1. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Issue Identification as
Key Step in Policy
Advocacy
Ramon San Pascual, MPH
Executive Director, Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development

2. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
A Policy is
• A plan or course of action
• By a
government, organization
or individual

3. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Linear Model of Policy Development
Variously called the linear, mainstream, common-sense or
rational model, this model is the most widely-held view of
the way in which policy is made. It outlines policy-making
as a problem solving process which is
rational, balanced, objective and analytical. In the
model, decisions are made in a series of sequential
phases, starting with the identification of a problem or
issue, and ending with a set of activities to solve or deal
with it.

4. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
An Example
of the Linear
Model

5. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
NonLinear Model of Policy Process
Politics
Problems
Solutions

6. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Window of Opportunity for Policy Change
Politics
Solutions
Problems
Window of
Opportunity

7. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Starting with Information
Politics
Information
Problems
Solutions

8. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Moving the Spheres Together
Politics
Problems Solutions
Agenda Setting

9. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
The Policy Agenda
• A set of issues
• In a hierarchy of
importance
• At a given point in time

10. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
The Goal of Agenda Setting
Gain attention, keep
the interest, influence
action of:
• the media
• the public
• policymakers

11. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Characteristics of
Issues that get on
the Policy Agenda
• Clear, measurable indicators
• Policy champions
• Feasible policy or program
alternatives
• Attention-focusing events

12. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Clear, Measurable Indicators
• Give visibility to
problems or solutions
• Give relevance or
importance to an issue
• Stimulate action

13. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Steps in Issue Identification
• Outline the problem
• Study the problem and its causes in detail
• Determine how aware the public is of the issue, deciding
who will participate in fixing it
• Gauge which policy changes are needed to address the
identified problem

14. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Capable Champions
Committed individuals or groups who
• Define problem and keep attention focused continuously
• Dramatize concern using indicators
• Seize opportunities to focus attention

15. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Policy Learning
• The ongoing stream of
information to policymakers
and other actors in the
policy making process
• An understanding by all
actors of complex power
relations, changing
institutional
arrangements, policy results
or impact

16. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Monitoring and Evaluation
We need evidence which show that:
•
•
•
Our issues have gained the attention of policy
makers. (i.e.,gotten on the policy agenda)
Our activities have enhanced coalition efforts to
increase support to the policy agenda
The information we disseminated was used for
policy learning

17. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
Ultimately…
We need evidence of changes in policies (national, sector, or
program level), programs, strategies, or resource allocation

18. Engaging Parliamentarians
Pursuing Development
In Summary
• Policy change is a complex, dynamic process
• Three basic elements are agenda-setting, coalition building, policy
learning
• Issue identification is key
• Information is a key but must be disseminated strategically;
• Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate