To ensure the interests of poor communities and vulnerable groups are represented in the policies and practices of the transport and development sector IFRTD aims to carry out advocacy work at the international, regional and local level. As IFRTD's strategy 2007-2011 states:
At the international level IFRTD will:
Continue to engage in constructive dialogue with transport and development sector agencies. This will involve the Forum developing partnerships with organisations, giving a voice to network members and challenging trends at the international level.
Increase its visibility and impact by strengthening cross-sectoral partnerships through building on the cross-cutting nature of transport issues. IFRTD must recognise and be able to link the importance of transport to emerging and established international trends such as the Millennium Development Goals.
At the regional level IFRTD will:
Support Regional Coordinators to raise IFRTD’s regional profile and advocate with, for example, regional bodies and investment programmes and to be able to link up with national governments.
At the national and local level IFRTD will:
Support national and local level advocacy so that NFGs, affiliated networks, local groups and members are able to identify and reach their target audience and partner with implementing agencies, through for example:
- Information dissemination and communication strategies
- Regional, national and municipal level thematic workshops
- High-visibility IFRTD ‘branding’ and promotional material
- Capacity building
- Training and attending workshops
Advocacy is also a key component in IFRTD's projects and programmes. To find out more about the role advocacy plays in the Mobility and Health networked research prgramme, click here.
To read IFRTD's strategy 2007-2011 click here.