Blog

Read insights & tips on advocacy from our alumni and other public interest experts.

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“Work with groups that feel far removed from your usual topic... Involve marginalised people directly, so your strategies actually reflect the issues they're facing” Atusa Karbaschi, COSPE

Atusa Karbaschi works for COSPE, an organisation working in Italy and internationally to promote change, eliminate inequalities, and establish social, climate, and economic justice. It does this in partnership with civil society, communities and movements worldwide

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“Organisations need to build an internal culture where fundraising is the work, and the work is fundraising” Claire Fernandez, FIAN (Food International Action Network) Belgium

Claire Fernandez is the Team Coordinator for FIAN (Food International Action Network) Belgium, an organisation that defends the right to food for all. Alongside peasants, communities affected by food injustice and social movements, FIAN Belgium reinforces social struggles, co-builds knowledge, advocates, mobilises people and puts forward practical solutions based on human rights, social justice and decolonial principles.

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“Latvia is Europe; the Baltics are Europe… Find connections and ensure that the EU we are building is a collaborative project.” – Madara Merle, Latvian Fund for Nature (LDF)

Madara Merle is the Advocacy Coordinator at the Latvian Fund for Nature (LDF), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to preserving biodiversity and Latvian nature. The organisation focuses on practical nature conservation, involving society in shaping environmental policy, as well as advocating for the interests of nature.

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“Go to the field…The better you know the work you are representing, the better you will communicate it.” – Warren O'Donnell, European Union National Institutes for Culture

Warren O'Donnell is the Communications Manager of the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) - the European network of national-level organisations engaging in international cultural relations. It ensures cultural collaboration in more than 100 countries through a network of 143 clusters, drawing on the experience of its members from all EU Member States and associate countries.

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“Adopt a hope-based narrative: denounce problems, but also show that solutions exist.” - Rodrigo Rivera, European Transport Workers' Federation

Rodrigo Rivera is Senior Communications Officer for the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), a pan-European trade union organisation that represents transport trade unions. The ETF represents more than 5 million transport workers from over 200 transport unions across 38 European countries.

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“Communicate the different benefits of your work and identify what truly resonates with your audience.” -Mélanie Bourgeois, Energy Cities

Mélanie Bourgeois is EU Policy & Advocacy officer at Energy Cities, a community of local leaders representing thousands of cities across 30 European countries. The organisation aims to build decarbonised and resilient cities with access to affordable, secure, and sustainable energy.

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“Joining forces with other organisations amplifies your voice, increases your outreach, and strengthens your legitimacy”- Clara Beser Ramada, European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR)

Clara Beser Ramada is a Policy Officer at the European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR), a network of service providers working with people with disabilities. EPR is committed to strengthening high-quality services, promoting equal opportunities, and improving quality of life for persons with disabilities across Europe.

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“A decline in transparency doesn’t just obscure policymaking — it undermines public trust.”- Sebastiaan Jamaer, InfluenceMap

Sebastiaan Jamaer works as an analyst at InfluenceMap – a platform measuring corporate climate policy engagement. InfluenceMap provides an independent, data-driven assessment of how the world’s largest companies and their industry associations are influencing policy and regulations needed to transition the global economy towards zero emissions.

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“A democratic future depends on collective resistance and accountability for war crimes and repressions by the Russian state."- Ekaterina Khazina, Platforma International

Ekaterina Khazina is a researcher and activist who coordinates projects, crowdfunding efforts, and media campaigns in support of political prisoners in Russia. She is a member of Memorial France and Platforma International — an alliance of Russian anti-war and pro-democracy organisations, activists and research initiatives active on a wide range of issues including human rights, humanitarian law, education, culture, decolonisation, LGBTQ+ rights and feminism.

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“Our role as communicators is crucial in making sure the voices of civil society are heard.”- Dylan Power, Civil Society Europe (CSE)

Dylan Power is the Communications and Outreach Officer at Civil Society Europe (CSE), the platform for civil society organisations at EU level. It brings together 24 European networks composed of European and national civil society organisations in different areas of citizens' concerns. CSE promotes a space for structured civil dialogue and citizens’ participation at all levels

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“Find the balance between communications and policy and shape the message together from the very beginning.”- Oriana Henry, The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC)

Oriana Henry is Communications Officer at BEUC-The European Consumers Organisation, which represents independent consumer organisations to the EU institutions. It defends the interests of European consumers across a range of topics including digital rights, energy, food, health, safety, sustainability and trade policy.    

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