Why advocacy is an important part to secure funding for place-based solutions

Written by Zoe Dark, Grant Program Office Leader

Council’s ability to advocate for a project or program plays an important role in successfully representing the needs of their communities. Being able to articulate the project need and solution, as well as communicate to decision makers in State and Federal government, can influence a decision to fund a project.

Successful advocacy campaigns are evidence based with the need supported by solid research, data and statistics. Advocacy communications should be focused on the needs of the community, and the messaging should be clear, concise and consistent. 

Project advocacy is generally tailored to the needs of individual councils and project(s). When planning an advocacy campaign it is important to have a long term strategic approach to delivering priority projects and be able to communicate project objectives in a way that focuses on the benefits and outcomes for community. Read our article about aligning your strategic plans with community needs and how to bring the community along for the journey.

Recent trends indicate that government strategies and associated funding are becoming increasingly focused on place-based solutions to solve complex issues. Place-based approaches are aimed at tailoring services, infrastructure and investment into projects that meet local needs. Developing place-based solutions involves bringing the community together to establish collaborative practices such as advisory and community groups, co-founded solutions and co-design of projects.

Examples such as the Priority Reform to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap Strategy, detail formal partnerships and shared decision-making as one of the key reforms. Governments have committed to establishing policy and place-based partnerships to respond to local priorities.

To achieve outcomes from such reform, we need to identify the need, demonstrate community support and develop well planned solutions. Then we need to communicate with government. Project maturing and advocacy isan important step in delivering lasting change within communities.

Place-based approaches are thought to bring more meaningful change through:

• Increasing community ownership
• Identifying local causes of social issues thereby tailoring the solutions
• Improving collaboration with likeminded services and government agencies
• Reducing duplication
• Improve innovation in service and project delivery
• Ensuring aspirations and needs of the local community and environment are reflected in governments policy and programs

Recently a number of councils have been successful in planning out their priority projects for the next 3-7 years, with a strategy to keep moving forward with each project. This may be as simple as seeking community and stakeholder support and identifying eligibility from a grant fund. However, for large and complex projects there is not always a bucket of money in the form of grant funds that match your project. This is when we can be stifled by trying to fit the square peg (your project) into a round hole (the grant fund) and that’s where advocacy needs to step into play.

A well thought out and developed advocacy plan, can help turn this situational ‘round hole’ into a ‘square’ one to maintain the integrity of your project.

Examples of materials that need to be developed for your advocacy tool kit include:

• Research to quantify and qualify local needs (to support evidence based decisions)
• Community and Stakeholder engagement support (e.g. workshops and surveys)
• Ministerial briefs
• Project briefs and plans
• Strategic plans and corporate publications
• Business case and feasibility studies
• Media releases
• Letters of support from both relevant community groups and/or neighbouring councils

Developing a strategic advocacy plan that identifies and develops projects, and also outlines the steps that need to be taken towards achieving these projects, should be a council-driven and community based, long term goal for all councils. Working together with the community, and bringing them on the journey, develops beneficial relationships that empower the community to work with council to increase the liveability of their region.

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If you need assistance developing an advocacy tool kit, identifying place-based solutions or writing and submitting grant applications, reach out to Peak’s Grant Program Office Leader, Zoe Dark at zdark@wearepeak.com.au or phone 0448 102 122