NGOs in policy influence: a selection of IDR reports

IInfluencing government policy formation and monitoring together with influencing policy implementation has become a key goal for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in ensuring the success and sustainability of local programmes. This document brings together a collection of Institute for Development Research (IDR) reports which draws on a long-term program aiming to identify examples of successful development NGO participation in influencing policy. Three papers are included. The first is an analysis of alternative approaches by civil society organizations in influencing policy. The second paper compares a series of policy campaigns led by grassroots coalitions and groups situated in the Philippines. Five Filipino case studies are compared and the successes are described as well as some of the difficulties of policy work experienced by civil society. The final paper compares national and international campaigns to influence policies across a number of regions and countries. Lessons and implications for the transparency and the effectiveness of such campaigns are detailed.