HEALTH POLICY PLUS COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOP FOR YOUTH POLICY ADVOCATES
In 2015, there was a policy on adolescent reproductive health in Kenya. The policy existed, but it was not comprehensive. There was a coalition of youth who worked together to build on the previous policy and place emphasis on vulnerable populations.
Young people in Malawi have also played a key role in creating and reviewing policies – like setting the minimum age for marriage in Malawi, among other policies.
So what is Policy?
Our first debate ensued shortly after 10am (quite early for a workshop that started at 9am).
The 20 youth from different youth advocacy organisation in Malawi convening in Nyika Conference Room at Crossroads hotel in Lilongwe, Malawi, attempted to define a policy, using their previous knowledge.
The definition which stood out was that a policy is a course of principle or action that is adopted or proposed by a government, party, business, or individual.
Policies can also be laws – to compel or prohibit behavior.
Policies guide actions and laws toward desired outcome.
Policies can also be guidelines set by institutions to achieve certain milestones. Gives operational guidelines. A set of strategic plans.
The last definition was that policies are actions and decisions taken by government and institutions to solve certain problems.
The difference between a Policy and an Agenda?
An agenda is a set of frameworks outlining milestones achieved overtime.
A policy creates an environment for the agenda to be achieved. It is a set of regulations put in place to make work towards an agenda achievable.
You need policies to guide how the milestones in the agenda are achieved.
Policy is done at national level, and trickles down to the districts, and day to day communities.
As young people, our duty is to make sure that stakeholders at district levels understand the policies affecting young people. The youth are responsible for dissemination of the policies affecting them, and should demand more.
In advocacy, you have to be clear about what is being demanded. What is it you want to achieve?
Are you holding the government accountable, or are you being an advocate? These are two precise fields and very different in the implementation approach.
Consistency. Policy takes time, and we must be patient and always restrategise where necessary. We must be resilient and persistent – Tikondwe Chimkowola.
Why Engage The Youth?
Young people deserve to be involved in policy-making.
Youth engagement might come off as obvious, but it would still be beneficial to be precise about why the youth must be involved in policy work.
- We get better policy creation on a range of topics.
- There is stronger implementation.
- It ensure representative public participation.
It is our right as young people to be involved in shaping up policy which will affect us now, in the future, as well as families in time.
This process involves meaningfully involving young people in creating and monitoring policy.
When young people are involved, policy becomes stronger.
Who is a Youth Leader’s Role?
Youth leaders are invite to the table to offer a youth perspective to guide and strengthen policy.
Young people are aware of the issues affecting them. They know what their peers are facing. They are the ones engaging fellow youth.
The questions to the youth then lie – do we know who to approach (stakeholders) in the advocacy and implementation for policy? Can you make commentary on policies to represent the concerns of your fellow youth?
Policy Landscaping
You want to know who is doing what, what the policy says, who is implementing it, the analyses that have been done, and identifying the gaps.
As advocates – how often do you do your homework. Do you take the time to read new policies created around the issues you are passionate about?
Do you have a previous is a youth friendly facility?
At VDC level and local government, young people should be on the forefront and in huge numbers.
WHAT DO YOUTH LEADERS DO
- Make presentations to decision makers
- Engage with and educate peers.
- Serve as a youth representative during a meeting or conference.
- Engage with diverse audiences to ensure youth voices are heard.
What are YOU supposed to do as a YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE?
As a representative, you have to aware of the responsibility placed on your shoulders.
Be aware of the fact that you are representing many people, and not just yourself.
When you share on your personal stories, make sure you highlight that this is your experience, and does not apply to every youth.
Use Evidence for Impact
Youth efforts backed by evidence will be more effective.
Use of data adds depth and complexity to youth-led policy change efforts
- It gives you the confidence to speak up on issues in meetings.
- You can give the ‘why’s to situations
- Data helps you represent demographics that you may not particularly be a part of.
Data helps the youth be taken seriously by others.
Research assists youth leaders in overcoming the challenge of being asked to represent the youth.
Be aware that representation matters. Be as specific as possible in the picking of a relevant youth representative.
Never go with a savior mentality and want to tell people what to do. Speak to the people and engage them in conversation. They know.
If you can, engage other representatives from more specific demographics.
Health Policy – Decisions, plans and actions undertaken to achieve specific health goals within a society.
An explicit health policy can achieve several things: it defines a vision for the future, which in turn helps establish targets and points.
WAYS OF EXPRESSING POLICIES
- Policy documents
- Laws
- Contracts
- Partnerships
- Funding priorities
Law vs Policy
Another cause for debate and contributions during the morning was differentiating a law from a policy.
Law, as some argued, is used in enforcement, while a policy is only a guideline.
A policy can be more targeted.
The policy has to fall in line with the law.
Who Are Policy Makers?
Anyone with authority to create or change a policy.
The legitimate jurisdiction is what gives the authority to one to be a policymaker.
The policies created have to be consistent with the constitution.
Why Create Policies?
- To give guidance to actions on certain issues.
- To ensure that things happen.
- To change what is currently happening
- To prioritize and allocate resources and issues
Note that one policy can lead to many policies.
Implementation – Operational policies
These are rules, regulations, guidelines, admnistrative norms, contracts, benefits – all developed from bigger and wider policies.
Policies can address issues or people.
They can also have multi-sectoral implications.
Are non-decisions policy?
At times, government or organisations choose to no take action on a policy issue.
When the government ACTIVELY opts to not comment on a trending issues, that non-decision is a policy.
As youth policy advocates, you have much to learn on the art and we will be sharing more on what would be beneficial for you to know in your implementation.
ON THE NEXT ISSUE:
POLICY LANDSCAPING
Who are the stakeholders?
What policies are in place?
How are policies being funded ?
How are the policies implemented?
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