Menstrual Health: A Critical Cornerstone of Community and Climate Resilience

Menstrual health (MH) affects nearly half the global population for up to 40 years of their lives, and is increasingly recognised as an essential element of gender equality and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Nonetheless, MH is under-researched, under-acknowledged and underfunded, and millions of women, adolescent girls, and gender-diverse people who menstruate struggle to achieve it.

Climate change is threatening the ability of women, girls, and gender-diverse people to manage their MH adequately, including too little, too much or too polluted water, and climate-related impacts on supply chains, infrastructure, and disposal mechanisms. Improved access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is central to achieving MH, but cross-sectoral investments are needed to create meaningful change – especially through climate policies, programs and finance.

This learning brief aims to support WASH sector actors to link MH more effectively to climate resilience concerns and make the case for climate financing of MH interventions to ensure that all people who menstruate can manage their MH effectively, despite environmental and political volatility.

‍