2025 Annual Results Report | Protecting Progress: Adapting to a Changing Aid Landscape

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The 2025 Annual Results Report, “Protecting Progress: Adapting to a Changing Aid Landscape,” highlights both the fragility of gains and the resilience of global efforts to end child marriage amid shrinking aid. 
 

Despite significant funding cuts and mounting global challenges, the UNFPA–UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage sustained strong results at scale. In 2025, over 7 million girls were reached with life skills and comprehensive sexuality education, nearly 10 million were supported to stay in or return to school, and millions more accessed health, protection and social services. At the same time, over 14 million people engaged in community dialogue, helping shift harmful social norms, with growing involvement of men, boys and local leaders. Several countries recorded declines in child marriage prevalence, demonstrating that progress is achievable. 
 

However, these gains remain uneven and at risk. In response to declining funding and increasing pressure on national systems, the Programme is prioritizing cost‑effective, evidence‑based interventions, strengthening government ownership and domestic financing, and scaling integrated approaches. These efforts are critical to sustaining progress and accelerating action towards ending child marriage by 2030.

 
Published on 22 May 2026