Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The Advocacy Component
to attain such success, not only must the operations and implementation strategy
be sound, but a strong advocacy arm is also necessary. advocacy is the tool to
raise awareness among leaders and powerful groups, prevent complacency and
resurgence of the virus, to reach countries in conflict, and to bring forth large-scale
funding. rotary International has been highly involved in this aspect of the global
polio eradication campaign.
through PolioPlus, rotary began its advocacy activities in 1995 to encourage
governments to put funds toward the cause. In 2001, the Polio advocacy Group
(PaG) was formed with representatives from rotary International, the wHo,
UnIceF, and the United nations Foundation. the PaG was to raise resources with
the objective of targeting governments and non-profit organisations to contribute
to the polio campaign. by 2005, these advocacy efforts had raised US$1.5 billion
(Grand Prairie Metro rotary club 2005).
to back up these calls for funds, rotarians themselves have committed wherever
and whenever necessary. to meet the needs of the eradication process, an emergency
fundraising campaign for polio through local rotary clubs and the rotary Foundation
was launched in 2002, with a goal of US$80 million one year. the total actually
raised, through the clubs, the foundation's matching mechanism, and government
matching grants, reached US$135 million (rotary International 2006). Showing the
power and global scope of the rotary network of community clubs, contributions
were received from all the 529 rotary districts, with contributions from 22 645 clubs
in 153 countries.
Rotary's specific advocacy activities have also been widespread and powerful. It
has national advocacy advisors in 23 donor countries to solicit political and financial
support from these governments. they also have national PolioPlus committee
chairs in 32 endemic or high-risk countries to maintain political commitment from
their governments. Individual rotarians have worked to secure commitments
from multilateral groups such as the G8, member countries of the organisation for
economic co-operation and Development (oecD), the african Union (aU), and
the organisation of the Islamic conference (oIc). the ability of rotary members
to set up and partake in such initiatives demonstrates the strength in having an
organisation that can leverage local leaders into coordinated global action. Such
activities and a networked presence have been a major boost to the global polio
eradication campaign.
The Power of the Local in the Global
For most of its history, rotary International has had a presence in international affairs,
by the very nature of the local clubs taking on international projects. thus its interest
in the global challenge of polio was not unusual; however, its ability and resilience
to sustain such a tremendous effort were tested through the global eradication
