On Nov. 15, 2021, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) launched the Inclusive Digital Advocacy Toolkit, a new resource to support civil society organizations (CSOs), organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and diverse advocates to use social media and technology in advocacy activities. As the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted marginalized communities such as young people, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+ persons, women, rural communities, ethnic and religious minorities, Indigenous Peoples and others, digital advocacy has been a key tool in bridging the gap between advocates and decision-makers. The Inclusive Digital Advocacy Toolkit includes tips, detailed steps and specific examples of how advocates can add digital advocacy to their existing and future advocacy initiatives.
The Inclusive Digital Advocacy Toolkit was authored by IFES Senior Inclusion Specialist Rebecca Aaberg and IFES Youth Engagement Specialist Ashley Law, with support from key contributors IFES Deputy Country Director Lasanthi Daskon, IFES Inclusion Program Associate Kailee Smart and IFES consultant Chris Donn. The toolkit was additionally informed with the insight of IFES’ youth and OPD partners, including the General Election Network for Disability Access in Southeast Asia, the Association of Youth Organizations Nepal (AYON) and the University of South Pacific Student Association.
The toolkit provides step-by-step instructions for designing and carrying out digital advocacy activities using an intersectional approach, with particular attention to the unique experiences of people who identify with multiple marginalized groups, such as young people with disabilities and ethnic minority women. The toolkit can be used by CSOs, OPDs and self-advocates with stakeholders such as election management bodies (EMBs), political parties, candidates, elected officials and government ministries.
The launch of the toolkit featured a panel discussion moderated by IFES Sri Lanka Deputy Country Director Lasanthi Daskon with Deepshikha Shrestha, a representative from AYON, a youth-focused advocacy organization from Nepal, and Jennifer V. Garcia, of the CALL Foundation for the Blind in the Philippines. Jennifer shared CALL Foundation’s experience in transitioning to online advocacy methods during the COVID-19 pandemic and using online advocacy to reach decision-makers.