Child marriage and FGM/C have far-reaching consequences throughout the life course and across generations. As such, tackling these harmful practices has increasingly become a development priority, but Ethiopia remains one of the top five countries globally in terms of absolute numbers of girls who married as children. It is home to an estimated 25 million girls and women who have experienced FGM/C, the largest absolute number of any country in eastern and southern Africa.

In line with Ethiopia’s National Costed Roadmap to End Child Marriage and FGM/C (2020–2024), as well as the country’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals targets, a new research project was launched by the government of Ireland. The project aims to provide evidence on the current levels and drivers of FGM/C and child marriage in pastoral communities as well as, over time, to evaluate a multicomponent programme implemented by Save the Children and aimed at eliminating FGM/C and child marriage.

This policy brief summarises findings from mixed methods research carried out in early 2022. It also sets out the implications of those findings for policy and programming, including the implementation of the National Costed Roadmap. It should be noted that the recommendations are not derived from an analysis of Save the Children programme impacts, as this round of research is meant to serve as a baseline. Instead, recommendations are based on the study’s broader findings on FGM/C and child marriage norms and practices.

Authors: Kefyalew Endale, Nicola Jones, Elizabeth Presler-Marshall, Tassew Woldehanna, Workneh Yadete, Abdilahi Abdisalam, Abreham Alemu, Yitagesu Gebeyehu, Kiya Gezahegne, Robha Murha, Eric Neumeister, Abel Tesfaye, Kassahun Tilahun and Fitsum Workneh