Advocacy Toolkit

Take Action For WaterAid Help us to create a world where everyone, everywhere has access to clean water, safe toilets and good hygiene.

www.wateraid.org/us/campaigns

www.wateraid.org/us/campaigns

In this booklet you'll find all the information you need to make a difference in your community and the lives of millions worldwide. This guide offers you ideas for taking action and explains the pivotal role that advocates like you play in supporting WaterAid's work.

Welcome ........................................................................................................ 04 Educate Yourself............................................................................................ 05 Everyday Advocacy....................................................................................... 06 The Power of your voice.............................................................................. 10 How your actions create change.............................................................. ..13 Awareness Days.............................................................................................14

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Hello

Welcome to WaterAid!

Hello! Welcome to our guide to advocacy with WaterAid. In addition to the vital water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance made possible by generous supporters like yourself, advocating for WASH at the local, national and global levels is an incredibly important part of our mission at WaterAid. Not only do we provide essential access to the world's poorest communities, but we also recognize the importance of advocacy in protecting the human right to water as a tool for alleviating poverty and affecting social change.

While our staff fights the good fight lobbying our decision makers at home and internationally, you can join us in taking a stand and demanding justice for the millions of people worldwide without access to water and sanitation.

The Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Crisis Access to safe water and toilets is recognised as a universal human right, yet:

844 Million

people still don’t have clean, safe water

2.3 Billion

people have nowhere safe or hygienic

More than 800 Children

die every single day from diarrhoeal diseases – diseases which could be prevented with access to a safe water supply, good hygiene, and a proper toilet.

Educate Yourself Learn more about how water, sanitation, and hygiene are connected to so many other issues like proper education, eradicating poverty, promoting good nutrition, and reducing violence against women and girls.

You can contact our Community Engagement Officer for fact sheets and information at emarmo@wateraidamerica.org.

Everyday advocacy actions If you have up to

half an hour

Send an email: Email your representatives in Congress and ask them to prioritize water and sanitation for the poorest communities around the world.

As an engaged citizen you have the freedom to protect everyone's right to water and to voice concern for the global water and sanitation crisis. Feel free to use our email template for guidance if you're in a rush, or write a letter from the heart that explains why WASH is important to you if you have the time! Find your reps at www.govtrack.us

If you only have

30 seconds

Sign your name: Sign our Everyone, Everywhere Pledge to urge our government to prioritize access to clean water and toilets for everyone, everywhere. In one minute you'll add your name to the list of advocates worldwide.

If you only have

1 minute

Use social media: Share your action or stories from our work! With a simple tweet, Facebook post or Instagram you'll help spread the word and raise awareness about the water and sanitation crisis.

If you have up to

an hour

Break out the pen and paper: (in-district) Hand-write a letter to your congress members! Because congress members receive so much mail on a daily basis, sending a handwritten letter through snail mail will always have more of an impact. With personalization about why WASH issues are important to you, you can deliver a clear and impactful letter that urges your congress members to prioritize WASH at home and abroad. Take it a step further and call to follow-up on the status of your email and letter—don't quit until you feel your voice has been heard!

If you only have

2 minutes

Pick up the phone: Give your representative a call – speak with their office and tell them over the phone why water and sanitation are so very important. It's easier than calling your relatives, we promise. If you don't know their number click here to find out.

If you have even more time

Come to Washington, DC and meet your representative Are you so incredibly passionate about WASH that you want to shout it from the rooftops?

Well, come to Washington, DC and speak with members of Congress in person. Join the WaterAid policy team and other WASH advocates for multiple meetings on the Hill and tell representatives why WASH is so important. You're a constituent and that means that you're strongest advocate in the room and your voice will be heard. *this tactic is called a "fly-in" and is typically used when there is great need to have face-to-face meetings in order to pass a piece of legislation or emphasize the importance of a particular issue. WAA would only have a fly-in if there was a crucial bill or if the budget for WASH were seriously in jeopardy.

Hacktivism and How to be heard

If you have more time Reach out to your community

Once you've made your mark by reaching out to your representatives, you're probably hooked on advocacy. The best next step is to get your community involved. Once you've done your part you can urge friends, family, and community members to do the same.

You'll be surprised how quickly your one voice can start a movement!

Some ideas include collecting petition signatures in your community, workplace or school, talking to those around you about WASH and WaterAid, or investigating water issues in your local context. You can even start a fundraiser for WaterAid—it’s a great way to raise awareness about the WASH crisis and donate while doing it!

The more people know about the importance of WASH and the water crisis, the closer we are to a world where everyone, everywhere has access to water, sanitation and hygiene!

The power of your voice We work to influence our Government, for two reasons. Firstly, to address the global crisis we need to spend more of our overseas aid budget on safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Secondly, we are a world leader in international development and can therefore influence other governments and institutions to do more too.

Why do you need me?

It’s people like you who raise awareness of the crisis and what needs to be done to end it. Our policy team carries out and collates detailed research to reveal where, how and why people don’t have access to safe water and toilets. Supporter actions like yours make sure that their reports explaining how to tackle these problems come to the attention of the right people. They also keep decisionmakers accountable for the commitments they make – it’s much harder to break a promise when you have made it public.

You won’t be campaigning alone. In all the countries where we work, we empower local people to demand their rights to safe water and sanitation, so that they can put pressure on their decision-makers. By taking action here in the US, you’ll be campaigning right alongside them.

“We were nervous when we went to our MP, but he promised to help us. After the meeting we felt very good! Our voice was being listened to. The men respect us more now.”

Shamola Rani Mondol, 24, Bangladesh

How your actions create change

The Water for the World Act The Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act was signed into law following unanimous House passage of the bill, HR 2901, the Senate’s unanimous consent, and President Obama signing the bill into law on December 19 2014.

WaterAid worked closely with Members of Congress, more than 75 NGOs and faith-based organizations, and supporters like you to push for improved effectiveness of the US government’s resources.

You, as supporters and advocates helped us make this happen by raising the issue with your elected representatives. Together we moved the needle in the right direction and push for smart and effective legislation.

Providing access to water, sanitation and hygiene for the poorest and most marginalized will help to prevent leading causes of child deaths, stem the spread of deadly outbreaks like Ebola, increase girls’ educational opportunity, reduce household poverty, and advance economic development.

The Water for the World Act is a response to needed improvements.

It ensures : - Resources go to the countries and communities most in need of WASH. - The US government agencies working on WASH and all other partners work together to make sure that the resources invested achieve long-term impact.

- WASH programs are included in other critical measures that address child survival, global health, food security and nutrition, and gender equality.

- Proper review of WASH projects by the US government to increase transparency in reporting and ensure that projects are effective and impactful.

Top Tips

Top tips for meeting your representatives

Talking

Listening

You’ll probably only have 10-15 minutes, so think about what you’re going to say in advance and perhaps make a note of your key points. Try to focus on the points that you think your representative will find most interesting, based on your research and personal experiences.

Listen to your representative’s response and try to make a note of what they say.

Prepare answers to questions you think might come up but don’t worry if they ask a question that you can’t answer. You can always contact us and send a response to them afterwards.

Securing action At the end of the meeting get a promise on what action they will take. Writing a letter to the editor to your local paper is a good way of holding your representative to account.

Afterwards Write to your representative to thank them for meeting you. Remind them of your key points and confirm what action you agreed.

Let us know how it went and if anything came up that you found tricky or seemed particularly effective.

Remember

Last but not least

Our representatives are only human, and they work for you, so don’t be intimidated.

You have a right to speak to them and they’re keen to meet with you. Our representatives are there to raise your concerns with the Government and use their influence on your behalf.

Don’t forget your story. You don’t have to be a policy expert to influence your government, it’s your passion that is important – so make sure you share why this is a cause that you personally care about so much.

Major days to guide your activities October 15............Global Handwash Day

April 7...................... World Health Day

November 19.................World Toilet Day

April 22...................................Earth Day

February 20...World Day of Social Justice

May 28..........Menstrual Hygiene Day

March 8.........International Women’s Day

June 5...........World Environment Day

March 22....................... World Water Day

August 12... International Youth Day

We are here to help you!

You can email us: campaigns@wateraid.org or call us: +1 (212) 683 0430 Follow us on: facebook.com/WaterAidAmerica @WaterAidAmerica

@WaterAidAmerica

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