Explore selected resources covering diverse aspects of narrative work and find practical tools speaking to your specific narrative interests and needs.
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13 results
Narrative Power and Collective Action: Conversations with people working to change narratives for social good
by Oxfam
2020
Available in English, Spanish, French
Narratives are a form of power that can mobilize and connect, as well as divide and isolate. Social, public or dominant narratives help to legitimize existing power relationships, prop them up or make them seem natural.
As an anthology of perspectives this knowledge offering is one way to amplify different and diverse ways of knowing and doing narratives. Narratives are made up of many stories, tweets, online content, offline conversations. They keep deeply held ideas about society and people in place, for good and bad.
Narratives are not something that happen over there, they are part of us and we are part of them. We can challenge or reinforce narratives on daily basis. We see powerful damaging narratives at work in the COVID-19 response, and in systems of oppression that perpetuate inequality. We can use this knowledge to guide us now and as we move into the future. Narrative knowledge and framing know-how can help us to open civic space, collaborate better and amplify others, helping us to be part of the biggest ‘us’ we can be.
Interested to know more? We spoke to 20+ collaborators from across the world. They share with us their knowledge, ideas, tips, and tactics from their lived experience. Learn from them. Collaborate with them. Let’s creatively and collectively act on narratives together. These ideas are contributing to Oxfam’s creative collaborations with others to protect and open civic space.
New Tech, New Rules
by Brett Davidson with contributions from Di Luong, IRIS
2026
Available in English
This report explores how civil society organisations are adapting to the challenges and opportunities of AI and algorithm‑driven platforms. Drawing on insights from ten organisations across the Global Majority, it highlights how practitioners are navigating increasingly complex digital environments to sustain civic engagement and resist authoritarian dynamics. The findings point to three key approaches: co‑opting technology and popular culture for resistance, countering surveillance and disinformation, and innovating through new forms of storytelling and organising.
Reframing Narratives Around Care and Informal Work in Kenya, the UK and Zimbabwe: A synthesis of national research
by Oxfam
2024
Available in English
This research study across three countries – Kenya, UK, and Zimbabwe – was carried out to identify the dominant narratives that influence public perceptions of care and informal work. It enabled the researchers to develop and test new narratives that could be used to improve public attitudes towards care and informal work. Creating new stories about care and informal work is vital to securing adequate investment and support from communities, traditional leaders and governments.
Safeguarding Civic Space: Harnessing Narrative Change to Restore Public Trust in CSOs
by International Centre for Policy Advocacy
2024
Available in English
In an era of shrinking civic space, civil society organisations (CSOs) find themselves under immense pressure, contending with a barrage of legal measures and narrative attacks aimed at undermining and vilifying them. Against this backdrop of democratic backsliding, the guide serves as a proactive resource, to move past commenting on the erosion of democracy to empowering actors to defend and promote civic rights effectively.
Crafted from first-hand experience and extensive research, the guide offers 10 practical lessons for proactive narrative change. Drawing from successful campaigns around the globe, including in-depth insights from a locally-led CSO coalition in Kazakhstan and efforts to counter 'foreign agents' laws in Kenya and Kyrgyzstan, these lessons provide actionable strategies to restore trust in CSOs with sceptical middle audiences.
Shifting Narratives to Value Unpaid and Informal Work in Kenya
by Oxfam
2024
Available in English
Unpaid Care and Domestic Work (UCDW) and Paid Domestic Work (PDW) are essential to societal wellbeing. However, these activities often carry negative perceptions, attitudes and beliefs when performed by men and boys. As a result, women and girls typically shoulder the primary responsibility for performing UCDW. Similarly, society often undervalues PDW by perceiving it as low-skilled work, as demonstrated through low remuneration and unfair employment practices. The narratives many cultures embrace concerning UCDW and PDW partly explain why these essential activities frequently fall on women and girls, and why society often undervalues PDW. This report documents a collaborative research project between Busara Center for Behavioral Economics and Oxfam to investigate existing narratives on UCDW and PDW in Kenya, and test potentially transformative narratives that could shift societal attitudes.
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