Collective Influencing in Action: Regional Partners Unite to End Child Marriage

Over three transformative days in Nairobi, Girls Not Brides brought together representatives from the African Union, the SADC Parliamentary Forum, UN agencies, youth networks, and international and national civil society organisations for Regional Consultative Discussions on Collective Influencing to Address Child Marriage.

This convening marked a : shifting from fragmented efforts to shared strategies, strengthened partnerships, and unified advocacy to accelerate progress toward ending child marriage across Africa.

A Strategic Space for Collective Action

The discussions went far beyond exchanging ideas – they provided a strategic platform to strengthen partnerships, co-create a regional advocacy pathway (2026–2030), and align efforts with continental and global agendas, including the African Union’s Common Position and the post-2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Key themes included:

• Shifting priorities by integrating child, early and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU) into wider issues such as climate change, inequality, and digital transformation.
• Evolving goals and targets to respond to emerging contexts and post-2030 agendas.
• Strengthening monitoring and accountability through shared advocacy indicators.
• Movement building and partnerships to achieve greater regional equity and coordination amongst governments, donors, and civil society.

Youth Leadership at the Centre

Throughout the convening, youth advocates and survivors played a central role, bringing lived experiences, bold ideas, and powerful calls to action. They reminded all participants that change cannot happen without young people’s leadership.

“I’m not just a survivor’s story — I’m part of the strategy to end child marriage.” — Youth participant and Child Marriage Survivor

Their voices shaped the thematic discussions, influenced the advocacy pathway, and set a clear expectation: collective advocacy must reflect the realities of girls and young people across Africa.

A Shared Vision for 2030 and Beyond

By the close of the discussions, participants had made significant progress toward:

• Co-creating a Regional Advocacy Pathway (2026–2030) that will guide joint action and align national, regional, and continental efforts to end child marriage.
• Developing shared advocacy indicators to track progress and hold governments accountable to their commitments.
• Strengthening partnerships across youth movements, CSOs, and regional institutions to drive collective influencing at scale.
• Reaffirming the political will to address CEFMU through stronger regional and national accountability frameworks.

Looking Ahead

The energy and commitments from Nairobi reflect a clear consensus: ending child marriage in Africa requires coordinated, sustained, and collective action. Girls Not Brides and its partners will continue to work closely with youth networks, civil society, governments, and regional institutions to finalise the advocacy pathway, roll out shared indicators, and keep girls’ rights at the centre of the movement. Together, we are building a future where every girl can choose her path and realise her full potential.