Re-IMAGINE: Delaying marriage and childbirth to improve adolescent girls’ self-determination and opportunity in Niger
Girls in Niger experience the world’s highest rates of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy and have the highest
fertility rate in the world. These statistics, combined with some of the lowest levels of secondary education in Sub-Saharan Africa, perpetuate the high rates of child marriage and early and frequent childbearing. Child marriage and early childbearing drive high levels of young girls experiencing maternal mortality and morbidity, limits their educational opportunities, and places them at a higher risk of violence. CARE works to end child marriage by empowering girls to assert their rights, mobilizing families and communities to support them, and influencing policies to protect them.
Evidence from CARE programs and other interventions shows that addressing child marriage at scale requires multiple approaches, interventions, and groups of people to address the problem. CARE works holistically with girls to improve their ability to make informed choices about their futures. It engages men, boys, and community leaders to shift perspectives and cultural norms that hinder opportunities for girls and women. Additionally, CARE builds financial skills and livelihood opportunities for women and girls to expand economic opportunities beyond marriage. In tandem,
improving girls’ education, health, and economic opportunities helps protect them from early or forced marriage.