Although child marriage is illegal in Malawi, the country retains one of the highest rates in the world – at 38% national average, with some districts going as high as 66%.

In 2019, Firelight partnered with community-based organizations in five districts in the country – Zomba, Mangochi, Balaka, Dedza and Phalombe – to end child marriage.  

By 2025, the communities had ended 428 marriages and prevented many more by rescuing over 770 girls before the ceremonies could take place. Among the survivors and those at risk, 229 girls were re-enrolled in school and 216 enrolled in vocational training centers.  

The systemic changes they achieved are equally noteworthy. These include:

• Improved reporting networks now linking mother groups, child protection workers, community-based organizations, social welfare officers, and police so they can dissolve cases more quickly and safely.  

• New ways to earn income so families can afford to send their daughters to school.

• Support among stakeholders – from traditional and religious leaders through to government and parents themselves – that prevents any planned marriages get off the ground, effectively ending child marriage in their areas.

The success that the communities achieved – and how they did it –  is the topic of this status report.  

For more on our approach and lessons learned, read our brief.

What’s next:  

In 2026, we are expanding our work in ten districts as part of a consortium called “Protecting Girls, Transforming Futures”, which brings together the Government of Malawi, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and UNICEF, and is supported by technical partners, including Firelight.

Please stay tuned for more on this exciting new work.

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Read Community-led Approaches to Ending Child Marriage in Malawi

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