Workshop: SDG lobbying

This one-day event focused on the topic of SDG lobbying. An expert gave a long training session on what SDG lobbying/interest representation actually is, what approaches there are to lobbying and in which spaces it takes place. For example, a distinction is made between the approaches of "persuasion" (convincing political decision-makers of an idea), "mobilization" (mobilizing broad groups so that action on the part of political decision-makers becomes necessary) and "denunciation" (shaming political decision-makers in order to get them to act in a certain way). Lobbying can also take place in invited spaces, but also in claimed spaces and closed spaces. In addition to general information on SDG lobbying, the focus was also on the topic of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), which the countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will present to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2024. After the intensive training and the wealth of information, the afternoon was devoted to more practical work. The participants shared experiences and results of their SDG lobbying work to date and gave each other feedback and suggestions for improvement or ideas for further work. In a subsequent needs analysis, the participants tried to find out what they were missing for their effective SDG advocacy work and how they could achieve this. The ideas that have already emerged there provide a good basis for the upcoming SDG conference in a few weeks' time, which will also focus on the topic of SDG lobbying.