Call for EOI: To develop a document on the common understanding of child marriage and its issues

Call for EOI

Title: To develop a document on the common understanding of child marriage and its issues

Duration: 15th July 2025 to 28th August 2025

1. Background:

Child marriage is a multi-faceted issue. In Karnali, it is shifting from forced marriages to eloped or self-initiated unions. As a human rights violation, child marriage should not result in the criminalization of children—yet Nepal’s laws currently penalize them, despite evidence that this approach fails to reduce the practice.

In Karnali, perceptions of child marriage vary widely, with limited awareness and no unified understanding or advocacy agenda—even among champions of the cause. This study explores key questions: Why does child marriage persist in Karnali? How and why does it occur? What drives children and parents to accept it? How do post-marriage complexities and Karnali’s unique patterns differ from other provinces? Most critically, what measures—including provincial/national campaigns and social movements—are needed to reduce it, and what challenges exist? To answer these questions, CACMA-Karnali aims to develop a document fostering a common understanding and agreed advocacy agenda among its members, right holders, and stakeholders.

2. Objectives:

• To explore the literal meaning or definition of child marriage in the context of Karnali,
• To identify the changing forms of child marriage,
• To determine the reasons behind the increasing rate of self-iniciative marriages among children in Karnali, as well as the reasons why parents, families, and society accept child marriage,
• To examine the consequences of criminalization in child marriage—whether criminalization has helped reduce or increase child marriage, and whether children involved in child marriage should be criminalized in Nepal
• To build a common understanding among civil society organizations in Karnali regarding the issue of child marriage.
• To provide actionable recommendations for addressing child marriage to CBOs, alliance and local/province governments.

3. Key Responsibilities:

1. Conduct a review of existing literature, research, policies, and legal frameworks on child marriage in Nepal and Karnali Province.
2. Develop a framework or guideline for creating documents on a common understanding of child marriage.
3. Based on the review and pre-consultation workshop, analyse data and reports on the prevalence, causes, and impacts of child marriage in Karnali, and identify the issues surrounding child marriage.
4. Present, facilitate, and validate findings in a provincial-level workshop.
5. Develop a comprehensive report on child marriage.
6. Present the draft document to CACMA members and relevant stakeholders for feedback and validation.
7. Finalize and submit the comprehensive document to CACMA on child marriage and its issues to foster a common understanding.

4. Deliverables:

1. Inception report covering the methodology and work plan for the review, validation, collection, and compilation of documents.
2. Facilitate workshops with relevant CSOs and government stakeholders.
3. Draft a report on child marriage and its issues to foster a common understanding.
4. Finalize the report, incorporating feedback from stakeholders, and submit the document to CACMA-Karnali.

5. Qualifications:

1. Advanced degree in social sciences, gender studies, development studies.
2. Experience in study, research, policy analysis, and document development on issues related to child marriage and child rights/protection.
3. Strong understanding of the socio-cultural context of Karnali Province.
4. Experience in facilitating workshops.
5. Excellent writing and communication skills in English and Nepali.

6. Duration and Location:

The tentative working days will be 18. The contract will be between the consultant and Aawaaj.

To apply

Interested individuals are requested to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) along with updated CV to skt@aawaaj.org.np and campaignaecm@aawaaj.org.np mentioning daily fee of consultancy rates by 10th July, 2025.