National Consultancy on Social Determinants of Child Marriage
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Background and Study Justification:
As of 2026, Africa has become the global epicenter of child marriage. According to the African Union (AU) 2025 Champion’s Report, the continent now accounts for more than one-third of the world’s child brides—a share projected to exceed 40% by 2030 due to rapid population growth. While global prevalence has seen a slow decline, progress in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in West and Central Africa, has largely stalled. UNICEF (2025) estimates that approximately 130 million girls and women on the continent were married before their 18th birthday. This persistence is fueled by a "polycrisis" of economic instability, climate-driven displacement, and regional conflicts, which often force families to use marriage as a misguided coping mechanism for poverty or protection.
In Liberia, the prevalence of child marriage has seen a significant long-term decline—dropping from nearly 49% in the mid-1990s to approximately 25% today. Despite this progress, the UNICEF Liberia 2024 Annual Report highlights that the practice remains deeply entrenched in specific demographics. Currently, 1 in 4 Liberian girls is married before age 18, and roughly 6% are married before the age of 15. The practice is heavily skewed by geography and socioeconomic status: prevalence rates climb to 39% in rural areas, compared to 18% in urban centers. Furthermore, girls in Liberia’s poorest households are nearly four times more likely to be married off than those in the wealthiest quintile, illustrating that poverty remains the primary driver of early unions in the country.
The drivers of child marriage in both Liberia and the broader African region are multifaceted, rooted in gender inequality and limited educational access. In Liberia, 46% of girls with no formal schooling are married before 18, whereas that figure drops to 15% for those with secondary education or higher. Beyond economics, customary practices and "protectionist" logic—where girls are married to older "protectors" to prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancy—continue to bypass civil laws. Although Liberia’s Domestic Relations Law sets the legal marriage age at 18, legal loopholes and the high social value placed on traditional ceremonies often supersede statutory protections, leaving adolescent girls vulnerable to health risks such as obstetric fistula and maternal mortality.
Efforts to eradicate the practice have gained high-level political momentum. In early 2026, the African Union launched the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme 2.0 (SIARP 2.0), a continental flagship platform aimed at accelerating the elimination of harmful practices. Liberia has aligned with these efforts through its own national campaigns, such as the Ministry of Gender’s "End Child Marriage" initiative and the 2019 commitment by the National Council of Chiefs and Elders to abolish the practice in traditional settings. However, to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 5.3 of total elimination by 2030, experts suggest that progress in the region must accelerate twentyfold to counteract the current demographic trends.
Purpose of consultancy:
This research aims to identify the root causes of child marriage and establish evidence-based strategies for its reduction. By investigating key socioeconomic and cultural drivers and assessing current prevalence rates across selected counties, the study will recommend actionable interventions tailored to the Liberian context.
Scope of work:
This research targets the counties of Gbarpolu, Rivercess, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, and Nimba, selected specifically for their high prevalence rates of child marriage.
Methodology
The study employs a qualitative research design to uncover the underlying drivers of child marriage in Liberia. Primary data will be collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
The study targets the following groups:
Expected results:
Duration and working schedule:
The consultancy timeline covers 90 days, from the initial consultant recruitment through to the delivery of the final report.
Place where services are to be delivered:
While the study spans all five target counties (Gbarpolu, Rivercess, Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, and Grand Bassa), the consultant will be based in Monrovia, with travel to selected counties as required.
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g., electronic, hardcopy, etc.):
The study will be executed over a 90-day duration, beginning in August, with a completion date of October 30, 2026.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format, and deadline:
The Data and Evidence Specialist will manage this consultancy, providing day-to-day oversight and the necessary support to ensure smooth implementation. Following the established timeline, all deliverables will be reviewed by the Specialist before being submitted to the Deputy Representative for final approval.
Supervisory arrangements:
The consultant will be under the supervision of the Programme Specialist, Data and Evidence
Expected travel:
To facilitate data collection, the consultant will travel to the designated counties
Required expertise, qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements:
The consultant must meet the following criteria:
The UNFPA Country Office (CO) will provide efficient and responsive administrative support services to ensure timely delivery.
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