Ipas Malawi launches tool to fight child marriage, teen pregnancy, and school dropout

Ipas Malawi, in partnership with the Government of Malawi and the National Planning Commission, hosted a national dialogue in the country to address the systemic challenges limiting young girls’ autonomy and opportunities. The focus was on the intersection of child marriage, teen pregnancy, and school dropout (known as the CTS Nexus)—complex and overlapping issues which put girls and young women at risk of unwanted pregnancy, sexual abuse and living in poverty.

A group of nine people stands on a stage in front of a backdrop featuring "Ipas" and "National Planning Commission" logos. They are posing next to a large signed document, dressed in formal and business attire.

“The CTS Nexus costs us at least $15 trillion in lost lifetime earnings, but for each individual girl, the cost is immeasurable,” said Anu Kumar, Ipas President and CEO, in a recorded video message played during the dialogue meeting. In her video message, she emphasized the need for collaboration amongst individuals, experts, government officials, elected leaders, community and traditional leaders, teachers and schools to address this challenge head-on.

The four-day event began with a comprehensive training for Ipas staff from Bolivia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Indonesia, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and the United States. This was followed by a two-day dialogue, culminating in the development of a scorecard assessment tool which can be used to identify strategic areas for programming that addresses the CTS Nexus in a given context.

Hon. Jean Sendeza, Malawi’s Minister of Gender, described the CTS Nexus tool as a game changer, emphasizing the need for holistic, multisectoral partnerships. “No single institution can solve the CTS crisis alone. We need strong collaboration across government, civil society, and development partners. Ipas has been instrumental in advancing this agenda,” she stated.

The urgency of addressing CTS

Globally, 650 million girls have been married as children, affecting their education and economic independence. In low- and middle-income countries, nearly half of pregnancies among young women aged 15–19 are unintended, with 55% resulting in unsafe abortions. Malawi has one of the world’s highest child marriage rates (42.1% of women married before 18) despite the 2015 Marriage, Divorce, and Family Relations Act which sets 18 as the minimum age for marriage. Poverty, unintended pregnancies, and entrenched social norms continue to drive early marriage and childbearing in adolescence.

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“We cannot stand by as young girls are forced into marriage or school dropout due to unintended pregnancies,” said Pansi Katenga, Ipas Director of Development. “Investing in family planning and reproductive health saves lives, fuels economic growth, and strengthens gender equity.”

A turning point for policy and action

The National Planning Commission’s Director of Research, Dr. Andrew Jamali, stressed that the event was not just a launch but a turning point in addressing the CTS Nexus. Stakeholders were urged to break the cycle of child marriage, teen pregnancy, and school dropout by fostering data-driven, cross-sectoral policies.

“We launched a transformative framework to protect girls’ rights, keep them in school, and empower their dreams,” said Joab Frank Chakhaza, a prominent journalist and radio/television figure who helped host the event, in a Facebook post afterward. “I believe the launched Malawi CTS Scorecard is a game-changer to guide stakeholders and hold everyone accountable in fighting the social injustice of CTS.”

A man in a suit and tie holds a microphone, standing in front of a curtain. He wears glasses and a pin on his lapel. A table with a water bottle and flowers is in the foreground.

Dr. Andrew Jamali, director of research for the National Planning Commission, speaks during the event.

The leaders of the dialogue emphasized the need for integrated, evidence-based solutions, prioritizing reproductive justice, contraception access, safe abortion services, and comprehensive sexuality education. The CTS Nexus dialogue served as a collective call to action, advocating for continued policy reform, community engagement, and increased investment in reproductive health services.

“When girls have access to education, reproductive healthcare, and economic opportunities, they are better equipped to make informed decisions about their lives,” the Embassy of Iceland in Lilongwe, Malawi, said in a Facebook post after the event. “Iceland actively engages in all these areas—through our support for education, health services, and economic empowerment initiatives. We believe that a coordinated approach is essential to addressing these challenges effectively.”

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“We must challenge socio-cultural norms that perpetuate child marriage and adolescent pregnancy,” Katenga concluded. “Expanding access to sexual and reproductive health services is key to ensuring every young person can shape their own future.”

Pictured below: Leaders at the national dialogue event sign a commitment to support efforts that tackle the CTS Nexus. Photos by Zozizwa Wide.