Feasibility of reusable menstrual products in humanitarian programming

WHAT IS THE HUMANITARIAN NEED?

Globally girls and women often struggle to manage their menstruation safely and comfortably. The far-reaching implications of inadequate menstrual health management (MHM) for the physical, social and mental wellbeing of women and girls are often exasperated in humanitarian contexts, where they have less coping mechanisms. Humanitarian minimum standards have, for some time, recognised the importance of MHM. However there is a lack of research into effective interventions to improve MHM within the complex humanitarian landscape, and a lack of practical guidance on delivery of appropriate interventions across the humanitarian crisis lifespan, from acute to long-term situations.

WHAT IS THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTION?

The project will assess the feasibility of integrating menstrual health education and the distribution of a menstrual hygiene kit, containing either a menstrual cup or reusable pads, into existing programming within Bidibidi Refugee Settlement. The project will be implemented by our partner Welthungerhilfe for a duration of eight months. Community based actors selected from among community health clubs, livelihoods groups and community hygiene promoters will be trained in the delivery of menstrual health training, community sensitisation and provision of support throughout the intervention. Community sensitisation activities will also target the wider community, including boys and men.
Humanitarian stakeholders working within refugee settlements within West Nile will be engaged in participatory stakeholder meetings aimed at developing practical, usable guidelines for humanitarian actors, based on existing humanitarian structures and lessons learnt from project implementation.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES?

2,000 women will have improved menstrual health management resulting in overall increased dignity and wellbeing. The targeted communities will have fostered more supportive environments for MHM and MHM stakeholders engaged in the project will have increased knowledge and expertise on MHM interventions.
This project will build the evidence base on implementation of MHM interventions within a refugee settlement context, particularly on the acceptance and feasibility of introduction of reusable pads and menstrual cups. This evidence will be used to inform MHM intervention design and implementation in refugee settings through the production of technical guidance and recommendations for how menstrual cups and reusable pads can be integrated and scaled-up, to enable other humanitarian organisations to replicate such interventions in other humanitarian contexts.