Dear friend,

A message from our CEO

As 2025 draws to a close, I reflect on a year defined by resilience and hope, especially in the face of immense challenges.  

We experienced both new and evolving threats emerge, alongside the persistent challenge of reduced funding for essential development work, all of which are threatening the gains we have made and undermining efforts to bring about lasting change for girls. Yet our members continue to show up, time and again, leading advocacy efforts and challenging harmful norms so that girls everywhere can not only thrive but also shape their own futures. Although the road ahead seems difficult, they remind us of what is possible when we stand together. We have seen girls rising as leaders, a global movement to end child marriage growing stronger, and our collective action changing lives. This is why the movement matters. 

Looking ahead to 2026, the call for collaboration has never been greater. This moment presents both an opportunity and a necessity: to work more closely together, maximise our shared resources, and rise to meet the challenges ahead together because we are stronger together and that is the power of our movement.

With insight and thought-leadership of our members and partners, we’ve been developing the new Girls Not Brides’ Secretariat Strategy (2026-2030). For the next 5 years, this will be our roadmap for bold action to end child marriage, It reflects the lessons we have learnt, the challenges we face, and the urgency of this moment. We are deeply grateful to all who contributed their expertise and perspectives, and we look forward to sharing more in the new year.  

With renewed energy for the year ahead, together, we will keep building momentum to end child marriage. 

Dr. Faith Mwangi-Powell 

CEO, Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage 

LOOKING BACK AT 2025

• Showcased our leadership at CSW in March and UNGA in October, where we co-hosted high-level events amplifying the voices and rights of girls—and ensured child marriage remained firmly on the global agenda. At CSW, we launched the #DearFutureMe campaign with Girls First Fund and Nawi Initiative. 

• Convened the movement at key regional conferences, including the Regional Consultative Convening on Collective Influencing to Address Child Marriage in Kenya, the Education Out Loud (EOL) regional convening in Grand Bassam, the SADC Parliamentary Forum in South Africa, the 16th Regional Conference on Women in Mexico City, and the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development.   

• Introduced the ‘End Child Marriage Collective’, a new initiative designed to unite and strengthen the wider ecosystem, presented at our Annual Strategic Partner Meeting in October, co-hosted with Global Affairs Canada and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. 

• Together with National Partnerships, we helped shape national strategies to end child marriage, including Kenya’s first ever National Strategy on Ending Harmful Practices and Nepal’s National Strategy and Costed Implementation Plan to End Child Marriage.   

MOVEMENT MAKERS

The 2025 cohort of Movement Makers

During this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender‑Based Violence, we celebrate Movement Makers — activists and grassroots leaders working tirelessly to end child marriage. Watch their stories of what inspires them to take action and how they are driving change in their communities and countries. 

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