Plan International Malawi has decried over it describes as worrying cases of child marriages in the country.
According to Winnie Botha, Technical Lead for Campaigns, 42% of girls are getting married due to poverty and social norms despite numerous interventions being made.
Botha added that access to quality education has been another challenge as girls walk long distances to schools in some parts of the country forcing them drop out of school and get married at young age.
She however said, the organisation is constructing boarding schools in some parts of the country as one way of addressing the challenge.
According to Botha strong collaboration with different stakeholders such as Ministries of Gender, Youth, Justice and girls themselves is another mitigating measure to address the phenomenal.