UNFPA Ethiopia today signed a partnership agreement with ITOCHU Corporation, a leading Japanese company, to support a project aimed at empowering women and girls. Through this innovative collaboration, ITOCHU Corporation commits to contribute a portion of the revenues from its sales to fund the implementation of a UNFPA supported project on improving menstrual health, hygiene, and livelihood. This project runs in tandem with ITOCHU Corporation’s technical support to produce high-quality reusable sanitary pads and absorbent sanitary shorts in Ethiopia.
The project aims at empowering women and girls through income-generating activities centered on sewing reusable sanitary products and providing essential business skills training. It also raises awareness on menstrual health, hygiene, family planning, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Moreover, the project fosters community empowerment by equipping peer educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively disseminate health information, alongside training sessions for sewing skills.
Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Mr. SHIBATA Hironori, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, said “For the Government of Japan, women’s empowerment is one of the highest priority issues guiding our development cooperation. To realise women’s empowerment, a co-creation environment is critical among governments, international organisations, and private sectors. I strongly hope that this project will become one of the model cases where different sectors work together towards a common goal.”
“Itochu Corporation is dedicated to improving period poverty in Ethiopia by focusing on educating about menstrual health and conducting training in sewing absorbent sanitary shorts and reusable sanitary pads. In collaboration with UNFPA, we aim to disseminate knowledge about menstrual health and hygiene while building skills through sewing training to improve livelihood,” said Ms. SHINODA Akiko, General Manager, ITOCHU Corporation Commercial Representative Office in Addis Ababa.
Menstrual health and hygiene management are fundamental yet often overlooked aspects of women's and girls' well-being globally. Insufficient access to menstrual health resources can impede educational opportunities, community engagement, safety, psychosocial health, and livelihood activities. “This innovative collaboration with ITOCHU Corporation will significantly contribute to changing women’s and girls’ lives by improving their menstrual health and hygiene, and livelihood. This joint project is expected to be a trigger to expand the reusable sanitary items manufacturing business with active youth participation,” noted Mr. Koffi Kouame, UNFPA Country Representative.
The partnership with ITOCHU Corporation is critical for UNFPA in realizing its vision to deliver a world where young people are empowered with knowledge and skills to safeguard their well-being and make informed decisions. The partnership will contribute to the objectives of improving comprehensive sexual and reproductive health service provision and enhancing adolescents’ and youth’s capacity to make informed choices about their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
The launching ceremony was attended by officials from the Government, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and representatives of civil society organizations.
