By Jones Gadama
Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha on Monday launched the first Project Steering Committee meeting for the Chief Kachindamoto Fund, a new national drive aimed at ending child marriage in Malawi.
Speaking in Lilongwe, Navicha described the Fund as a targeted response to a crisis that still forces thousands of girls out of school each year. She noted that 38 percent of girls in Malawi are married before the age of 18.
“This initiative will help keep girls in the classroom and equip communities to abandon harmful practices,” Navicha said. She added that the Fund seeks to provide education support to at least 5,000 girls while working alongside traditional leaders to eliminate child marriages by 2028.
The meeting brings together government officials, development partners, and community representatives who will guide implementation and ensure coordinated action across districts.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Rebecca Adda-Dontoh praised the launch, saying it demonstrates Malawi’s determination to protect young girls and advance gender equality.
“The United Nations will continue to stand with Malawi in promoting gender equality and safeguarding the rights of every girl,” Adda-Dontoh said.
The Chief Kachindamoto Fund is named in honour of the late Senior Chief Kachindamoto, widely recognized for her campaign to annul child marriages and return girls to school in Dedza District.
The Fund is expected to scale up that legacy by strengthening collaboration between government, traditional authorities, civil society, and international partners.
Officials say the steering committee will meet regularly to track progress, mobilize resources, and align interventions under a single national strategy to end child marriage.
