Evaluating advocacy initiatives: what works?

„ „ Evaluations should include robust political economy analysis of contextual factors influencing the impact of advocacy programmes. Advocacy for social, economic or political change has always existed, in numerous forms and across societies. In recent decades, advocacy’s importance in bringing about social change has been widely recognised and formal advocacy programmes have proliferated, particularly in development programming. They have aimed to establish or change policy and legislation, bring about positive change within an organisation, or target behavioural and attitudinal change amongst individuals or communities. The advent of the Internet and social media has contributed to the growth of advocacy initiatives in terms of their size, frequency and scope.