8.1 Key criteria

  • Humanitarian imperative and severity: What are the key humanitarian problems? Are they violations of international humanitarian law, international human rights law, international refugee law, etc? What is their severity-for example, the number of civilians affected, levels of mortality and suffering?
  • Capacity of the CO: Does the Country Office have, or can it mobilise, sufficient staff resources to analyse the issue, collect and transmit evidence and information, and develop compelling positions and messages? (See the Advocacy Capacity Assessment Tool).
  • Desires and capacity of partners: Is the issue under consideration for advocacy something that partner(s) are requesting advocacy support on? What is the capacity of the partner(s) to mobilize resources and personnel? How can CARE support partners? When CARE does not have operational presence in a country, action through partners may be the primary consideration.
  • What are others doing: Are other humanitarian actors (INGOs, NNGOs, UN agencies, donors etc) already doing advocacy on the issue? What would be the value of adding CARE’s efforts to theirs?
  • Capacity elsewhere in CI: What is the potential support from RMU and lead member, CARE International Members and the CI Secretariat to engage in / support the CO’s advocacy?
  • Credibility: Does the CO and / or our partners have a strong field or programme presence, a reliable evidence base, and specific expertise or experience with the advocacy issue? Is the issue consistent with CARE’s vision, values, humanitarian mandate, humanitarian program strategy and companion advocacy strategy?
  • Impact: What is the potential for CARE’s advocacy to influence, at a minimum, remedies for the humanitarian problems? Can it lend CARE’s voice and solidarity to others’ advocacy? Is the projected cost of deploying resources to advocacy instead of to other response activities worthwhile in terms of potential benefit to the humanitarian operation?
  • Risk: What potential security risks exist for CARE staff, partners and beneficiaries? What risks exist for CARE’s reputation, relationships or raised expectations of the civilians?