Malawi
Girls Not Brides Malawi is made up of over 90 civil society organisations working to end child marriage in Malawi. Created in 2012, the coalition became an official Girls Not Brides National Partnership in November 2017.
The civil society organisations that make up the National Partnership approach the issue of child marriage through various lenses, including education, health, girls and women’s rights. The organisations work together to influence laws and policies related to girls and young women who are at risk of, or affected by child marriage.
Together, we can shatter the chains of child marriage and unleash the full potential of girls everywhere. As a national partnership for Girls Not Brides Malawi, we embody the transformative power of collective action, proving that when we unite, we can create a brighter, more just future for all girls, where they can thrive, learn, and lead. Our partnership is a vibrant tapestry of diverse members, including women-led, youth-led, national, community-based, and international organizations, each bringing their unique perspective, rich knowledge, and expertise to the table.
Jenipher Mkandawire, National Coordinator Girls Not Brides Malawi National Partnership
They are calling for an alignment of the laws and policies with the international instruments that the country has adhered to, and ensuring their implementation. Girls Not Brides Malawi also works to strengthen the capacity of its members to deliver effective programmes to address child marriage and to work together towards realising their common goal.
The Girls Not Brides Malawi National Partnership to End Child Marriage and representatives from Girls Not Brides at the Malawi Accelerator Initiative Workshop in Lilongwe, February 2025.
Successes
“The laws in the country are now harmonised. It was important to amend the constitution as it is the supreme law of the land.” – Lusungu Kalanga, a Malawian activist.
Girls Not Brides Malawi has been a powerful advocate in raising the minimum legal age of marriage to 18 years. After the adoption of the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill in 2015, which raised the minimum legal age of marriage to 18, members of the National Partnership, in February 2017, successfully contributed to the constitutional amendment of the age of the child. This resulted in a harmonisation of both pieces of legislation.
Girls Not Brides Malawi has also partnered with the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare to launch a national campaign on child marriage, and is currently contributing to the development of the national strategy for ending child marriage.
Structure
Girls Not Brides Malawi National Partnership is co-chaired by Girls Empowerment Network (GENET) and Plan International Malawi, and co-hosted and co-coordinated by Foundation for Children’s Rights (FCR) and Coalition for the Empowerment of Women and Girls. The partnership is supported by a Steering Committee.
