The Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare has expressed concern over the slow pace of progress in reducing child marriages in Malawi, saying more needs to be done despite recent improvements.

According to the Ministry, the prevalence of child marriage has dropped from 42 percent last year to 32 percent this year. However, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navitcha said the 10-percentage-point reduction is not enough if the country is to eliminate the practice.

Navitcha made the remarks in Chiwamba under Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe during the launch of a five-year project under the *Partnership to End Child Marriage in Africa* initiative.

"We have many initiatives and organisations working to end child marriage, yet we are still failing to win this fight," she said. "With support from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), I will ensure that resources are put to good use and that all interventions are accelerated so that we can achieve zero child marriages within the next five years."

The five-year programme will be implemented in 10 districts across Malawi. It is a partnership involving the Ministry of Gender, UNICEF and several grassroots organisations, with funding from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), which supports programmes that improve the lives of children in developing countries.

UNICEF Country Representative Dr. Penelope Campbell said ending child marriage will require strong collaboration among all stakeholders. She added that UNICEF will focus on strengthening existing systems to ensure the gains made are sustainable.

"This is a four-country initiative, but Malawi has been selected to lead its implementation. We are excited about this opportunity and will work closely with all implementing partners to accelerate progress and set an example for the other participating countries," she said.

CIFF Director Yvette Kathurima reaffirmed her organisation's commitment to protecting children, particularly girls, by supporting their education and creating opportunities for them to reach their full potential.

"We are determined to help end child marriage in a country where 38 out of every 100 girls are married before reaching adulthood," she said. "Every girl deserves the chance to complete her education, secure meaningful employment or start a business, and become economically independent for the benefit of her family, community and the nation."

Child marriage survivor Pempho Chatha appealed to parents and guardians to prioritise girls' education, saying it is key to empowering them and preventing gender-based violence.

"Many girls are forced into early marriages because parents and guardians believe it will reduce the burden of poverty," she said. "Instead, many of us end up facing abuse and even deeper poverty."

This year alone, 204 child marriages have been recorded in Chiwamba under Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe. The traditional leader said 47 children have been rescued from child marriages and returned to school since last year.