Menstrual poverty remains a significant barrier to girls’ education in Zimbabwe, affecting school attendance, participation, and overall dignity. In response to these challenges, the Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZI) participated in the National Menstrual Health Management (MHM) for Resilience Network Platform Convening, coordinated and supported by CARE International and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Zimbabwe (MoPSE). The convening marked an important step toward establishing a National MHM Network Platform aimed at strengthening coordination of menstrual health interventions in schools across the country.
Discussions highlighted persistent gaps, including fragmented implementation, inconsistent data collection, weak integration between MHM, WASH, and health services, and limited financing for menstrual health commodities. The proposed platform seeks to address these challenges by ensuring that interventions are coordinated, aligned with national education priorities, and systematically tracked and reported to improve impact.
As a coalition whose core mandate is coordination, ECOZI is strategically positioned to contribute meaningfully through its Gender Equality and Inclusion Thematic Committee by convening stakeholders, promoting collaboration, and strengthening evidence-based advocacy. Beyond coordination, ECOZI remains committed to championing increased investment in menstrual health and equitable access to menstrual products for adolescent girls in schools. Through strengthened coordination and sustained advocacy, ECOZI continues to work towards a Zimbabwe where no girl misses school because of her period.
