Advocacy is a process of speaking up, drawing a community’s attention to an important issue, and directing decision makers towards a solution. It involves attempts to influence the political climate, public climate, public perceptions, and policy decision such as on funding determinations in order to improve a cause.

CCBI creates advocates from among the community. We presume that effective members of the community are the best advocates, as they have first-hand experience in dealing with community issues or problems that leads them to seek far-reaching solutions. Further, they are dedicated to their community, and can help others realise the need for fundamental policy change and bring people together to influence government, other organisations and the public at large. Community advocates are the communicators.

CCBI conducts advocacy at community level in order to:

• Build support for a cause
• Influence others to support the cause
• Influence or reform legislation that affects the cause

CCBI achieves this through:

• Educating the grassroots, women, youth, community leades, people with AIDS and others to be able to identify and analyze problems
• Enabling communities to define their own solutions, exercise their rights and understand and participate in the policy process
• Building and strengthening grassroots organizations, NGOs, and social movements to represent their members
Making decision-making more open and accountable