Ritu R. Sharma from the Academy for Educational Development describes advocacy as a tool for “putting a problem on the agenda, providing a solution to that problem and building support for acting on both the problem and the solution”. 

Advocacy is a continuous process that requires specific and realistic goals that are rooted in evidence-based solutions. It also calls for dedicated resources such as time, finances, staff,social and political capital. 

Advocacy and influencing work should be aimed at a wide variety of actors, and not only those who form legislations. These actors can be any institution or group including policy makers, decision-makers, the private sector, communities, family members, groups of individuals etc.

Advocacy and influencing aim to create awareness among decision-makers. The goal is to change attitudes and practices to shape more inclusive institutions, policies, legislation, labour markets and market systems.