This Research

FotoCHOICE advocates (among others) for LGBT-rights
CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality is a non-governmental organisation that advocates for the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young people worldwide and that empowers them to make personal decisions concerning these issues, instead of decisions based on stigma’s and cultural restrictions. CHOICE’s advocacy programme attempts to implement their goals, for example through the inclusion of progressive language on the SRHR of young people in the outcome documents of relevant international decision-making processes.

This 2015 IRSP research project focuses on the Dutch non-governmental organization CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality. The project specifically addresses the efficiency of the CHOICE International Advocacy programme and its relevance and (inter)relation(s) to the CHOICE Youth Leadership programme. Throughout, the perspective put forward, is primarily situated in an international context. However, in addressing how effective and progressive change in the advancement of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for young people worldwide may be advanced – certain, albeit limited, inferences to (local, regional, national) implementation are also made.

The efficiency of the International Advocacy programme can to a certain extent be measured or at least put into perspective by outlining the interventions conducted by CHOICE. Focusing on the strengths of each intervention separately but also indicating their interrelatedness provides the reader with a good idea of the workings of the International Advocacy programme and to a certain extent its impact on a regional, national and international level.

In this assessment, utilizing a range of qualitative and quantitative methods, the research project particularly emphasizes the close (and important) interlinkages between the International Advocacy programmes and Youth Leadership programmes.

Lastly, the research project discusses how change may be visually represented through the formulation of a Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) framework. The discussion is founded upon the pre-existing framework of the CHOICE Theory of Change. Ultimately, we argue that change is best understood as a dynamic and ongoing process that requires continuous reflexive assessment, monitoring and evaluation in order to ensure stability and sustainability.