Multi-Sectoral Collaboration: Building Forces of Change to End Child Marriage
Effective multi-sectoral collaboration is the cornerstone of our strategy to address the systemic roots of child marriage—a challenge no single entity can resolve alone. During this reporting period, the Girls Not Brides Uganda (GNBU) Secretariat and leadership have placed a strategic emphasis on building diverse “forces of change” through intentional stakeholder engagement and mapping.
A United Front: Partnering for Impact
Our approach involves a wide array of stakeholders mapped by their influence and potential to drive implementation. We are working hand-in-hand with:
- UN Agencies & Global Partners: Collaborating with UNICEF, UNFPA, and Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to align project plans and roles for effective execution.
- Government Ministries & Departments: Engaging with the Ministries of Gender, Education, Health, Finance, and Justice.
- Parliamentary Advocacy: We are currently developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Parliamentary Forum for Children. This partnership will position GNBU as a vital “feeder” for required policy reforms and budget advocacy.
- Data & Technical Expertise: Partnering with the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) for data support and the academia for evidence-based technical expertise.
- Civil Society & Private Sector: Working with both member and non-member NGOs (such as BRAC and ChildFund) to reach local communities, alongside the private sector for innovative resource solutions and job creation for girls.
Mechanisms of Engagement
To ensure these stay as active collaborations rather than just names on paper, we have established robust communication and decision-making structures:
- Quarterly Steering Committee Meetings: Our 16-member committee convened twice virtually this period to provide strategic guidance and planning, sharing resolutions with all principal partners and beneficiaries.
- Dedicated Technical Working Group: A three-member team was established to document transformation stories and—crucially—to track and follow up on commitments made by government officials and stakeholders during summits to ensure they turn into tangible actions.
- Summit Organizing Committees: For the 2025 National and Regional Girl Summits, we formed specialized teams covering logistics, safeguarding, fundraising, and communication. This collaborative model attracted significant support from partners like Plan International, Right to Play, CEDOVIP, Africa Water Solutions, and the Uganda Girl Guides Foundation, making the National Summit our most impactful and memorable event to date.
By utilizing these established forums and advisory committees, we are integrating diverse perspectives into our decision-making. We trust that this collective involvement is the surest way to win the fight against child marriage in Uganda.
