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Humanitarian Innovation Funds (HIF) project / Disseminating IFRC’s Menstrual Hygiene Management experiences

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Humanitarian Innovations Funds

Menstrual Hygiene Day 28th of May / NoMoreLimits#
On Menstrual Hygiene Day 2018, the IFRC is advocating for improved actions to address the menstrual hygiene needs of women and girls in the humanitarian contexts. As you know, over 26 million displaced girls and women around the world face challenges such as the lack of access to menstrual supplies, difficulty in finding private and appropriate bathing, drying or latrine facilities, restrictions or stigmas from cultural taboos and traditional beliefs, and a lack of information.
To raise awareness of the challenges women and girls worldwide face due to their menstruation and highlights solutions that address these challenges, including through media work:
We’ve created a video and a series of assets to use as a Facebook and/or Instagram story. Some of could also be repurposed for Twitter.
• IFRC Menstrual Hygiene advocacy video

Assets for Facebook and instagram
• Video 1 option for Twitter
• Video 2 option for Twitter
• Video 3 Option for Twitter
• Video 4 Option for Twitter

Red Cross Red Crescent Menstrual Hygiene Webinar:
Title: Red Cross and Red Crescent experiences in Menstrual Hygiene Management Projects, May 2018
RCRC Menstrual Hygiene Webinar

Red Cross Red Crescent experiences in East Africa and recommendations for supporting women and girls with menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in emergencies. Results from MHM operational research in four Eastern African countries showed improvements in dignity, health and knowledge after the distribution of MHM Kits and promotion of menstrual hygiene. Findings highlighted the importance of appropriate facilities, including safe and private spaces for maintain hygiene and washing, changing and drying pads. Details can be found here: MHM Case Study V5b digital
ALNAP Case Study on Improving Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergencies: IFRC’s MHM Kit Improving Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergencies: IFRC’s MHM Kit This study is one in a series of 15 case studies, undertaken by ALNAP in partnership with ELRHAs Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), exploring the dynamics of successful innovation processes in humanitarian action. They examine what good practice in humanitarian innovation looks like ,m what approaches and tools organisations have used to innovate in the humanitarian system, what the barriers to innovation are for individual organisations , and how they can be overcome. IFRC pilots projects were initiated in Madagascar, Somaliland and Uganda with funding from Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) and British Red Cross with an aim of testing the kits in a wider range of locations and contexts. The overall goal of the pilot and scale-up projects was to improve the dignity of women and adolescent girls during emergency situations by exploring the appropriateness, effectiveness, acceptability and value of MHM Kits in emergencies thus providing evidence based information for inclusion of MHM kits as a specific humanitarian relief item. IFRC’s MHM Kit specifications Menstrual Hygiene Management Kit details
HIF Evaluation Case Study: IFRC IFRCs HIF project “Improving Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergencies” ran from October 2014 until March 2016 and was implemented by Red cross/ crescent in Somalia, Madagascar and Uganda. Although menstrual hygiene management is not a live death issue in emergency settings, it has profound impact upon women and adolescent girls -their dignity -their dignity, hygiene , health, education, protection and security- and there are consequential risks from not addressing it. Lack of provision and facilities during menstrual period (latrines, bathing areas, private drying areas) can lead to shame and embarrassment, possible gender-based violence, infection, loss of mobility and decreased school attendance. Whilst these issues, and the cultural practices associated with menstruation, face millions of poor women across the developing world , needs are particularly acute in emergency settings where women have very few resources. The HIF grant was for the implement stage of the innovation cycle and funded and operational research , part of this stages is this the evaluation done in June 2017. HIF IFRC Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergency evaluation HIF external recent evaluations
Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in Emergencies: Consolidated Report Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergencies: Consolidated Report In an effort to address the multi-faceted nature of MHM as well as contribute to the limited evidence base for MHM interventions in emergencies, IFRC initiated a pilot operational research project in Burundi around MHM in emergencies in 2012 (completed in 2013), supported by the Norwegian, Netherlands and British Red Cross Societies. In 2013, three additional pilots were initiated in Madagascar, Somaliland and Uganda with funding from Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) and British Red Cross with an aim of testing the kits in a wider range of locations and contexts. The overall goal of the pilot and scale-up projects was to improve the dignity of women and adolescent girls during emergency situations by exploring the appropriateness, effectiveness, acceptability and value of MHM Kits in emergencies thus providing evidence based information for inclusion of MHM kits as a specific humanitarian relief item. This report provides a critical analysis of the results of the scale up operational research MHM projects in Uganda, Madagascar and Somaliland.

Operational research on menstrual hygiene management (MHM) kits for emergencies

Case study and results from pilot research on MHM kits in Bwagiriza refugee camp, Burundi, 2013

The project focused on understanding the needs of women and adolescent girls around menstruation in a humanitarian context. Evidence based trials were conducted in Bwagiriza refugee camp in Burundi (refugees of Congolese origin), to determine the appropriateness, acceptability and value of MHM Kits as a relief item.

Two types of MHM kit were designed for personal use by adolesent girls and women: MHM Kit A (disposable) and MHM Kit B (reusable).

The MHM Kits were designed to enable safe and hygienic management of the menstrual flow – and include items to enable the use of sanitary pads, as well as items for washing, drying, disposal and storage. Pragmatic and contextualised information, in local language and with descriptive pictures, is also included.