Making the Case for Investing in Menstrual Health and Hygiene

Knowing where to consciously invest is often confounding. As our experience has underscored for us, one person’s idea of an impactful and meaningful investment can differ from another’s. It excites us to have access to so many perspectives and opportunities (and asset classes) that can fuel good—which is why we interview people across the globe with varied approaches.

Still, of the multitudes we contain here at The Conscious Investor, there is one issue that holds the undivided attention of each of us on our small team—and that is women’s health. Funding and advocating for rightful, just education and resources around girls’ and women’s needs is a direct line to improving gender equality, emboldening economies, strengthening institutions, and alleviating poverty. For too long, women’s health has lagged across the globe, creating implicit and explicit negative impacts that ripple through individual and family lives and create waves throughout societies.

The Case for Her is making a compelling case for why we all need to be paying attention to the health and wellness needs of girls and women. Co-founded by Cristina Ljungberg and Wendy Anderson, the philanthropic investment portfolio focuses on menstruation and female sexual health and pleasure. The team makes strategic investments in new technologies, product companies, research initiatives, and grassroots organizations. In simple terms, they’re telling the world: You can’t look away from these issues any longer.

This month The Case for Her unveiled a monumental new report that details the criticality of investing in female health. Titled ‘Making the Case for Investing in Menstrual Health and Hygiene’, it serves as a comprehensive guide uncovering the why and how to invest in menstrual health and hygiene, detailing the subsequent economic, educational, and health benefits. The thorough report was created by experts at The Case for Her, as well as Population Services International, PSI-Europe, WASH United, and Simavi, in collaboration with the Global Menstrual Collective. One key highlight: Of all the menstruating females in the world, about 500 million lack the essentials they need to safely manage their periods.

All politics aside, amplifying these needs is intuitive. Every girl and woman across the globe should have the right to live with dignity so she can get the education she needs to thrive in the world. These are people who grow up to be leaders, changemakers, doctors, lawyers, impact investors—worthy contributors to an evolving world. But that has not been the case.

Ljungberg put it best when we spoke to her last year. “In some places, young menstruators don’t know what is happening to them when they get their first period because the issue is so highly stigmatized that no one ever prepared them for what to expect and what to do.”

The Case for Her is changing this. And we’re on board.

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At The Conscious Investor, it is our goal to shed light on topics that we find interesting, inspirational, and educational. Therefore, this article is strictly for inspirational and informational purposes only. It is in no way intended to substitute for professional investment advice, professional financial advice, or general counsel. To the extent that an article features the insight, opinions, or advice of an expert or company, the expressed views are those of the cited person or company and do not necessarily represent The Conscious Investor and its employees or affiliates.