a reply email if you cannot locate). The Chair is Rafael Obregon. The agenda is structured around the main work themes agreed in the work plan. 

The Policy Engagement Cluster thread is at this link:

The notes from the most recent Policy Engagement Cluster meeting - August 22nd 2018 - are at this link (noting that due to connection usses there was no Policy Engagement meeting in September)

From my records the participants in this Cluster are: Joumana Kalot (American University of Beirut); Miriam Pragita (ANDI); James Deane (BBC Media Action); Sohail Agha (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation); Sohini Bhattacharya (Breakthrough); Priyanka Kher (Breakthrough); Urvashi Gandhi (Breakthrough); Sunita Menon (Breakthrough); Lynda Rowlands (Civicus); Ricardo Corredor (GFMD); Mira Milosevic (GFMD); Elizabeth Serlemitsos (JHU CCP); Eliana Elías (Minga); Lebo Ramafoko (Soul City); Sue Goldstein (Soul City); Chair: Rafael Obregon (UNICEF); Charlotte Lapsansky (UNICEF); Warren Feek - Secretariat - (The Communication Initiative). But we are sedning this to all as everyone is most welcome!

AGENDA - Policy Engagement Cluster - Global Alliance - Wednesday, October 17th, 2018 - 10 am New York time

1. Introductions - there may be people joining for the first time so we will  do a round of welcomes

2. Your policy engagament initiatives - at the last meeting we did a round of policy engagement initiatives being undertaken by organisations in the Alliance (see items 2 here in notes from that meeting). Without repeating those it would be good to a quick round so that everyone is updated on policy related initiatives by your organisation. As examples I understand that there could be 2 meetings of funders soon - one focused on social change and behaviour change and the other on media development. 

3. Strategic Plan item: High Level Political Forum 2019 - the main tasks from the workplan for the October - December 2018 quarter are:

a. Review focus of the HLPF 19

b. Identify key people to engage

c. Identify allies who will be working with similar goals at HLPF 19

d. Initial discussion on the "ask" at HLPF 19

e. Identify HLPF regional preparation events and dates (assumes that HLPF will have same pattern as 2018)

Key issues: How do we organise ourselves? and How will lead on which tasks?

4. Strategic plan item: 3 x other Global meetings - the main tasks from the workplan for the October - December 2018 quarter is -

"Identify and agree the events that will be the priority ones to engage in addition to HLPF."

The Alliance Policy Engagement Opportunities - your recommendations survey - see this link is the key instrument to identify these three opportunities.

Unfortunately, despite many prods and prompts there is a very low completion rate of this survey; just 3 so far from ISMA, Save the Children and Breakthrough. Reminders have been communicated in Alliance calls, on the platform and in emails. Rafael has expressed on many occasions the importance of this survey for the work of the Policy Engagement Cluster.

Key issue: How can we get more information submitted through the online survey.

5. Strategic Plan item: 1 x Policy Document - development of a document that puts forward an overall policy position form this field of work related to internaitonal development progress - analysis, key data, experiences, policy prescriptions - the main tasks from the workplan for the October - December 2018 quarter is

"Discussion and agreement on the key elements of such a policy document - what is our analysis, what is the key data from our perspective, what major and relevant experiences have there been in our field of work, what policy prescriptions do we wish to recommend and push."

Key issues:

a. Initial discussion around those questions

b. How do we organise to progress this task?

6. Any other items that people wish to raise.

Background documents:

Notes from most recent meeting - POLICY ENGAGEMENT Cluster - August 22, 2018

Notes from most recent full Global Alliance Meeting - August 30, 2018

Participation: Rafael Obregon (Unicef - Chair); Charlotte Lapsansky (Unicef); Navya Hebbar (GFMD), Sue Goldstein (Soul City), Urvashi Gandhi (Breakthrough); James Deane (BBc Media Action); Warren Feek (acting Secretariat)

The agenda is at this link

1. Introductions

Notes: Nawya (GFMD) joined this Cluster call for the first time. She was welcomed and provided a brief introduction  

2. Your policy engagement initiatives - at the last meeting we did a round of policy engagement initiatives being undertaken by organisations in the Alliance (see items 2 here in notes from that meeting). Without repeating those it would be good to a quick round so that everyone is updated on policy related initiatives by your organisation. As examples I understand that there could be 2 meetings of funders soon - one focused on social change and behaviour change and the other on media development.

Notes:

Rafael picked up on the mention in the agenda of two donors meetings being planned. He outlined that Gates, USAID and CIFF are planning a donor coordination meeting in DC in December 2018. The meeting will have a primary focus on health issues and potentially a country focus on India, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Bangladesh. Unicef has been invited to participate as an implementing organisation. The agenda is being developed. Rafael highlighted that this could be an opportunity to share progress related to the work of the Alliance. 

Rafael also mentioned the meeting with WHO representatives being convened as part of the work of the Evidence and Impact Cluster. This is to explore any links between their evidence review on Social and Behaviour Change and Community Engagement and the long-term impact work being undertaken by the E and I Cluster with JHU in the lead. That conference call should take place in the next 2 weeks - getting a time that works for everyone has been difficult.

Urvashi stressed again the importance of Women Deliver - the global conference that will take place in Vancouver in June, 2018. She suggested that this would be a space for presentation on the the work of the Alliance, perhaps around the evidence gathered. Lots of policy makers and governments will attend Women Deliver.  Rafael informed that he had reached out to Katja Iversen, the Director of Women Deliver, and they hoped to have a discussion soon. She asked that Lebo (Soul City) be put in the loop for anything related to Women Deliver. Rafael asked if Breakthrough could be the lead focal point to guide that discussion. Urvashi that she would chat with Sohini (breakthrough) and revert soon.

Related to the media development donors meeting, James informed the Cluster that a number of media development donors were planning to meet in Paris at OECD in January 2019, This includes the Sida(Sweden), National Endowment for Democracy (NED - USA) and the Word Bank. The donors themselves are constructing the agenda. James will be in Washington DC in mid-October for meetings that include NED and The World Bank. He recently had a long conversation with Craig Hammer at the World Bank which appears to be exploring ways to support a media development agenda. But James issued notes of caution as we had all experienced these kinds of “hints” from the Bank before across a number of issues. 

Rafael raised the question of how we find ways to bring, through the Alliance, our perspectives to these meetings, panels etc. What kinds of messages do we wish to bring from the Alliance?

In response James suggested a key message would be the big danger of ever greater fragmentation; that donors have responsibilities here. Plus the real need for an evidence base that is interdisciplinary, not in silos and  is rooted in experience.  Urvashi stressed that the key issue for our focus is “are we getting people’s voices in?” “How is voice of people getting captured and amplified?” Charlotte said that in listening to these responses asked if we are at a time where The Alliance would benefit from a messaging framework or policy initiative? Urvashi agreed and suggested that the SBCC Summit Declaration could perform that role. Others were in agreement. 

Tasks:

1. Rafael to keep the Alliance updated on the SBc donors Summit and look for ways in which the Alliance participants can contribute.

2. James to keep the Alliance updated on the media development donors meeting and also look for possible engagement.

3. Urvashi to ask Sohini re Breakthrough leading for the Alliance related to the Women Deliver conference.

4. Urvashi and Charlotte to explore ways in which the SBCC Summit Declaration could be used (even on an interim basis) as the core Advocacy document for the Alliance.  

3. Strategic Plan item: High Level Political Forum 2019 - the main tasks from the workplan for the October - December 2018 quarter are:

a. Review focus of the HLPF 19

b. Identify key people to engage

c. Identify allies who will be working with similar goals at HLPF 19

d. Initial discussion on the "ask" at HLPF 19

e. Identify HLPF regional preparation events and dates (assumes that HLPF will have same pattern as 2018)

Notes:

Navya outline that GFMD is looking to have a significant impact on HLPF 2019 in particular focused on SDG 16. GFMD has started working with Deutsche Welle on two of the SDG - numbers 16 and 13. She offered to provide updates on that work.

In discussion amongst the Clsuter related to HLPF 2019 two of the key areas highlighted included: the need for cooperation with other partners on SDG 16; stressing that SDG 16 is not just or only media focused — it is very broad across aspects of society; that SDG 16 is the goal most closely relevant to our field of work; and that the overall theme for HLPF 2019 with its emphasis on participation and engagement is an excellent place for the Alliance to engage. Other relevant goals suggested included the SDG related to Climate Change - suggested by James.

Returning to SDG 16 Sue asked everyone to consider the violence against women issues that are part of that SDG. She informed that South Africa would have a Summit in early November on Gender based violence. There is a movement in South Africa called Total Shutdown, that is behind the Summit. Women have been marching and the sectors are getting organized. Soul City is engaged. She indicated that this could be another opportunity for the Alliance.

Tasks:

1. Everyone to complete the survey on policy advocacy opportunities (responses so far have been slow and spare!)
 

2. Navya to provide more details on the GFMD HLPF 2019 plans.

3. Everyone to suggest ideas for how the Alliance organizes long term related to its policy engagement goals.