Evaluation of the Nia Project

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.