CHOICE Project
The Comprehensive Health Options through Innovative Community Engagement (CHOICE) project is a seven-year, initiative supported by Oxfam Canada running from 2024 to 2031.
Project Aim: Increasing bodily autonomy, agency, and transforming Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) outcomes among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and Adolescent Boys and Young Men (ABYM) in 7 targeted districts of Zimbabwe.
Targeted Districts and Reach: Beitbridge, Gwanda, Harare, Mutare, Makonde, Sanyati and Zvimba aiming to reach 150,000 young people directly and up to 600,000 indirectly.
Project Objectives:
- To challenge and change harmful social norms that restrict the autonomy and well-being of AGYW, while simultaneously empowering AGYW to exercise their agency in making informed decisions about their health, education, and lives.
- To increase availability and improve the quality of comprehensive SRHR services for adolescents and young people.
- To effectively advocate for the health rights and needs of adolescents and young people influencing policy-making process at national and sub-national dialogues.
CHOICE responds to pressing challenges such as high adolescent pregnancy rates, maternal mortality, child marriage, and limited access to SRHR services aligning with the Maputo Protocol and Sustainable Development Goals.
It integrates environmental sustainability, recognizing the gendered impacts of climate change on SRHR and embedding climate resilience into health systems and emergency preparedness.
It also leverages digital health innovations, including platforms for self-managed contraception, and uses community radio, social media, and behavior change campaigns to engage the public.
