RFSU's new initiative on social innovations
In, 2024 RFSU is empowering change through social innovation. This is how!
Through our new Innovation Fund, international partner organisations can finance creative and impactful ideas to improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). For example, with the funding more women in Liberian prisons will receive menstrual protection, students in Bolivia will be supported and protected against sexual harassment at their university, and in Sri Lanka, more people will have access to decent menstrual conditions.
RFSU has long provided financial support to civil society organisations (CSOs). Today, we support around fifty organisations in countries such as Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Liberia, and Sri Lanka. Our goal is to make sexual and reproductive health and rights accessible to more people.
RFSU Innovation Fund promotes sustainable improvements in SRHR
What makes the Innovation Fund different from other financial support RFSU provides? Jacob Brunner, the Innovation Fund Coordinator, explains:
“The RFSU Innovation Fund promotes social innovation by enabling CSOs to invest in a structured innovation process. Through human-centred design, organisations can co-create solutions with marginalised communities, following a roadmap from idea generation and prototyping to testing and scaling, ultimately achieving meaningful, equitable and sustainable improvements in SRHR, tailored to needs identified by individuals and communities directly affected.”
To Jacob, this has been an exciting process. RFSU received 21 applications, all reviewed and scored based on several criteria, including whether the project is co-designed with the target group, project ideas apply an intersectional feminist perspective, applications present a pragmatic and whether achievable strategy and whether the project can expand its reach and impact. Of the 21 applicants, five projects received funding. The money will be used in 2024, but Jacob hopes the work will continue beyond that.
"I hope RFSU can continue to grow and develop the innovation fund. This is an exciting way to develop methods and services, giving more people access to SRHR."
Three projects RFSU Innovation Fund supports in 2024
Here are examples of three projects RFSU is supporting through the Innovation Fund:
Action Plan Against Sexual Harassment at Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Bolivia
Sexual harassment is a widespread problem at Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA) in Bolivia. The university has yet to take a clear stand against harassment, and the reporting process remains unclear and bureaucratic, allowing many perpetrators to go unpunished. This creates an unsafe environment for female students, impacting their studies. With support from RFSU's Innovation Fund, Coordinadora de la Mujer and the university’s student union will develop an action plan to address harassment. They also aim to raise awareness through a digital campaign, artistic initiatives, and clear information on the university’s website.
Advocacy and Menstrual Protection for Women in Liberia’s Prisons
In Liberia, period poverty is a pressing issue. Many people lack the means to manage their menstruation safely and hygienically, often preventing them from attending school or work, which in turn perpetuates poverty. Despite this, there is little research or policy focus on menstruation in the country. Female prisoners in Liberia are particularly vulnerable, with limited access to menstrual products and water. The Community Health Initiative (CHI) aims to improve the situation by introducing reusable, eco-friendly menstrual pads, which will be produced in two prisons in Monrovia and Kakata. At the same time, CHI is advocating for policy changes to address the broader issue of poor menstrual hygiene in prisons.
Improving Menstrual Health for the Marginalised Groups in Sri Lanka
The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka seeks to gather and share knowledge on how menstruation intersects with poverty. A large portion of Sri Lanka’s menstruating population lives in areas with poor access to water, proper sanitation, and menstrual products. The organization estimates that over 2.6 million people face difficulties during menstruation each month. Working with community members, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, they will assess the situation and develop solutions. Their goals include increasing access to menstrual products and education and shifting societal attitudes around menstruation. They also aim to disseminate the project's findings to help other organizations benefit from the knowledge gained.
