Proven solutions to break

barriers to gender equity

We innovate with superior, affordable period and diaper products, and transformative education and resources to build a better tomorrow.

The Issue

When we fail to get critical support during life stages, we are unable to successfully navigate challenges and are unable to thrive.

Onset of puberty and adolescence

Navigating young adulthood

Caring for young children

Caring for self and others

2 in 3 females cannot access sanitary pads due to cost and availability

10% of unwanted transactional sex by 15- year- old girls is specifically for sanitary pads.

1 in 3 girls has experienced sexual abuse

1 in 4 girls has experienced gender- based violence.
2 in 5 Kenyans believe that spousal abuse is justified.

four in five teens lack access to reproductive health knowledge

1 in 5 teenagers is pregnant or has a child.
1 in 4 girls has untreated RTI (reproductive tract infection).

Suicide death rates are 3 to 5x higher for men

More than half of health issues in young men are linked to drug use
1 in 30 young men suffer from depression
2 in 3 young men experience bullying

Access to sanitary pads and other essential products
Access to health information
Harmful social norms
Poor mental health

These are the cross cutting issues that we address.

Solutions For
Kenyans By Kenyans

Providing pads and rights education helps break taboos and challenges, leading to quick changes in social norms.

Here’s our two- part solution.

Locally Made Dignity Essentials Rights- Based Solutions For Systemic Change

RETAIL SOLUTIONS

Locally Made Dignity
Essentials

Through the Nia brand, ZanaAfrica is a trusted partner across life’s journey for health, safety, and agency – starting in Kenya.

We reimagined Fast Moving Consumer Goods as a vehicle to better serve customers with information they need when they need it, putting education resources on every pad, pack and poster – a Fast Moving Educational Good.

Fast Moving Educational Good (FMEG)

In talks with Kenyan girls and women, we found that sanitary pads were too costly and uncomfortable. They wanted affordable pads with longer wings and an ultra soft finish, and with Nia, we made that happen.

KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS

Rights Based Solutions
For Systemic Change

ZanaAfrica’s proven intervention transforms reproductive health knowledge, agency and resilience, and achieves equitable gender norms and positive mental health for boys as well as for girls.

This intervention achieves impact on multiple levels:

Systems Change

Co- creating brands with end consumers to deliver the quality and affordability they demand while strengthening Kenya’s manufacturing sector.
Scaling our adolescents health and lifeskill program into the government’s approved CBC curriculum for Classes 4- 8, ensuring better delivery of pertinent and contemporary issues (PCIs).
Scaling health hotline concierge with county governments to connect people to the digital and physical services for health and safety they need at the time they need it most.

Community Growth

Selling products nationwide in over 20,000 retail points of sale focusing on female entrepreneurs.
Equipping local community based organizations (CBOs) with digital- based group training to better show up for teenagers with reproductive health education.
Empowering local community health practitioners (CHPs) with additional income as hotline operators.
Community growth: strengthening community actors and infrastructure to be part of systemic change.

Individual Agency

Providing individuals with the ability to access products, healthcare resources, and safety tools while shifting to positive social norm.
Providing pads to over 250,000 women and girls since our inception, with an additional 250,000 to be reached in the coming years.
Equipping adolescents with the health and safety information and skills they need to successfully transition through puberty and thrive.
Increasing agency and resilience among teens and adults at all life stages.