Evaluation of the Nia Project

  • R Research Project/Report/Study

I Inactive

Key Information

The Population Council is conducting a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the Nia Project, a study involving more than 3,000 adolescent girls in 140 primary schools in Kilifi, Kenya, to determine whether providing girls with reproductive health education and menstrual hygiene products positively impacts their education and well-being. Participating schools are assigned to receive one of four interventions: Arm 1: Schools receive disposable sanitary pads; Arm 2: Schools receive reproductive health education; Arm 3: Schools receive disposable sanitary pads plus reproductive health education; Arm 4: Schools serve as the control arm of the study and no interventions are provided. This is the first rigorously evaluated study to provide evidence on the impact of interventions combining sanitary pad distribution and reproductive health education in schools, as compared to each intervention alone, on educational, social and health outcomes for girls. The Nia Project is led by the Kenyan social enterprise ZanaAfrica in partnership with its nonprofit arm ZanaAfrica Foundation who, together, develop and deliver high quality, affordable menstrual health products and health education resources for women and girls. The Population Council serves as the Group’s research partner to evaluate the impact of the interventions.


Lead Implementing Organization(s)

Location(s)

Sub-Saharan Africa

Kenya

Government Affiliation

Non-governmental program

Years

2016 - 2019

Ministry Affiliation

Unknown

COVID-19 Response

Unknown

Geographic Scope

National

Meets gender-transformative education criteria from the TES  

Unknown

Areas of Work Back to Top

Education areas

Attainment

  • Primary completion
  • Primary to secondary transition

Other skills

  • Life skills/sexuality education
  • Rights/empowerment education

Cross-cutting areas

  • Adolescent pregnancy/childbearing
  • HIV and STIs
  • Menstrual hygiene management
  • Social and gender norms and beliefs

Program participants

Target Audience(s)

Girls in school, Youth

Age

10 - 21

School Enrolment Status

All in school

School Level

  • Upper primary

Other populations reached

Not applicable or unknown

Participants include

Not applicable or unknown

Program Approaches Back to Top

Community engagement/advocacy/sensitization

  • General awareness-raising/community engagement

Life skills education

  • Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE)
  • Gender, rights and power
  • Sexual and reproductive health (including puberty education)

Menstrual hygiene management

  • Educating girls about menstruation
  • Sanitary product distribution

Mentoring/psychosocial support

  • Adult (non-teacher) mentors

Social/gender norms change

  • Group activities with students or school-age children/adolescents

Program Goals Back to Top

Education goals

  • Increased primary school completion
  • Increased progression to secondary school
  • Reduced absenteeism

Cross-cutting goals

  • Increased knowledge of HIV, puberty, and sexual and reproductive health
  • More equitable gender attitudes and norms

Additional Information Back to Top

Primary Contact

Karen Austrian
Population Council
Senior Associate
kaustrian@popcouncil.org