The purpose of the Peace and Security Community Survey was to assess the community's assets and gaps in designing and implementing strategies and activities to promote disarmament, arms control, international treaties and peace efforts. The results demonstrated that the field has areas of strength as well as particular needs that must be met through better targeted and additional funding.
RECOMMENDATIONS
While the NGO community has rich assets in providing high quality analysis and policy recommendations, there are several areas that should be enhanced to improve the effectiveness and impact of the community. Addressing these needs would enable robust public policy debate in the United States, ensure a full hearing for analyses and policy recommendations, and lead to positive changes in national security policies.
Three key activities required for effective policy change are:
- Promoting alternative policy approaches directed at national decision-makers
- Using the media to raise the profile of appropriately framed issues with the public
- Engaging grassroots activists to ensure constituent pressure on decision-makers
Focusing on three key needs identified by the community would ensure that NGOs are better positioned to achieve policy impact by working collaboratively to leverage each other’s assets.
Increase Grassroots Funding – There is a disproportionately low percentage of funding provided to the grassroots community as compared to policy and advocacy organizations ($5M out of $48M in total funding). Community based organizing is needed to expand the peace and security community’s political power and ability to effectively influence outcomes. Growing the grassroots in key geographies would support efforts to change policy in Washington, D.C. by providing the necessary external pressure and political capital to catalyze change.
Unleash Promise of Technology – NGOs must upgrade and improve their computer capacity and leverage the power of the Internet. Doing so will enable the community to better collaborate across sectors, diversify funding sources through e-Fundraising, and increase its public reach through e-Advocacy and e-Activism.
Generate Effective Media and Messaging Capacity – Less than half of the NGOs have dedicated media staff and programs. Resources are needed to develop effective messages and expand the experts available to speak to the media. This would work to counter the current media saturation with conservative spokespeople and encourage public debate on key issues.
Click below to access the complete survey results (pdf):
