_upscale
By: Dawit Astatike
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia Today) June 9, 2023 – CARE France, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), came together today i to sign a ground breaking grant agreement worth 146 million Birr, that complements a 48 million Birr support to develop a private public dialogue platform through a contract with Eagate.
The primary objective of this project is to reinforce the menstrual hygiene and health (MHH) sector in Ethiopia according to the press realese sent to Ethiopia Today.
In Ethiopia, 72% of women and girls report not being able to manage their menstruation and related hygiene with dignity.
By fostering the development of the MHH value chain in particular the production and distribution to the last mile of MH products by the private sector, it will ensure that girls and women across the country have sustainable access to high-quality, affordable, and environmentally friendly menstrual hygiene products.
This ambitious project is designed to overcome obstacles that hinder the growth of the private sector by establishing a platform for public-private dialogue, with the support of Eagate and to develop a pilot local production of biodegradable top-notch, and cost-effective MH products based on local raw materials.
CARE France and CARE Ethiopia will develop awareness raising activities and manage the support to the MH pilot production and distribution through support to the private sector. With a projected engagement of 5 million individuals throughout the project duration, its impact will be far-reaching.
AFD is already contributing to MHH improvement with the support of CARE, in Adama. “Through this
partnership, AFD, EiTEX, Eagate and CARE are embarking on an effort to revolutionize menstrual hygiene
products’ production and distribution and finding solutions to reduce the limitations to the value chain. We
couldn’t be more thrilled about this project, small in financial size but which aligns with our strategic vision
in the country, develops partnerships between private and public actors and could make a substantial impact on various sustainable development goals,” stated Valérie Tehio, AFD Country Director in Ethiopia.
France is at the forefront of women’s empowerment and wants to unlock the private sector contribution to
a problem that jeopardizes the quality of life of millions of women, says Remi Marechaux, Ambassador of
France in Ethiopia and for the African Union.
The project will work towards developing last mile distribution, reaching even the most remote areas, and supporting private sector growth.
