OUR APPROACH
CAPITAL M:
THE MARKET-LED MOONSHOT
FOR MENSTRUAL HEALTH.
Under Capital M, a global initiative of the UN’s Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), we are working to build a thriving menstrual health market that provides access for all by targeting the most pressing historical barriers to unlock market growth. These include lacking or restrictive regulations, limited private sector engagement and support, and an absence of funding, financing and investment. In particular, we are drawing on our expertise in menstrual health and hygiene (MHH), market development and financing to drive structural change and unlock transformative growth in the menstrual health market.
The Capital M approach consists of three pillars:
Building an Enabling Environment
This requires a detailed understanding of the current state of the market, to identify interventions that will strengthen the regulatory and policy environment and remove market barriers. By supporting policy makers and regulators through technical assistance and improved market data, we create the conditions for the menstrual health market to develop.
Strengthening Private Sector Capacity
This requires supporting an ecosystem of private sector actors with a blend of specialized technical support and high-risk tolerant grant funding to develop new business models, routes-to-market and demand generation strategies that will make menstrual products available widely and known to the users.
Access to Finance
This requires crowding in private sector financing and investment by de-risking the menstrual health market. The aim is to ensure businesses can access, for example, working-capital loans at manageable rates or can attract capital to facilitate their growth to develop in a financially sustainable manner and scale the availability of quality, affordable menstrual products.