Every May 28, nonprofits, government agencies, the private sector, the media, and individuals come together to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) and advocate for the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM). This year, MH Day recognizes that periods do not stop for pandemics and will continue to drive home the idea It's Time for Action.
In this Challenge, the Gates Foundation seeks fundamentally transformative and innovative ideas to support the design and development of new menstrual hygiene products that meet key criteria of being responsive to user needs with priority focus on safety, unobtrusiveness, effectiveness (no leaking), cultural acceptability, and sustainability.
USAID and Gap Inc. launched the Women + Water Alliance (W+W Alliance) in 2017 to improve and sustain the health and well-being of women and communities touched by the apparel industry in India.
This infographic highlights some of the key findings from a baseline study documenting water supply availability and the state of women's empowerment in India's Maharashtra state. The Institute for Development Impact conducted the study on behalf of the W+W Alliance.
Achieving gender equity in India is predicated on addressing the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs of females in the country. Predominantly tasked with the responsibility to manage household water and sanitation, women face immense opportunity costs that limit their opportunities for advancement. To address this challenge, USAID and Gap Inc. launched the Women + Water Alliance (W+W Alliance) in 2017 to improve and sustain the health and well-being of women and communities touched by the apparel industry in India.
Like many of us, Fatou Badji balances a hectic schedule. She is the chairlady of a women’s group that sells onions and other essentials. She is also on the frontlines of addressing the global sanitation crisis.
Through creating behavior change community based health clubs, the USAID supported program helps to train residents in hygiene, sanitation, nutrition and access to clean water.
Like many of us, Fatou Badji balances a hectic schedule. She is the chairlady of a women's group that sells onions and other essentials. She is also on the frontlines of addressing the global sanitation crisis.
Today, six in 10 people lack proper sanitation, costing economies $260 billion annually. Poor sanitation leads to the deaths of more than a quarter-million children annually, and affects the safety of women and girls.
To better understand the experiences of working women globally, USAID’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Partnerships and Learning for Sustainability (WASHPaLS) project conducted a review of the limited evidence on the adequacy of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in the workplace to identify the cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and scalability of approaches to improve conditions. This report presents the findings of the review and describes some of the challenges experienced by working women and provides guidance for future investments.
International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The International Women's Day 2020 campaign theme is "I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women's Rights," a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world.
View and filter USAID activities & projects with a gender equality & empowerment focus.
Check out USAID Water's overview of gender equality & empowerment
