Beneficiary Voice
How we advance the voice of the poor, voiceless and excluded in our campaigning is a key to success in the fight against poverty and inequality.
Gertruida Baartman, a 40-year old single mother with three children, earns just 38p per hour as a fruit farm labourer in South Africa. The fruit she picks ends up on Tesco's shelves in the UK. ActionAid enabled Gertruida to speak out about pay and conditions at the supermarket's annual meeting. She told 600 shareholders and Tesco's CEO, ‘I don't get paid enough to feed my children and I have to work with pesticides with my bare hands. I don't get the same wages as other men even if I do the same work.'
Gertruida is one of the many people whose voice should be heard, yet, the role of beneficiary voice in campaigning in the UK has not yet been adequately explored. This is why Bond has initiated a beneficiary voice theme as part of its new and pioneering Campaigning Effectiveness programme.
Through discussions, Bond members have brought to the surface the need for practical solutions to ten key questions relating to beneficiary voice and campaigning in the UK. These questions were developed at peer exchange events in 2008-9 and, in the coming year, further peer exchange events and conferences will seek answers. These will draw on the expertise of the many organisations leading on these issues, as well as reflections about what can be improved in campaigning practice. Outputs will include guidance notes and training courses for NGOs working on global issues.
We are also in conversation with UK groups campaigning domestically to produce resources for any organisation working on any kind of advocacy.
We would like to hear from interested members that have case studies, research or an ongoing interest in the theme of beneficiary voice in relation to public campaigning.
To find out how you can get involved in the Campaigning Effectiveness programme, contact advocacy@bond.org.uk.
Bond is a partner in a campaigning and advocacy capacity building programme led by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and supported by Capacitybuilders.
