A Toolkit for Environmental Advocacy in Africa

This handbook, published by Southern African Institute for Environmental Assessment (SAIEA), is a key component of the Africa Program’s Advocacy Tools Initiative, which seeks to help citizens and communities protect their environment and health, and influence development decisions that could affect their livelihoods. The handbook describes some of the many tools and approaches that Africans can use to promote public health, defend the natural and human environment, and protect human rights. Case studies are provided that discuss the use of one or more advocacy tools in the context of a specific problem. According to the publishers, the Toolkit is intended to explore environmental advocacy broadly, and in so doing, to offer ideas and inspiration to advocates and to people considering advocacy.

The handbook contains the following chapters:

• Chapter 1: Introduction to the Toolkit: What is Environmental Advocacy?
• Chapter 2: Preparing for Environmental Advocacy: Tools for Collecting Information
• Chapter 3: Joining Forces: The Importance of Building Alliances
• Chapter 4: Taking a Seat at the Table: Tools for Participating in Government Decision-making Processes
• Chapter 5: Getting the Message Out: Tools for Distributing Information
• Chapter 6: Going Public with the Issues: Media Tools
• Chapter 7: Protecting Legal Rights: Tools for Court Action
• Chapter 8: Boycotts and Strikes: Tools for Economic Advocacy
• Chapter 9: Demonstrations and Other Public Actions: Tools for Social Advocacy
• Chapter 10: What to Do When Things Go Bad: Tools for Addressing the Negative Consequences of Advocacy