OSI grantee Tactical Technology Collective has released a number of technology tools for advocacy.
NGO-in-a-box Toolkit Series
Mobiles-in-a-Box: Tools and Tactics for mobile advocacy
The mobile advocacy toolkit provides a set of tools and a knowledge base for those wishing to explore and develop the use of mobile phones in campaigning and advocacy work. Available in English and French, the toolkit is designed to inspire users, present possibilities for the use of mobile telephony in advocacy work and introduce some useful tools.
This toolkit is available for download at www.mobiles.tacticaltech.org/.
Message-in-a-Box: Tools and Tactics for Communicating Your Cause
The Message-in-a-box toolkit offers advocates a series of tips and techniques for effectively reaching their audience. It provides tools and tactics for planning, creating and distributing their campaign content. Ranging from creating audio interviews for radio to making a three minute video to be promoted on the internet, from creating a comic book about their issue to making sure the right people can find their website. The toolkit is designed to be used by small to medium-sized NGOs and advocates working in developing and transition countries, it contains a series of how-tos, hands-on-guides and tutorials that walk users through a range of online and offline media to strengthen their advocacy efforts.
This toolkit is available for download at www.messageinabox.tacticaltech.org/.
Security-in-a-Box: Tools and Tactics for Digital Security
The Security-in-a-Box toolkit aims to provide tools and tactics that address these needs, and alongside this to create a diverse network of trainers capable of addressing threats faced by human rights defenders, social and environmental right advocates and independent journalists in the English, Spanish, French, Russian and Arabic-speaking world.
This toolkit is produced in collaboration with Front Line Human Rights Defenders. It will be available for download and in hard copy (CD and booklet) from the end of November 2008. Languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian. Workshops and consultancy available on request.
Guides: Quick-n-Easy and Visualizing Advocacy
The Quick-n-Easy Guide to Online Advocacy
This guide is an overview of the best and most popular online services that advocates can use for digital advocacy with little to no technical support. It is especially designed for advocates in developing and transition countries with moderate to good internet connectivity.
The online services highlighted in the guide are all web 2.0 technologies—such as Flickr, YouTube, and Google Maps—that not only enable advocates to easily publish information on the internet, but also for their communities and supporters to contribute. The services highlighted in the guide are particularly good for short-term or immediate small-scale projects, however can be problematic for those working on sensitive issues or in closed environments. The guide takes these issues in to consideration, outlining security and privacy concerns for each tool, helping advocates understand what they can expect from each service, when to use them for what impact, and provides examples of how other advocates have used them effectively.
The Quick'n'Easy guide is available at http://onlineadvocacy.tacticaltech.org.
Visualizing Information for Advocacy I: An Introduction to Information Design
Visualizing Information for Advocacy: An Introduction to Information Design is a booklet aimed at helping NGOs and advocates strengthen their campaigns and projects through communicating vital information visually and with greater impact. This booklet aims to raise awareness, introduce concepts, and promote good practice in information design—a powerful tool for advocacy, outreach, research, organization and education.
Hard-copy versions also available for order from Tactical Tech.
Visualizing Information for Advocacy II: Maps for Advocacy: An Introduction to Geographical Mapping Techniques
In Maps for Advocacy: An Introduction to Geographical Mapping Techniques, the current revolution in geo-spatial mapping technologies is unfolded. Data-sets and techniques that were previously the reserve of specialists and extremely well-resourced NGOs are opened up to the individual user or the small NGO operating on a tight budget. The introductory guide outlines tools and services advocates can use and shows a range of inspiring case studies.
Maps for Advocacy is available for download at www.tacticaltech.org/mapsforadvocacy.