Advocacy note, influencing plan and ethics of testimonies ahead of a pledging conference

Water available: 62,000 × 13 + 74,000 × 9 + 50,000 × 6 = 806,000 + 666,000 + 300,000 = 1,772,000 l/day; weighted average: 1,772,000 / 186,000 = 9.5 l/person/day (and not the simple average of 9.3).

Requirement: 186,000 × 15 = 2,790,000 l. Deficit: 1,018 m³ per day (site 1: 124 m³; site 2: 444 m³; site 3: 450 m³).

Funding: 11.52 / 64 = 18%; shortfall of 52.48 million USD.

Trucking: 1,018 × 7 × 182 ≈ 1.30 million USD for six months. Boreholes: 1,018 / 75 = 13.6, i.e. 14 boreholes × 95,000 = 1.33 million USD.

Argument: six months of trucking cost as much as 14 boreholes that will serve for more than ten years. Multi-year funding and fast permits are needed, otherwise the money goes on water tankers every month.

Example: "Problem. 186,000 refugees in Ouaddaï province have on average 9.5 litres of water a day, against a standard of 15; at site 3, only 6 litres. Evidence. Acute diarrhoea in children under 5 has almost tripled in six weeks (140 to 410 cases per week); at site 3 it has increased almost fivefold, and global acute malnutrition there reaches 17.2%. The sector is only 18% funded. Six months of trucking cost 1.30 million USD, as much as 14 sustainable boreholes. Asks. To donors: fund 1.33 million USD for 14 boreholes by the end of the year, under a multi-year agreement, and urgently close the deficit at site 3. To the Ministry of Water: issue drilling permits within 30 days instead of 4 months through an emergency procedure. To the governor: allocate the land for the extension of site 3 before the dry season. To humanitarian coordination: prioritise site 3 in the next pooled fund allocation. What we offer. A technical team ready to drill as soon as permits are obtained and quarterly public reporting of results."

The marker checks: exact figures, one measurable and time-bound ask per target, no unsourced data, a tone respectful of the authorities.

Mapping: donor A: high power, high interest, priority target (bilateral meeting, two-page note, field visit); donor B: high power, medium interest, cost-effectiveness argument, via the sector; ministry and governor: high power over permits and land, private approach through the head of mission and the sector coordinator; humanitarian coordination: ally, to be mobilised to carry the joint statement.

Timeline: week 1: validation of data with the sector, note and appointments; week 2: bilateral meetings in the capital, joint statement signed; week 3: delivery to delegations before the conference, intervention at the side event, factual press release on the day.

Accusatory media campaign: do not join it in this form. Public advocacy against donors closes doors three weeks before the conference and can weaken the relationship with the authorities. Prefer the sector's factual joint statement, and keep public advocacy in reserve if commitments are not met.

Testimony: I do not use it as it stands. The survivor is a minor: her best interests take precedence over her mother's agreement; an identifiable photo and a first name expose the child to stigma and reprisals, in breach of the do no harm principle. Undocumented oral consent, obtained without explaining the public use, is not informed. The photo must be deleted from devices and the case checked: has the girl been referred for medical and psychosocial care? I refer the matter to the protection focal point, without investigating myself.

Alternative: a general, non-identifiable message, supported by aggregated data from the protection sector; testimony from an adult volunteer, with written and informed consent, the possibility of withdrawal, anonymisation and a non-identifiable photo.

Headline: rejected. "Die of thirst" is inaccurate (the real risk is waterborne disease and malnutrition) and "a child dies every hour" has no source. A single factual error discredits the whole advocacy effort. Alternative: "Ouaddaï: diarrhoea among young children has almost tripled in six weeks for lack of water. 14 boreholes would be enough."

• Pledges announced at the conference for the Chad water and sanitation sector (USD), then amounts actually disbursed at 3 months.
• Average time to issue drilling permits (target: 30 days) and number of permits issued.
• Number of operational boreholes and litres per person per day at site 3 at 12 months.
• Uptake of key messages by the targets (official statements, pooled fund allocation priorities).

Distinguish between contribution and attribution: other actors are also advocating; document exchanges in an influence log.