Child Marriage Cancellation - 2nd Publication - Qualitative Study Experiences and Implications

Aug 22, 2026

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Qualitative research examines experiences and implications of child marriage cancellation in Bahir Dar Zuria and Kewet woredas in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. The study aims to clarify the scope, drivers, and timing of cancellations, describe how young people navigate the process, and identify agency strategies and stakeholder responsibilities. It contextualizes Ethiopia’s high child marriage rates and limited existing evidence, providing evidence for programmes aimed at eliminating child marriage by informing interventions and recommendations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages38

Reading Time1 h 36 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background

Problem statement and justification

Research objectives

Methodology

Study design

Study setting

Study population and recruitment

Methods

Data processing and analysis

Quality assurance

Ethical considerations

Scope of child marriage cancellation

Drivers of child marriage cancellation

At what stage are child marriages cancelled

Child marriage cancellation process

Documentation of cancelled child marriage cases

Adolescents’ experiences of child marriage cancellation

Personal feelings

When and why did cancellation happen

Who they first turned to, who was involved and how the process went

Reactions to and implications of child marriage cancellation

Agency strategies employed by adolescents in child marriage cancellation

Agency strategies

Young people’s space for voice and choice

Feelings of empowerment to cancel child marriage

Stakeholders roles and responsibilities

Schools, teachers, school clubs and peer-students

Roles of police and kebele officials

Roles and responsibilities of siblings

Roles and responsibilities of religious and community leaders

Roles and responsibilities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Implications of child marriage cancellation

Reactions to child marriage cancellation

What happens after the marriage is cancelled?

Life after child marriage cancellation

Discussion and recommendations

Scope of child marriage cancellation

Roles of adolescent girls and boys

Stakeholder’s roles

Implications of child marriage cancellation

Conclusion

CHILD A qualitative study in Bahir Dar Zuria and Kewet Amhara region, MARRIAGE CANCELLATION Experiences and implications woredas Ethiopia KIT ROYAL TROPICAL INSTITUTE, AMREF HEALTH AFRICA ETHIOPIA PLAN INTERNATIONAL ETHIOPIA, TALENT YOUTH ASSOCIATION, DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS CENTER, AMREF FLYING DOCTORS ABOUT YES I DO The Yes I Do project (2016-2020) aims to reduce child marriage, teenage pregnancies and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) related practices in Pakistan, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. It is a joint collaboration with Plan Netherlands, CHOICE, Rutgers, Amref and KIT Royal Tropical Institute. It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. KIT ROYAL TROPICAL INSTITUTE KIT Royal Tropical Institute is an independent centre of expertise and education for sustainable development. We assist governments, NGOs and private corporations around the world to build inclusive and sustainable societies, informing best practices and measuring their impact. THE RESEARCH TEAM Dr. Abeje Berhanu, Dereje Tesema, Belayneh Worku, Almaz Mekonnen, Negest Abebaw, Bereket Andargatchew, Nestanet Fekede, Kalkidan Berhanu (Yes I DO Ethiopia) Anke van der Kwaak, Lisa Juanola, Eefje Smet and Marina Codina (Yes I do Netherlands) Abebe Mamo, Addisu Abebe, DessieKassa, Dugabas Mekonen, EefjeSmet, EnderisSeraj, Eyerusalem Lemma, Mamaru Ayenew, Martha Wolde, Mesfin Ayeta, Nathenal Tamirat, Tigist Dessalegn, Yeshetila Berhanu and MamaruAyenew were part of the proposal development and writting. CONTACT INFORMATION For more information regarding this study, please contact Lisa Juanola at [l.juanola@kit. nl](l.juanola@kit. nl). Photo Credit for the cover photo: Yes I do Alliance (YIDA), Plan Netherlands. Published: August 2020 (second publication with new and adjusted recommendations) Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 3 1.1 Background 3 1.2 Problem statement and justification 4 1.3 Research objectives 5 2. METHODOLOGY 6 2.1 Study design 6 2.2 Study setting 6 2.3 Study population and recruitment 6 2.4 Methods 7 2.5 Data processing and analysis 8 2.6 Quality assurance 8 2.7 Ethical considerations 8 3. SCOPE OF CHILD MARRIAGE CANCELLATION 9 3.1 Drivers of child marriage cancellation 9 3.2 At what stage are child marriages cancelled 10 3.3 Child marriage cancellation process 10 3.4 Documentation of cancelled child marriage cases 11 4. ADOLESCENTS’ EXPERIENCES OF CHILD MARRIAGE CANCELLATION 13 4.1 Personal feelings 13 4.2 When and why did cancellation happen 14 4.3 Who they first turned to, who was involved and how the process went 15 4.4 Reactions to and implications of child marriage cancellation 16 5. AGENCY STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY ADOLESCENTS IN CHILD MARRIAGE CANCELLATION 19 5.1 Agency strategies 19 5.2 Young people’s space for voice and choice in child marriage cancellation 20 5.3 Young people’s feeling of empowerment to cancel child marriage 21 6. STAKEHOLDERS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 22 6.1 Schools, teachers, school clubs and peer-studets 22 6.2 Roles of police and kebele officials 23 6.3 Roles and responsibilities of siblings 23 6.4 Roles and responsibilities of religious and community leaders 24 6.5 Roles and Responsibilities of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) 24 7. IMPLICATIONS OF CHILD MARRIAGE CANCELLATION 26 7.1 Reactions to child marriage cancellation 26 7.2 What happens after the marriage is cancelled? 27 7.3 Life after child marriage cancellation 29 8. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 33 8.1 Scope of child marriage cancellation 33 8.2 Roles of adolescent girls and boys in child marriage cancellation 33 8.3 Stakeholder’s roles in child marriage cancellation 34 8.4 Implications of Child Marriage cancellation 35 9. CONCLUSION 36 1. INTRODUCTION This report presents the results of a study conducted within the Yes I Do programme in some of the intervention areas in

FAQs

What does the study focus on regarding child marriage cancellation in Ethiopia?

The study focuses on the scope and implications of child marriage cancellation, with emphasis on adolescents’ experiences of cancellation in Amhara region intervention areas during 2019.

Which aspects of the cancellation process does the report analyze?

It examines drivers of cancellation, the stage at which cancellations occur, how the cancellation process unfolds, and how cancelled cases are documented.

How do adolescents and stakeholders contribute to child marriage cancellation?

The report describes adolescents’ agency strategies and feelings of empowerment, and it details roles of schools, police and kebele officials, siblings, religious and community leaders, and NGOs.

Aug 22, 2026

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