THANK YOU The GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction is delighted that Louisa Ameyo Agossivi Sedjro, First Deputy Chair of the GIZ Supervisory Board, and Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Member of the GIZ Management Board, as well as the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Bärbel Kofler, show their commitment to this important issue – together with around 500 colleagues from more than 40 countries. Louisa Ameyo Agossivi Sedjro, First Deputy Chair of the GIZ Supervisory Board 2 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 

MenstruAction FROM ENTHUSIASM TO ACTION This brochure illustrates the journey of the GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction from its beginnings until today. Some of the successes we achieved were inspired through our exchange and joint activities. We thank all of those who contributed! It all started in 2015 with a loose collaboration between colleagues from the education, health, gender and WASH sector. In 2018 this exchange became more formalized, through a series of exchange meetings on Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH). The meetings were jointly organised by the Sector Programme Sustainable Sanitation, the Support to the Health Sector Programme in Nepal and a diverse group of dedicated colleagues. This group of colleagues and the related exchange format on MHH became the nucleus for the GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction. The multi-sectoral group organized a range of exchange meetings and networking events within and outside of GIZ. From the start the colleagues reached out to other networks such as the Global Menstrual Collective, the MHM Partner’s Alliance Nepal and the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA), to other initiatives led by organisations like UNICEF, Columbia University or the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and to change makers like the famous Indian Pad Man, Arunachalam Muruganantham. Last, but not least, the German NGO WASH United, which invented the Menstrual Hygiene (MH) Day in 2014 and has been hosting the global secretariat since then, was a key partner from the very beginning. Bringing together interested GIZ colleagues, working in different sectors and countries with prominent stakeholders around the topic from within and outside GIZ helped us in breaking the taboo around MHH and to either incorporate or strengthen MHH measures in a range of programmes and activities. The exchange helped us to be more creative and generate ideas for joint activities around the MH Day and to involve more and more colleagues from a growing range of programmes and countries. In addition, the exchange on MHH allowed for mutual learning from each other and helped spread good ideas among the colleagues involved. MHH has proven to be an intersectoral topic (see page 24) that needs cross fertilization between a range of approaches and perspectives including the involvement of colleagues from programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights, school health, WASH and gender equality and empowerment programmes, education, values and religion as well as waste management / circular economy. In addition, an impressive number of interested colleagues also joined the initiative and the meetings out of enthusiasm for the topic as such and despite weak or no direct work- related links to the topic. We aim at further mainstreaming the topic in the coming years and invite you to contact us and to join the initiative! After all, our work on MHH is nothing less than feminist development cooperation in practice! #WeAreCommitted GE T IN T OUCH WI T H US! If you are planning an initiative linked to or focusing on MHH please contact us via: MenstruAction@giz.de We are trying to bring together all those interested in the topic and to allow for knowledge exchange and cross fertilization. We could e.g. include your initiative or idea in one of the upcoming meetings. 4 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 

#NoMoreLimits GLOBAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY Dr. Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (2018–2021), showed her clear support to the global movement through her press release on MH Day. To better support the ministry in future activities a first GIZ internal exchange meeting on the topic was organised. „Wir müssen das Schweigen über das Tabu der weiblichen Menstruation brechen …“ DR. MARIA FLACHSBARTH BMZ PARLAMENTARISCHE STAATSSEKRETÄRIN (2018 BIS 2021) AUSZUG BMZ-PRESSEMITTEILUNG MH DAY 2018: „Wir müssen das Schweigen über das Tabu der weiblichen Menstruation brechen (…), Warum bleiben in manchen Ländern die Schreibtische qualifizierter Frauen einige Tage im Monat unbesetzt, verzichten Marktfrauen auf den Verkauf ihrer Waren und sind für die Gemeinschaft tagelang unsichtbar? Manchmal liegt es nur daran, dass Mädchen oder Frauen keinen Zugang zu Hygieneartikeln haben, dass getrennte Toiletten oder Waschmöglichkeiten in der Schule oder bei der Arbeit fehlen. Oder weil die Regelblutung von der Gesellschaft stigmatisiert oder mit religiösem Tabu belegt ist. Alle diese Hürden, die Mädchen und Frauen daran hindern, gleichberechtigt am Leben teilzunehmen, wollen wir mit unserer Entwicklungszusammenarbeit überwinden helfen. Sensible und geduldige Aufklärungsarbeit sind nur ein erster Schritt, praktische Unterstützung ebenso entscheidend. (…) Viele mögen es unangenehm finden, über das Thema Menstruationshygiene offen zu sprechen. Ja, das kostet Überwindung – aber nicht darüber zu sprechen, kostet Lebensperspektiven für Mädchen und Frauen. Wir können es uns aber nicht leisten, auf die Hälfte der Weltbevöl- kerung tagelang zu verzichten und sie tagelang wegen ihrer Tage auszuschließen. Deswegen lohnt es sich, dieses Tabu zu brechen.“ MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT – AN OVERVIEW OF A NEGLECTED ISSUE In 2016, GIZ as partner of the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) published the first SuSanA review on the topic of Menstrual Hygiene Management. In a cross-divisional effort, a number of GIZ colleagues contributed to the above-mentioned publication – including the Sustainable Sanitation Programme and the Regional Fit For School Programme. https://bit.ly/3ORwPgi WASH in Schools MHM – Link Collection WASH in Schools MHM – Link Collection MMeennssttrruuaall HHyyggiieennee MMaannaaggeemmeenntt –– AAnn oovveerrvviieeww ooff aa nneegglleecctteedd iissssuuee MMeennssttrruuaall HHyyggiieennee MMaannaaggeemmeenntt –– AAnn oovveerrvviieeww ooff aa nneegglleecctteedd iissssuuee Compiled on behalf of SuSanA working group 7 “Sustainable WASH in Institutions and Gender Equality” Marie Claire Lutters, Shrutha Sivakumar & Sophia Bäurle Compiled on behalf of SuSanA working group 7 “Sustainable WASH in Institutions and Gender Equality” With support from Sector Programme “Sustainable Sanitation”, GIZ, Eschborn and in cooperation with Regional Fit for School Programme, GIZ, Manila Marie Claire Lutters, Shrutha Sivakumar & Sophia Bäurle With support from Sector Programme “Sustainable Sanitation”, GIZ, Eschborn - Updated version June 2018 - and in cooperation with Regional Fit for School Programme, GIZ, Manila - Updated version June 2018 - TOP: Students in a school in the Philippines. ABOVE: SuSanA Review on MHM, first release 2016, updated edition 2018.GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 6

#ItsTimeForAction GLOBAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY Event with over 100 participants at the Humboldt Forum, Berlin. At the event, the academy award-winning Netflix documentary ‘Period. End of Sentence.’ was screened and discussed by a diverse panel and the audience. https://bit.ly/3sERnzb ‘Nepal’s Menstrual Movement’ – launch of the report in Kathmandu, Nepal and Berlin, Germany. The report ‘Nepal’s Menstrual Movement’ is documenting the fantastic work of activists and a range of stakeholders in Nepal. https://bit.ly/374T5SK BMZ Parliamentary State Secretary’s Interview on MHH. Dr. Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (2018–2021), showed her clear support to the global movement through an interview which was published on social media on MH Day 2019. https://bit.ly/3l0qf9x Implemented by: In Cooperation with: NEPAL’S MENSTRUAL MOVEMENT How ‘MenstruAction’ is making life better for girls and women in Nepal — month after month 1 #MHDAY2019 #ItsTimeForAction MENSTRUATION. IMMER NOCH EIN TABUTHEMA? 28. MAI 2019 / FILM ”STIGMA MONATSBLUTUNG“ & ANSCHLIESSENDE DISKUSSION Mit Dr. Reyhan Sahin aka Lady Bitch Ray, Heike Kleen (Spiegel Online Kolumnistin, Autorin ‚Das Tage-Buch‘), Ina Jurga (Initiatorin MH Day), Cordelia Röders-Arnold (Head of Menstruation, Einhorn) und weiteren Akteuren der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. 18 bis 20 Uhr / Heilig-Geist-Kapelle der HU Spandauer Straße 1 / 10178 Berlin Unterstützt vom: Implementiert durch: O S C A R - G EW I N N E R 2 01 9 K a te g o r i e : ku r ze r D o k u m e n t a r fi l m © BMZ Technology Applicability Framework – TAF assessment of two low-cost sanitary pad machines placed in women’s collectives in Nepal. https://bit.ly/3vAJ75d sustainablesanitationallianceTECHNOLOGY APPLICABILITY FRAMEWORK // TAF ASSESSMENT LOW-COST SANITARY PAD MACHINETwo low-cost sanitary pad machines placed in women’s collectives in NepalGIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 8

GIZ GENDER COMPETITION 2020 Menstrual Health and Hygiene activities of GIZ’s Health Programme Nepal were among the top submissions of more than 120 entries. Article in the GIZ publication ‘Step it up for Gender Equality at GIZ and around the world’. https://bit.ly/383p9Xw #Nepals Menstrual Movement INNOVATIVE EDUCATION APPROACH: THE MENSTRUATION BRACELET The Special MH Day Edition by the young women-led nonprofit ‘Social Changemakers and Innovators’ (SOCHAI) is following a ‘matching’ model: Each of the 200 Menstruation Bracelets purchased by the GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction is matched by another RedCycle bracelet to raise awareness in Durga Higher Secondary School in Kailali District, Western Nepal. The RedCycle bracelet is developed as an educational tool to better understand the monthly menstruation cycle in an easy, innovative and fun way. www.sochai.org Step it up for Gender Equality at GIZ and around the world36CONTEXTMany restrictions surrounding menstruation in Nepal and worldwide have arisen out of deeply entrenched cultural and religious tra-ditions and beliefs. In Nepal, during men-struation, often girls and women are barred from visiting religious sites, entering the kitchen or even sleeping in their homes. Lack of or poor access to affordable menstrual products and sanitary facilities negatively impact a girls’ and womens’ health and undermine their participation in education, economic and public life and thus impacting their access to equal opportunities and rights. Research commissioned by GIZ in 2016 revealed that almost 70 per cent of girls in Nepal experienced at least one form of restric-tion during menstruation. Thus gender equality cannot be reached in Neal until menstrual restrictions are eradicated.GENDER – A QUALITY FEATURE FOR OUR WORK The Support to the Health Sector Programme worked with a range of organisations to estab-MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN IN NEPAL – MONTH AFTER MONTHBREAKING THE SILENCE AND TABOOS SURROUNDING MENSTRUAL HEALTH MANAGEMENTlish the Menstrual Health Practitioners’ Alli-ance (MHMPA) in order to respond to these menstrual restrictions and gender inequality in Nepal. Over 50 organisations are in MHMPA, including government, NGOs, academia, UN agencies and INGOs. Together they implement over 80 initiatives. Since 2016, GIZ has worked with local NGOs, to develop Training of Trainers (ToT) for teach-ers and health service providers and youth empowerment programmes on MHM and rights. In the last two years, GIZ has con-ducted ToT training for some 525 individuals across three districts in Nepal. GIZ also tar-gets male teachers and adolescent boys in their programme to empower them to reach out to their friends, fathers and communities.In 2018, with the MHMPA, GIZ organised a national consultative workshop on menstrual health management (MHM). Over 500 peo-ple attended the workshop including youth, members from the LGBTI community, gov-ernment and other key stakeholders. In May 2019, GIZ Nepal published a 60-page report on the MHM movement in Nepal. Moreover, to highlight GIZ Nepal’s work on menstrual health and gender equality, six articles have been published on BMZ’s Healthy Develop-ments. In August 2019, GIZ worked with key partners to conduct a “stakeholder mapping” of the Alliance. The MHMPA website pro-vides insights into activities and results, fact-sheets and further reading.GENDER IMPACTThe key results relate to the ways in which perspectives are changing and beliefs are adapting to the change.The Government of Nepal is developing a policy on dignified menstruation and adapting the health and science curriculum. GIZ Nepal provides technical support the government so that these policies are imple-mented fully. As of January 2020, the Gov-ernment is distributing free compostable sanitary pads to all girls in grades 6-12 attending public schools of Nepal, thus enabling them to attend school and advance their education. GIZ continues to work with women’s col-lectives to assist in the local production and distribution of biodegradable sanitary pads in four municipalities, renovating school toilets and exploring new ways to produce bio-degradable pads.© GIZSpecial Menstrual Hygiene Day Edition We provide free Redcycle Bracelet and Menstrual Counseling to an adolescent girl in rural marginalized communitieswww.sochai.org/youthfornutrition/sochai_yfn/sochai_yfnSochai Youth for NutritionGIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 10

GIZ GENDER COMPETITION 2022: TWO AWARDS WENT TO THE TOPIC OF MENSTRUAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE The Regional Fit For School Programme received the first prize in the GG1 category for reaching 27 million learners with information on MHH in cooperation with the Department of Education Philippines. The social media campaign #NepalsMenstrualMovement was among the TOP 15 submissions – out of more than 100 entries. In a country of 30 million people, the campaign reached more than two million people with information on MHH through an innovative approach. https://bit.ly/3vB1E1e PHOTO PAGE 12, TOP, f.l.t.r.: GIZ Management Board Member Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven; GIZ WASH Policy Advisor Jan Schlenk; GIZ Programme Manager Dr. Bella Monse; BMZ Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. Bärbel Kofler. PHOTO PAGE 13, MIDDLE, f.l.t.r.: Nepalese superstar Dayahang Rai; Nepalese superstar & Goodwill Ambassador for MHH Keki Adhikari; Cultural Attaché at the German Embassy Kathmandu Gregor Czaja; GIZ Technical Advisor Sami Pande. #Nepals Menstrual Movement GIZ Gender Award 202211monitoring reports prove that efforts have been fruitful as continuous improvement can be seen for all indicators relating to MHM. GENDER – A QUALITY FEATURE OF OUR WORKThe Fit for School program has contributed to raise awareness on menstruation and address gaps in schools through a range of initiatives. Most importantly, knowledge products were developed to provide adequate information to all learners. The materials ensure that boys are included in the narrative that MHM is not just for girls. Boys and men have a role to play and need to better understand menstruation to be able to support girls and help to fight discrimi-nation and bullying. In collaboration with the Water Policy sector program the Fit for School program developed a MHM concept for schools, which is modular, culturally adaptable and consists of primary and secondary intervention packages. AWARD WINNERIMPACTGerman Development Cooperation supports the Philippine Government in implementing a massive open online course (MOOC) on WinS including MHM. 22,500 educators have enrolled in the course between 2019 and 2021. During the school closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, an educational video on Menstrual Health featuring a cele-brity was broadcasted via TV and social media reaching a broad audience nationwide. On May 28th, the international Menstrual Hygiene Day 2021 was celebrated via an online event and several social media posts reached more than one million people. Combined, efforts led by the Fit for School program and the Philippine Department of Education helped to mainstream MHM as an integral part of the education sector and thereby kept girls in school and increased awareness of 27 million Filipino learners. CONTEXT AND INITIATIVEStigma, embarrassment and insufficient access to water, sanitation, hygiene facilities and supplies at school are challenges men-struating girls are confronted with. Increased absenteeism and lower participation of girls are some of the consequences. To counter these negative impacts on girls’ education, the Regional Fit for School Program made Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) integral to their work on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in school. In close collaboration with UNICEF and Save the Children, the Fit for School program has been supporting the Philippine Department of Education to recognize the importance of the topic and to integrate MHM into the national WASH in Schools (WinS) Program. In 2016, the Government issued the National WinS Policy which mandates schools to implement MHM interventions. Similarly, MHM was included in the Three Star Approach for WinS (UNICEF/GIZ 2013), which guides schools in incrementally improving their WinS status and serves as the framework for monitoring progress. MHM-related indica-tors include gender-segregated and female-friendly toilets, availability of sanitary pads, and access to information. From 2017 to 2021, the number of schools participating in the monitoring increased from 30,000 to 45,000, covering 93% of public schools in the country. Annual IMPROVING MENSTRUAL HEALTH THROUGH WASH IN SCHOOLS THE PHILIPPINES – AND BEYOND: REGIONAL FIT FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMGG1© GIZ 33CONTEXT AND INITIATIVEIn Nepal, millions of adolescent girls face challenges in managing their menstruation, negatively impacting their health, education and social life. The obstacles are deeply embedded in cultural beliefs about menstrua-tion and the lack of access to affordable sani-tary products as well as functional toilets. In recent years, menstrual health and hygiene has gained significant attention in Nepal. As a result of the growing momentum, the Gov-ernment of Nepal announced in 2019 that sanitary pads would be available free of charge at every public school in the country. Following an earthquake in 2015, various interventions have been implemented: an ini-tiative to set-up local production facilities of sanitary pads, the production of videos/TV radio programs, the development of a mobile app, and the construction/rehabilitation of female-friendly toilets in 17 schools. Through the support of the MHM Partner’s Alliance on the national level, the Government’s ini-#NEPALSMENSTRUALMOVEMENT IS REACHING MILLIONS THE IMPACT OF WORKING WITH AN INFLUENCER tiative ‘Free Sanitary Pad Distribution’ and the development of an Education Toolkit under the leadership of the Ministry of Edu-cation was advanced.The challenge: How to reach adolescents on a broad scale to raise awareness and share educational materials?The solution: Engage a popular national actress and influencer as Goodwill Ambassador.GENDER – A QUALITY FEATURE FOR OUR WORK Around 2 million people in Nepal were reached by a two-part documentary and related video clips that involved Keki Adhikari – a well-known actress, model and film pro-ducer in her native country Nepal. In October 2020, she took on her new role as a Goodwill Ambassador for menstrual health. With more than 1.5 million followers on social media, her messages reach a broad audience. The docu-mentary produced by award-winning German filmmaker Dirk Gilson. “Nepal’s Menstrual Movement” shows challenges and solutions for girls and women in Nepal. It describes edu-cation and advocacy efforts by the MHM Partners’ Alliance and became a big success for mainstreaming the topic. GENDER IMPACTThis kind of collaboration involving Good-will Ambassadors has not only been adopted in Nepal by other development partners such as Finish development cooperation but also by GIZ programs in Albania and the Philippines. National Level: The idea of forming a net-work to speak with one voice and unite the efforts for dignified menstruation has inspired 60+ local and international civil society organizations, academia, companies as well as bilateral and UN agencies to join the MHM Partner’s Alliance.Global level: The cooperation with the Water Policy sector program and the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA), particularly in the area of menstrual health and WASH, has ensured that the activities in Nepal are in line with the global agenda. The long-standing cooperation has now reached its peak with the successful colla boration on the production of multi-media content for the campaign.© GIZGIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 12

#WeAreCommitted GLOBAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, showed her clear support to the global movement by posting a Menstruation Bracelet photo on MH Day. https://bit.ly/3YlqkpP https://bit.ly/3RC5ZKY “Let’s break this taboo once and for all!“ Video message by Dr. Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. https://bit.ly/3HW0aov https://bit.ly/3XZrZlp Z M B © 14 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action Z M B © #WeAre Committed „Menstruation darf kein Tabuthema sein. Wir müssen reden – und dafür sorgen, dass die Ausgrenzung und Stigmatisie- rung von Frauen und Mädchen ein Ende haben. Die Tabus und Stigmatisierung der Periode, der vielerorts mangelnde Zugang zu hygienischen Menstruationsprodukten und schlechte sanitäre Einrichtungen erschweren deutlich die Bildungs- chancen von Mädchen und Frauen, schaden ihrer Gesundheit und untergraben den allgemeinen sozialen Status von Mädchen und Frauen auf der ganzen Welt. Besonders für Frauen in Notsituationen und auf der Flucht stellt das häufig ein großes Problem dar.“ DR. BÄRBEL KOFLER, BMZ PARLAMENTARISCHE STAATSSEKRETÄRIN MH Day Event in Tirana, Albania - and launch of the GIZ MenstruAction Publication. 

MenstruAction. PERIOD. Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, meets MenstruAction colleagues at the BMZ Open Day in Bonn. https://bit.ly/3In0fk3 Some 200 GIZ colleagues contributed photos of their Menstruation Bracelet during the 2022 MH Day campaign, which was undertaken jointly with the G500 Gender Focal Persons. GIZ Malawi: Small cup, big impact – A menstrual health pilot in rural Malawi empowers women in agribusiness. https://bit.ly/3IIxKyC GIZ Albania: Mural on gender-based violence - including a Menstruation Bracelet – inaugurated in Cërrik during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence https://bit.ly/3IlzKvl Listen to me, girl, you have castles inside your bones, coronets in your heart, if he threatens you with battle, you raise him a whole war, the last time I checked, Queens cower before no man.” Queens II By: Nikita Gill GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 16

Menstrual Health and Hygiene FEMINIST DE VELOPMENT COOPERATION IN PRACTICE Statements and Testimonies by GIZ Colleagues and Key International Partners 18 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 

“It has been a pleasure collaborating with GIZ for creation of Special MH Day Menstruation Bracelet. Often times young women like us are merely seen as beneficiaries. However, in this collaboration, we are proud partners and active contributors for menstrual health advocacy and awareness at both global and local level. Our young team at SOCHAI is excited to work together with GIZ in the coming days as well.” Bonita Sharma – Cofounder & CEO SOCHAI, BBC 100 Women 2019, Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Award 2020 Recipient, UNICEF Asia Pacific Youth Innovation Challenge Laureate 2016, Nepal “Menstruation is a fact of life for billions of people around the world. All people who menstruate should have access to the facilities and hygiene products they need without stigma or shame. Dealing with period cramps is already tough enough!” Sonja Niedecken – Gender Junior Policy Advisor, GIZ Germany “I am happy that more people have become interested and work on this important topic of MHH. Only about 10 years ago, my first attempts to work on this topic in connection with youth health (in Bangladesh) were rejected by colleagues at GIZ headquarters with the argument that no woman would die because of her menstruation. Well, .... does it have to be a matter of life and death if it is simply a matter of improving the quality of life for women? Yes, something has changed. Fortunately!” Dr. Paul Rückert – Global Health Expert and GIZ Programme Manager (retired), Brazil “Half the world’s population bleeds once a month, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. Yet many girls do not go to school during their period, either to avoid stigmatisation or because appropriate sanitation facilities are missing. The Menstrual Hygiene Day helps bring attention to this often ignored issue. Right on!” Linda Engel – Programme Manager, Engagement Global, Germany “Let‘s normalise talking about menstruation and stop holding back our full potential.” Rabia Baloch – Technical Advisor for BCC and M&E, GP Sanitation for Millions, GIZ Pakistan “Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual global event created to highlight and break the stigma around menstruation.It also provides a platform to advocate towards the urgent need for change and improved education to foster inclusion of MHM in policies, fight the stigma and enable women and girls to reach their full potential.” Doreen Mbalo – Programme Manager Reform of the Water Sector Phase II (RWS II), GIZ Zambia “The consequences of the menstrual taboo are sometimes extreme for the women in Nepal. GIZ Nepal supports breaking the taboo in very practical terms through our programme activities. I am particularly glad that engaging national social influencers contribute to raising awareness on the issue and to encourage young girls and women in Nepal.” Alexandra Plüschke – Deputy Country Director and Programme Manager Support to the Health Sector Strategy (S2HSS), GIZ Nepal “To jointly raise awareness around the Sustainable Development Goals is a responsibility we happily take on as influencers and role models. It’s great to advocate together with GIZ for the rights of girls and women by breaking the taboo around menstruation. #LetsTalkPERIOD #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines.” Kathleen Paton & Kirk Bondad – Miss Eco International 2022 & Mister World Philippines 2022. Goodwill Ambassadors of #LetsTalkPERIOD Campaign, Philippines “Menstrual Health and Hygiene has no bounds – together we advocate for MHH actions in schools.” Gladys Nantume – Technical Advisor GP Sanitation for Millions, GIZ Uganda 20 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 

“There is growing momentum in changing narratives, taboo and norms around menstruation. This gives me hope, that one day every girl would know and deeply believe that there is nothing impure or unclean about menstruation.” Brenda Mbaga Lubang’a – Advisor SP Religion and Development, GIZ Germany “Lack of awareness on menstrual hygiene management is indeed a physical health issue to women.” Giang Tran – Programme Component Manager Macro Economic Reform, GIZ Vietnam “The combination of pervasive patriarchal structures, feminised poverty and menstrual taboos are a form of structural violence that manifests in unequal access to power and unequal life chances in many places. It makes me hopeful that the Menstrual Hygiene Day approaches the topic with so much joy and continues to advance the destigmatizes of periods every year!” Katja Brama – Personal Assistant to the CEO, Engagement Global, Germany “Now more than ever, it’s time to take action to break the persisting silence, stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation. Hence, let’s step up our efforts for safe menstrual health and hygiene to create a world where no one is left behind! #WeAreCommitted” Fanni Zentai – Gender Focal Person G310 and Advisor SP Water Policy – Innovation for Resilience, GIZ Germany “Menstrual health is a priority in the WHO European Region. Safe and inclusive education for boys and girls on menstrual hygiene and free access to WASH services and menstrual products are critical components of ensuring menstrual health across our region. We are happy to see GIZ and a growing number of partners and countries committing to tackling taboos and barriers that schoolgirls face every day.” Oliver Schmoll – Programme Manager Water and Climate, European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe “I wish menstruation taboos and stigmas remain one day as myth and not reality. I wish we treat each other as equal humans all day in our life.” Keki Adhikari – Actress, Film Producer, Social Activist, Goodwill Ambassador #NepalsMenstrualMovement, Nepal “All our living, learning and working environments must be designed in a way that every menstruating person can manage their period with dignity. Water, sanitation and hygiene in schools are essential to ensure this.” Nicole Siegmund – Programme Manager Regional Fit for School Programme, GIZ Philippines “I am deeply passionate about being part of this initiative and working together with other dedicated colleagues on a common mission, which is to advocate and fight for an equal and sustainable future that leaves no one behind because of their menstruation!” Daphne Manolakos – Junior Advisor SuSanA Secretariat and SP Water Policy – Innovation for Resilience, GIZ Germany “Women are often disadvantaged by the gender- specific distribution of rights, resources, access to education and employment in rural Zambia, although they contribute extremely to agricultural production within the dominating small-scale farming system. Women’s empowerment is therefore a crucial success factor to sustainable rural development and so I support MenstruAction to fight period stigma for gender equality here and worldwide.” Sebastian Köcke – Junior Advisor Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector, GIZ Zambia 22 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 

Menstrual Health and HygieneRELEVANT, INTERSECTORAL AND ON THE RISE EMERGENCIESSOCIAL ENVIRONMENTWORKPLACEHEALTHEDUCATIONGENDER EQUALITYWASHMATERIALS & SUPPLIESRELIGIONLEAVE NO ONE BEHINDWASTE MANAGEMENTPANDEMICSGIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 24

Visit the online forum on SuSanA.org: https://bit.ly/3yKNcpb MenstruActionYOUR OPPORTUNITIESTO ENGAGE CONNECTGLOBAL STAKEHOLDERSSUPPORT & DONATEORGANIZATIONS / INITIATIVES STAY INFORMEDPAPERS & PUBLICATIONSWATCH AND LISTENFILMS & PODCASTSLEARNWEBINARS & E-LEARNINGGET INSPIRED INFLUENCERS & ADVOCACYPARTICIPATECONFERENCES & MH DAY SPREAD THE WORDSOCIAL MEDIA FIND INFORMATION KNOWLEDGE HUBS & GLOSSARIES BE SUSTAINABLERE-USABLE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS COMMIT TO MHH IN YOUR PROJECTGIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 26

. r e h t e g o t s d o i r e p d n u o r a o o b a t e h t k a e r b s u t e L ! s u n o J i - n o i t c a - o t - m s a i s u h t n e - m o r f - n o i t c a u r t s n e m / e d z i g s k r o w - r e d n e g / / : s p t t h . . t n e m e v o m - e n e i g y h - d n a - h t l a e h - l a u r t s n e m l i - l a b o g - e h t - d e n o j - e v i t a i t i n i - f f a t s - z i g - e h t - w o h - e e s Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Sitz der Gesellschaft Bonn und Eschborn Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36 53113 Bonn, Deutschland T +49 228 44 60 - 0 F +49 228 44 60 - 17 66 Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1 – 5 65760 Eschborn, Deutschland T +49 61 96 79 - 0 F +49 61 96 79 - 11 15 E info@giz.de I www.giz.de www.worldwaterday.org CUT WEAR JOIN