This report and summary brief present findings from the most significant change (MSC) evaluation of Breakthrough ACTION’s efforts to reduce child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM) in Nepal. Since 2020, Breakthrough ACTION has collaborated with the Government of Nepal in Madhesh Province to strengthen institutional and technical capacities for social and behavior change (SBC) activities aimed at reducing CEFM. These multi-year efforts engage municipalities, schools, parents, and communities in promoting girls’ education and creating supportive environments to deter child marriage. Local networks lead and fund activities, with monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems assessing capacity changes and project progress.
The MSC evaluation applied a participatory approach, capturing perspectives from key stakeholders, including community members and government officials in Madhesh Province, to understand what they identified as the most significant outcomes of the Reduce Child, Early, and Forced Marriage project. The study involved 43 key informant interviews and 19 focus group discussions across six municipalities. From the insights gathered, five key areas of change emerged: increased community awareness of CEFM, greater value placed on girls’ education, shifts in parental attitudes, structural and institutional support for CEFM reduction, and observed decreases in child marriage rates. This evaluation highlights the transformative impact of SBC approaches in creating lasting changes within communities.
In addition to the MSC interviews and focus groups, Breakthrough ACTION produced a video entitled, The Changemakers Who Work to Reduce Child, Early, and Forced Marriage in Madhesh, Nepal, that highlights voices from key stakeholders involved in the project.
