How NGOs Can Choose Menstrual Hygiene Kits for Community Programs

Choosing a menstrual hygiene kit for an NGO program sounds easy until the real questions start coming up. What products do people actually want? Is clean water available? Can reusable pads be washed and dried privately? If disposable pads are provided, where will used products go? Are girls comfortable using the product? Can the organization afford to provide the same support next year?

These questions matter because a menstrual hygiene kit is not just a collection of products. A chosen hygiene kit for women has to work in real homes, schools, villages, shelters, and community settings.

A product that works perfectly in one location may be a poor choice somewhere else. Reusable pads can be useful where water, soap, privacy, and washing facilities are available. Disposable pads may make more sense where washing is difficult. In some communities, the bigger problem may be a lack of menstrual-health information or private toilets rather than a lack of products.

WHO and UNICEF both take a broader view of menstrual health. Access to suitable menstrual materials matters, but so do information, WASH facilities, sanitation, social support, dignity, and access to appropriate healthcare. For NGOs, the goal should be simple: choose a kit that people can realistically use, not simply one that looks good on a procurement sheet.

Why Choosing the Right Menstrual Hygiene Kit Matters

A large distribution number can look impressive in a project report. But handing out thousands of kits does not automatically mean the program worked.

A kit can fail for very practical reasons. Perhaps the pads are uncomfortable. Perhaps the reusable products cannot be washed properly. Perhaps the packaging is difficult to open. Perhaps there is nowhere private to change. Or perhaps beneficiaries simply prefer a different product.

Good programs look beyond distribution numbers.

A useful menstrual hygiene kit should support:

• Comfortable menstrual management

• Privacy and dignity

• Correct product use

• Appropriate menstrual-health information

• Washing or disposal needs

• Local preferences

• Accessibility

• Long-term affordability

• Practical storage and distribution

UNICEF also treats menstrual health and hygiene as a combination of products, knowledge, supportive facilities, and social support rather than a product-only issue.

That is an important distinction for NGOs.

Start by Understanding the Community’s Needs

The first mistake is choosing the product before understanding the people who will use it. Start with a simple needs assessment. Talk to community members, students, teachers, health workers, parents, local organizations, and other relevant groups. Where possible, speak directly with intended users in a safe and respectful setting.

Questions can include:

• Which menstrual products are currently being used?

• Which products are preferred?

• Are products available locally?

• What makes current products difficult to use?

• Is clean water available?

• Is soap available?

• Is there a private place to wash and dry reusable products?

• Are toilets private and usable?

• The important part is not simply asking what people like.

Find out why they prefer something.

A community might prefer reusable pads because repeated purchases are expensive. But if there is no private place to wash and dry them, the preference may not translate into practical use.

What Should a Menstrual Hygiene Kit Include?

There is no standard kit that every NGO should copy. The contents should depend on the community, age group, product type, program budget, and local infrastructure.

A kit may include:

• Disposable sanitary pads

• Reusable menstrual pads

• Menstrual underwear

• Other locally accepted menstrual materials

• Underwear

• Soap or laundry soap where appropriate

• A reusable or waterproof storage pouch

• A separate carrying bag where useful

• Simple product-use instructions

• Menstrual-health education materials

Not every kit needs every item. Adding more products does not automatically make a kit better. Extra items can increase cost, storage requirements, transportation needs, and waste. A focused kit is often more useful than an overloaded one.

How Should NGOs Choose Between Reusable and Disposable Products?

This is one of the most common decisions in menstrual-health programs. There is no universal winner.

Reusable Products

Reusable pads can be useful because the same product can be used repeatedly when properly cared for. They can reduce the need for frequent replacement purchases and may reduce waste.

But there is a catch.

They need to be washed, dried, and stored properly. That means water, soap, privacy, and suitable drying conditions matter.

UNICEF specifically notes the need for water, laundry soap, and private drying space when reusable pads are used.

So giving reusable products to a community without checking those conditions first is a common program mistake.

Disposable Products

Disposable pads are simple to use and do not need washing.

That can be a major advantage in settings where water or privacy is limited.

But disposable products create other needs. Supplies must be replenished, and used materials need to be managed responsibly.

Check Product Quality and Safety Before Procurement

Price matters. Quality matters more.

Before placing a large order, test samples whenever possible.

Look at:

• Absorbency

• Leakage protection

• Material quality

• Comfort

• Size and fit

• Adhesive or fastening quality

• Stitching on reusable products

• Packaging

• Ease of use

• Care instructions

• Storage requirements

Ask suppliers for product specifications and relevant quality documentation. Do not rely only on phrases such as “premium,” “natural,” “chemical-free,” or “100% safe.” Marketing language is not the same as evidence. WHO has also noted gaps in global standards covering all menstrual materials. That makes careful product assessment even more important. For NGO procurement, supplier transparency should be treated as a positive sign.

Make Menstrual Hygiene Kits Appropriate for Different Age Groups

A kit for adolescent girls may need a different approach from a kit for adult beneficiaries.

Young people may need extra support with:

• Puberty education

• Understanding menstruation

• Product-use instructions

• Managing periods at school

• Handling embarrassment or stigma

• Knowing when to ask a trusted adult or healthcare professional for help

WHO recommends age-appropriate menstrual-health education before the first menstrual period.

Instructions should also match literacy levels.

Where reading ability varies, pictures and demonstrations can be much more useful than a page full of text.

Consider WASH Facilities and Waste Management

This part is easy to overlook during procurement.

For reusable products, ask:

• Is clean water available?

• Is soap available?

• Is there somewhere private to wash?

• Is there somewhere hygienic and private to dry products?

• Can products be stored safely?

For disposable products, ask:

• Where will used products be placed?

• Is there a suitable waste collection system?

• Can waste be transported and managed appropriately?

• Do schools or community facilities have suitable disposal arrangements?

WHO considers water, sanitation, hygiene, privacy, and waste management important parts of menstrual health.

A menstrual kit cannot solve a facility problem by itself. If a girl has a pad but no private toilet at school, the program has only solved part of the problem.

Involve the Community Before Finalizing the Kit

Community feedback should happen before the bulk order, not after it.

A small pilot can reveal problems that supplier samples and product brochures cannot.

Ask users about:

• Comfort

• Fit

• Ease of use

• Leakage concerns

• Washing requirements

• Storage

• Packaging

• Product preference

• Cultural acceptability

Keep feedback private where appropriate.

How NGOs Can Compare Menstrual Hygiene Kit Suppliers

A supplier should be evaluated on more than price.

Create a simple comparison covering:

Product Quality

Does the product consistently meet the required specifications?

Capacity

Can the supplier handle the required volume?

Delivery

Can the supplier meet the project's deadlines?

Documentation

Are product specifications and quality documents available?

Samples

Can the organization test products before making a large purchase?

Communication

Does the supplier answer questions clearly?

Customization

Can packaging or educational material be adapted if necessary?

Responsible Sourcing

Where relevant, can the supplier provide credible information about manufacturing and environmental practices? A slightly higher price may be worthwhile if the supplier is more reliable and consistent. Cheap products that arrive late, fail quality checks, or cannot be replaced easily can become expensive very quickly.

How NGOs Can Make Menstrual Hygiene Programs More Inclusive

Menstrual-health programs should not assume that everyone has the same needs.

People with disabilities may need:

• Accessible toilets

• Easier-to-open packaging

• Clear visual instructions

• Suitable changing spaces

• Additional assistance where needed

UNICEF highlights the importance of including people with disabilities when developing menstrual-health solutions. Age, income, literacy, location, and social circumstances can also affect how someone experiences menstruation.Inclusive planning means asking who might be left out before the program begins.

A Practical Checklist for Choosing Menstrual Hygiene Kits

Before approving a kit, ask:

Community

• Have intended users been consulted?

• Are local preferences understood?

• Have cultural and accessibility needs been considered?

Products

• Has the product been tested?

• Is the quality consistent?

• Are instructions easy to understand?

• Is the product suitable for the target group?

WASH

• Is water available?

• Is soap available?

• Is there private changing space?

• Is there a practical washing or disposal system?

Education

• Will users receive product guidance?

• Is menstrual-health education included?

• Are facilitators prepared to answer questions?

Procurement

• Can the supplier meet the required quantity?

• Are delivery timelines realistic?

• Is quality documentation available?

• Has the supplier demonstrated reliability?

Budget

• Has the total program cost been calculated?

• Are recurring or replacement costs included?

• Are transportation and waste-management costs considered?

Monitoring

• Will beneficiaries provide feedback?

• Will complaints be tracked?

• Will findings influence future procurement?

If several answers are “no,” the kit probably needs more work before procurement begins.

Final Thoughts

The best menstrual hygiene program is not the one that distributes the biggest number of kits. It is the one that gives people products they can actually use comfortably and confidently. That requires more than choosing sanitary products.

NGOs need to consider community preferences, age, WASH access, privacy, education, affordability, logistics, waste management, accessibility, supplier reliability, and long-term sustainability. Most importantly, beneficiaries should have a voice in the decision.

A kit that looks excellent in a procurement proposal may fail in a real household. A simpler kit, chosen after listening to the community and testing the product, may perform much better. Brands such as ReliefPad can support community-focused menstrual hygiene initiatives by offering practical menstrual care options suited to different program needs.