Evaluation of the use of a menstrual hygiene innovation in the context of an acute crisis

Context

Over the past few years, Elrha has worked with Oxfam GB and Reemi to develop and test an innovative solution for managing menstrual hygiene in different contexts. This innovation consists of a set of 3 products:

• A reusable, absorbent, waterproof and antimicrobial menstrual underwear ;
• A waterproof washing bag adapted to the use with little quantity of water;
• A drying bag made of light, dark fabric for quick and discreet drying.

Oxfam and Reemi have already distributed these products in various development and crisis contexts (Bangladesh, Mali, CAR, South Sudan, etc.). However, previous experience has not made it possible to document the relevance and feasibility of using this particular innovation in a complex emergency context. This is why Elrha has brought together a multi-disciplinary team to gather evidence and learn lessons that will enable to explore, test and determine the possibilities for using the innovation to solve the most urgent humanitarian problems in severe crisis situations.

Since the project began, Oxfam GB and its partners have distributed this menstrual hygiene innovation to 5,000 women and girls in Gaza, as part of its overall WASH response to the massive crisis in the region that started in October 2023. Thanks to the funds raised by Reemi as part of its Gaza appeal, 2,132 kits were produced for shipment and distribution in Lebanon, as part of the emergency response to the intensification of the conflict in the south of the country.

The objective of the evaluation

The overall objective of the evaluation is to move the humanitarian sector forward and to explore, test and find opportunities for the use of innovation in rapid and urgent crisis situations. To achieve this overall objective, Elrha has identified two learning partners: while Groupe URD is evaluating the relevance, performance and feasibility of using this innovation in an acute and rapidly changing emergency context, Humanitarian Associates is identifying opportunities for scaling up innovations in crisis contexts.

Therefore, Groupe URD’s work will help answer these 4 questions:

1. To what extent are Reemi’s MHM products appropriate for women and adolescent girls in the current conflict context in Gaza ?
2. How effective have all the enabling elements of the adoption system (e.g. supply chain, distribution, community engagement, recipient selection) been, and what are the short-term outcomes for the product implementation in Gaza?
3. What is the comparative feasibility and VfM of using Reemi’s MHM products in an acute, dynamic and rapid response setting such as Gaza, compared to the distribution of standard disposable MHM products and other potential alternatives ?
4. What are the conditions and opportunities for scaling Reemi MHM products in the current context of Gaza ?

In addition to the particularly complex and difficult context of implementation, the specific features of this evaluation lie in 1) its temporality: the evaluation is carried out in real time while the activities are taking place; 2) its nature: it is an innovation evaluation, which requires a systemic approach based in particular on modelling the innovation ecosystem.

The lessons learned from this work will be made available to the main actors involved in the response, namely Reemi, Oxfam GB and its partners, but will also benefit the wider community of emergency and WASH actors, as well as the community of monitoring and evaluation practitioners interested in innovation evaluation.

Groupe URD shares its support with the Oxfam teams and their partners in Gaza, as well as all the humanitarian workers involved in the response to this crisis.