7 - UNICEF Rwanda’s Policy and Advocacy: A Strategic Approach

Summary

Chapter 7 probes deeper into policy and advocacy approaches, drawing out the strategies and techniques utilised by UNICEF Rwanda when seeking to enhance Rwanda’s implementation of, and compliance with, international standards. Drawing on themes that emerged from the empirical data, the strategies and techniques can broadly be categorised as capacity building; sensitising the community; using the existing domestic legal framework; the use of legal and non-legal discourse; capitalising on political will and developing relationships; and offering incentives but making compromises. Drawing on international law, international relations and anthropology to theorise the empirical findings, the chapter argues that UNICEF Rwanda was very flexible and pragmatic in its approach, adopting a range of strategies and techniques that were considered necessary and appropriate in the given context, and which can broadly be categorised as collaborative and constructive rather than coercive.