Introduction
This role play activity outlines an interactive session to help people experience a political lobbying meeting, in a light-hearted way. The role play involves people being from either the Minister for Magical Creatures, or the NGO “Unicorn Revive”. ‘The Unicorn Activity’ was developed by Anita Tang, Advocacy Advisor and Campaign Coach, originally for Progress Fellowship.
People have the experience of planning a delegation meeting (if from the NGO) or of planning how to handle an NGO delegation (if from the Minister’s office).
Group Size
- This activity could be done with groups of between 8 – 30, although I have mostly used it with groups of 18-25 people
Duration
- Around 40 minutes
Other Requirements
- Enough space for groups of delegations and decision makers to spread out for the preparation time
- Tables and chairs or other spots where the delegations and decision makers can have their mock meeting
Session Instructions
- Each team needs 2 people representing the decision maker (1 as Minister, and 1 adviser); and 2-3 people representing the NGO
- Divide up participants into roles
- Handout the relevant instructions (note that the instructions are specific to the role)
- Give all participants 10 minutes to prepare for their meeting
- At around the 8 minute mark, encourage those who are Ministers / advisors to find a place that will represent their Ministerial office and prepare to receive their visitors
- Go around to each NGO team and guide them to one of the Minister teams at their location
- While the instructions mention that the meeting will be for 20 mins, the role play of the meeting generally runs its course by 15 mins
- Bring all participants back into plenary for the debrief
- Ask those who were from Unicorn Revive to reflect on progress and outcomes of the meeting, what they did to plan for the meeting and any insights
- Ask those who were Ministers / advisors to share their meeting goal and strategy
- Useful reflections to draw out: importance of trying to anticipate the attitude and reaction of Minister and of having contingency plans; need for delegation team to discuss having clear messages and ask, and for clear roles for the meeting
Role Instructions
Decision Maker Team
You are the Minister for Magical Creatures. The NGO “Unicorn Revive” has been asking you for a meeting to discuss the issue of protecting the last small population of Unicorns at North Forest.
The North Forest has been earmarked for clearing to allow for a new housing development. You are new to the portfolio but are not really interested in unicorns, and only offered the meeting because you felt it would be a bad look to refuse to meet with an NGO whose cause is so core to your portfolio.
Your diary secretary has told the delegation from Unicorn Revive that they will have 20 minutes of your time. You and your advisor have 10 mins before they arrive, to discuss tactics for handling the meeting. Your aim is to have them leave feeling pleased that they has a meeting with you, but with you not having made any commitments.
Decision Maker Team (PDF 1 pg)
Delegation for Unicorn Revive
You are two or three senior staff of Unicorn Revive, an NGO dedicated to protecting unicorns and unicorn habitat. You are alarmed at the plans to clear North Forest, home to one of the last remaining and very small population of unicorns in the country.
You wrote to the Minister for Magical Creatures, seeking a meeting to discuss a way to save the Unicorns of the North Forest. Because the Minister is new to the portfolio, you don’t know the extent of their interest or knowledge about unicorns. The diary secretary has given you an appointment with the Minister, for 20 mins. You have 10 mins to prepare for you meeting with the Minister. What do you want to get from the meeting, and how will you do it?
Delegation for Unicorn Revive Team (PDF 1 pg)
Attribution CC BY