Reusable Menstrual Pads
MLC Vanguard | AFRIpads
AFRIpads is a Ugandan-based social enterprise innovating reusable menstrual products and menstrual health education tools to promote menstrual dignity and sustainability. Implemented across Africa in 30 countries, AFRIpads’ solution has reached over 7 million women and girls since 2010 with affordable, high-quality, and eco-friendly menstrual kits. The innovation addresses challenges of period poverty, waste, and limited access to safe menstrual products.
7,000,000 Lives Impacted
AFRIpads has transformed the lives of over seven million women and girls by ensuring access to safe, reusable menstrual products that restore dignity and opportunity. By replacing disposable pads or improvised materials with a durable, affordable alternative, AFRIpads has helped girls stay in school—enabling an estimated 20 million additional days of school attendance—and reducing absenteeism linked to menstruation from 3 days on average monthly to 1 or less days. Each AFRIpads Menstrual Kit lasts a minimum of 2 years, saving families the recurring cost of disposable pads and improving household financial resilience. Environmentally, AFRIpads’ reusable products have averted more than 30 million kilograms of waste from disposable pads, mitigating the burden on limited waste management systems in low-income and humanitarian settings. The AFRIpads factory in rural Masaka, Uganda, employs over 150 people—more than 80% women—creating sustainable livelihoods and stimulating local economic growth. A five-year study by the University of British Columbia found that the factory contributed to a 22-point reduction in the regional gender employment gap, alongside increased savings and school attendance in the area. Through this integrated impact, AFRIpads advances education, equality, and environmental sustainability.
The Innovation
AFRIpads’ innovation combines locally manufactured reusable menstrual kits with comprehensive education and data tools to create a holistic menstrual health solution. The kits are designed through user-centered design to ensure comfort, reliability, and cultural acceptability, and are reusable for at least 2 years—making them six times more affordable than a two year supply of disposables. AFRIpads operates from a 3,000 m² eco-friendly factory in rural Uganda, producing over 90,000 kits monthly and serving organizations in more than 30 countries through partnerships with UNFPA, UNICEF, and IOM. Beyond products, AFRIpads’ MHH Education Toolkit and Data Collection Toolkit empower implementing partners to deliver menstrual health education and track impact effectively. Its uniqueness lies in combining product innovation, social enterprise principles, and gender-inclusive employment to deliver both economic and social transformation. Looking forward, AFRIpads plans to expand its consumer brand access and affordability in other countries and digitally transform the training programs to scale this more sustainable menstrual solution across Africa and beyond.
Implemented in
Uganda, Kenya, DRC, South Sudan, Zimbabwe
Get in touch
Michelle Tjeenk Willink, Co-Founder
About AFRIpads
AFRIpads is the leading social enterprise manufacturing reusable sanitary pads and underwear in Africa. Our model is based on three pillars of quality menstrual products, education and data collection and by focusing on that, we can positively impact the lives and futures of millions of women and girls across the continent.
