By planning you can work out what you can change and how. It helps you set and take small steps on the way to your bigger goals.

Campaigns can be thought of as a journey. Plans guide you through the route ahead in a dynamic and changing world. They also set out some of the obstacles we might face and how to overcome them.

Why Plan?

• Knowing exactly what you want makes it easier to get it.
• Planning reduces the chances of a nasty surprise as the campaign develops.
• You'll avoid the disappointment of working on something you can't win.
• If you don't plan you can waste time or money on the wrong things.
• You can be sure you are trying to influence the right people in the right way at the right time.

Planning Stages

• Identify the problem.
• Map the context in whichyour campaign will run.
• Find solutions to the problem.
• Set winnable targets throughout the campaign.
• Outline the campaign journey.
• Choose the right strategy.
• Did it work? Evaluate your campaign.

There are many models for planning and running campaigns. For more information on planning and evaluating campaigns see the links below.

The Social Change Training Manual
http://www.hydra.org.au/training/
A comprehensive national campaign training manual.

Anyone Can
http://www.rag.org.au/anyonecan.htm
A Queensland Conservation Council publication describing basic steps to starting an environmental group and running a campaign.

Campus Organizing Guide for Peace and Justice Groups http://www.cco.org/guide/
An online campaign guide for activists.

 

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