CONDUCTING A MEDIA ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN: A MANUAL FOR ACTION
APPENDIX 2 POWER MAP EXAMPLE Here is a concrete example of how power mapping works. This is a real-life power map developed by the activists from «Light of Hope» Charity Organization from Poltava, Ukraine, who work in the sphere of harm reduction from injection drug use. The advocacy goal of this group was the extension of substitution therapy program to the small towns of Poltava region. The activists drew a chart showing key institutions (both governmental and non-governmental), groups and individuals involved in the process and pointed out the relations between them. As clearly seen on the scheme, the key figure in the scheme of advocacy is Dr. Matsytskyi, doctor-in-chief of the regional narcological hospital. He is the one who receives all information and appeals from the community of people who use drugs within the region and who is in charge of initiating changes on the lower administrative level of Rayon. Having drawn the power map, activists from «Light of hope» managed to put the pressure of people who use drugs and their relatives on Dr. Matsytskyi by writing letters and making public appeals demanding new OST sites to be opened in the small towns of the region. In addition, the initiative group identified the head of the regional state administration health department, Dr. Matsytskyi’s superior, as the key person who could initiate a meeting of the Poltava region Public Health Coordination Council to provide room for official decisions to be made.
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