New Global Affairs Canada Partnership Advances Menstrual Health for Women & Girls in Cameroon
Good Neighbours Canada proudly announces the signing of a new partnership with Global Affairs Canada (GAC)! The project focuses on advancing Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) education, information and infrastructure in order to advance gender equality in Méhé Cameroon, with the support of Good Neighbours Cameroon (GNCMR). This project is a result of the successful Better Life for Girls project, which has been active in Cameroon since 2017, GNCA remains committed to empowering girls and women by focusing on menstrual hygiene management.
The Problem with Menstrual Management
500 million women and girls face challenges in managing menstruation. In Méhé, a community in the Far North region of Cameroon, the lack of appropriate menstrual materials is a significant issue, with 84.9% of women lacking family support for purchasing sanitary napkins, leading many to use old rags which are less effective and can be damaging for health. For girls attending secondary school in neighbouring villages—those who do not marry young or drop out—inadequate menstrual supplies and WASH facilities in school contribute to poor attendance.
Additionally, water access for hygiene is problematic: 87.7% of menstruating women report insufficient water during their periods due to inadequate infrastructure. Six communities in Méhé lack boreholes, and seven have no wells or water sources. Most households use open pit toilets, and privacy is a major concern for menstruating individuals, with 61.7% finding it difficult to secure private space and 14.3% experiencing occasional difficulties.
The Better Life for Girls Program
Our project directly addresses these issues with GAC’s funding support.
- We will enhance MHH education by training women’s groups, girls’ clubs, community health workers, and teachers in menstrual hygiene management, equipping them to spread accurate information throughout the community.
- Additionally, we will develop a co-creation process for locally-made menstrual products, supporting local leaders throughout the entrepreneurial process of creating, producing, and selling menstrual pads within their community. This approach aims to address existing supply shortages and financial barriers, and to provide an additional income generation stream for women-led co-operatives in the community.
- Finally, we will support the construction of boreholes and toilets while promoting female leadership in WASH Management Committees, aiming for at least 50% female representation to improve gender equality and resource management.
Programs funded by this grant were chosen by Global Affairs Canada for demonstrating potential to enhance economic empowerment and inclusivity of women and girls, with a reliable and effective solution to issues on gender equality. Not only is this funding success a testament to our ability, it also allows us to strengthen our position as a Canadian development non-profit organisation.
With this grant, we are looking forward to making sustainable change for vulnerable community members in the Far North region of Cameroon, and hope for continued support as we continue to deepen our impact on vulnerable communities.
Visit our Better Life for Girls page to learn more about the program and stay tuned for future updates!
This project is done with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.
