Menstrual Equity Fund pilot project: a phased approach
The Menstrual Equity Fund (MEF) national pilot project used a phased approach to address barriers to accessing menstrual products and reduce stigma through education and awareness activities.
Phase 1: Research and engagement activities
Throughout 2022 to 2023, Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) undertook research and engagement activities to better understand the menstrual equity landscape in Canada. This included:
- An online survey of over 200 not-for-profit organizations, led by WAGE
- Five group discussions and several bilateral discussions with community organizations (shelters, food banks, community centres, and friendship centres)
- Environmental scans on the menstrual equity landscape across Canada, including the existing programming and initiatives in place to address period poverty, led by the Community-Based Research Centre
- Research on the intersectional prevalence and impacts of period poverty in Canada, as well as national and international promising practices (collected through interviews with menstrual equity advocates working within the menstrual equity space), led by Douglas College
- Engagement with WAGE’s Indigenous Women’s Circle, other federal departments, and the provinces and territories
- Public opinion research:
- Phase 1: Omnibus survey on menstrual equity with a random sample of 1,000 Canadians, led by the Privy Council Office
- Phase 2: Public opinion research to better understand how the Canadian public views menstruation, free access to period products, and period poverty, led by Environics Canada
What we heard from MEF engagement activities (2022 to 2023)
Introduction
Introduction
Many people in Canada face barriers to accessing menstrual products or educational materials because of financial limitations and/or harmful social norms and attitudes surrounding menstruation. Throughout 2022–23, WAGE undertook extensive research and engagement activities to better understand the menstrual equity landscape in Canada.
What we heard
What we heard from the consultations
The engagement process underscored issues under the following themes: period poverty, demand for products, access and product distribution, funding support, and education and research.
Public opinion research
Attitudes and Awareness of Menstrual Equity and Period Poverty Among Canadians
In March 2023, Environics Research conducted an online survey with 2,083 Canadians to provide WAGE with a measure of awareness, attitudes, and behaviours regarding period poverty.
Phase 2: Design of the pilot – A national approach
Information gathered through engagement activities informed the design of the MEF pilot, which centered on selecting one established national non-profit organization to:
- Test approaches to distribute free menstrual products to community organizations serving diverse low-income populations in various locations across Canada
- Partner with a small number of grassroots organizations across Canada that are already advancing menstrual equity to scale up education and awareness activities to inform Canadians about period poverty and reduce stigma around menstruation
Phase 3: Targeted call for proposals
WAGE launched a targeted call for proposals to solicit applications from five national not-for-profit organizations. National candidates that were invited to apply demonstrated qualities that would support a successful MEF pilot, including:
- A broad reach and distribution network
- The capacity and expertise to deliver an innovative pan-Canadian project in both official languages
- The demonstrated capacity to manage the procurement and distribution of products in diverse locations
- Existing partnerships with diverse community organizations and the private sector
Food Banks Canada, one of the country’s largest organizations working to address food insecurity, was selected to run the MEF pilot. Visit Food Banks Canada’s website to learn how the project is being delivered.
Phase 4: The MEF pilot in action
The MEF pilot began on September 1, 2023. Since then:
- Almost 400 pilot site and over 2,000 distribution locations participated, with representation in all provinces and territories across Canada
- Disposable and reusable products were offered, providing access to a variety of menstrual products
- Six menstrual equity organizations across the country scaled-up nearly 450 education and awareness resources
- Menstrual products were distributed to additional sites in Northern Communities
- Additional disposable products were distributed to pilot sites demonstrating the greatest need based on data collected during the early stages of implementation
- Additional funds for menstrual education and awareness activities were provided to organizations to expand the scope of their work