France/ Regional call for projects: "Fight against menstrual insecurity

Menstrual insecurity is an important issue of solidarity and public health. It concerns nearly 2 million women whose access to menstrual protection is difficult or impossible for financial reasons. To fight against this precariousness, a call for projects has been launched. The dedicated credits must be used for women in precarious situations and can finance distribution, health education, networking of actors and project engineering.

I.Context

The study "Hygiene and precariousness in France" published by IFOP and the association Dons solidaires in March 2021, reveals that menstrual precariousness concerns nearly 1.7 million women in France.8% of the women interviewed during this study among the "general public" and 39% of the women interviewed among the beneficiaries ofIn the same survey, 10% of women surveyed said that they did not have enough sanitary protection for themselves or their daughters due to lack of money. According to the same survey, 10 percent of women surveyed among the "general public" and 29 percent of women surveyed among the beneficiaries of these associations said that they do not change their sanitary protection as often as necessary because of a lack of money.

This phenomenon also affects female students. According to a study conducted in 2021 by the Fédération des Associations Générales Etudiantes (FAGE), 13% of students consulted said they had to choose between protection and another basic necessity.

The consequences of menstrual insecurity are both psychological (lack of self-esteem, stress, feelings of shame ...), but also social (dropping out of school, sedentary lifestyle, giving up work ...).

This situation is detrimental for at least three reasons: it undermines the dignity of individuals, it limits the inclusion of girls and women in economic and social activities, and it is a risk factor for health in the event of insufficient renewal of protection.

II.Objectives and goals

The aim of the fight against menstrual insecurity is to improve access for women in precarious situations to a variety of period products, adapted to their needs and wishes in terms of protection.

The three main objectives of the call for projects are as follows:

• To remove taboos and stigma related to menstruation and to raise awareness about menstrual precariousness and the importance of good hygiene and intimate health. The actions can consist of awareness-raising workshops, training or discussion groups, for vulnerable women, students or social workers. This awareness-raising must be adapted to the public (cultural context, drug addiction situation, fight against prostitution, etc.) and to the context in which protection is used.
• Facilitate the public's free choice and knowledge of the different types of protection: the different types of existing protection can be the subject of training or information.
• Coordinating the various actors in a given territory to provide an offer adapted to the needs of the women concerned: the actions may propose coordination between structures, the provision of information or project engineering. They can work in partnership with actors in the fields of health, action in favor of women, disability, integration,...

To guarantee a perfect inclusion of all women in precarious situations socially and professionally, including in sports and cultural activities. This includes workshops or awareness actions organized in the places where these activities are held.

Please note: Projects can also contribute to facilitating access to different types of menstrual protection for women in precarious situations. However, the project cannot consist solely of the distribution of free protection. The donation of sufficient quantities of appropriately sized washable pads should also be considered in order to limit costs, respect intimate hygiene and avoid the risk of toxic shock.

Projects should promote a leverage effect and encourage the establishment of co-financing.

III.Structures and nature of eligible projects

Only projects of between €1,000 and €30,000 are eligible.

Eligible applicants are associations, local authorities, social partners, foundations, public establishments, public interest groups, and groups of local actors, subject to the identification of a central applicant. Projects can be co-financed by a local authority. Relevant local actors must be involved.

NB: Actions already supported at the national level are not eligible for this call for applications.

IV.Priority public

Only projects aimed at vulnerable groups, i.e. people who are isolated, in financial or medical difficulty, or in a situation of disability, are eligible. In particular, this call for projects targets women in precarious situations, such as

• Heads of single-parent families,
• Women in prison or leaving prison,
• Women with disabilities,
• Women living in AHI structures, Ø Women living in rural areas.

NB: Actions in high schools are not eligible.

V. Preferred territories

Particular attention will be paid to actions implemented in rural areas, and more specifically in rural areas suffering from isolation and social fragility.

VI. Selection criteria

Projects will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• The coherence of the project presented with the needs of the territory identified,
• The relevance of the projects with regard to the objectives as detailed in the present call for applications and in particular the implementation of awareness-raising actions with the target public and the networking of partners, actors with this public,
• The guarantee of an approach that respects both the beneficiaries and their freedom of choice,
• The guarantee of an approach that respects the environment and the principles of sustainable development (e.g.: proposal of cup or menstrual panties),
• The association of the beneficiaries in the development of the project and the taking into account of their needs, their preferences and the specificities of the targeted public,
• The mobilization of co-financing,
• The speed of implementation of the project: this one must start before December 31st

2022,

• The quantitative and especially qualitative evaluation tools envisaged for the beneficiaries,
• The intervention of qualified professionals on the subject,
• The link with health care providers,
• Project leaders may propose actions in partnership with local authorities or other structures.

VII. Monitoring and evaluation

In order to evaluate the project's realization, project leaders are asked to :

- define at least three concrete anddefine at least three concrete and precise indicators for monitoring and evaluating the proposed action;

- Provide a quantitative and qualitative report in June N+1 on the project'stion of the project, its impact on the target public and the quality of its implementation in the territory concerned;

- mobilize, as far as possible, the parties involved or concerned in monitoring the project. The realization of a survey among the beneficiaries, including via digital means of communication, would be a plus.

VIII. Commitment of the project leaders

The selected project leaders undertake to mention the State's support in all communication or promotional activities relating to the project, particularly in all written, digital or audiovisual media.

They also undertake to submit a project implementation report before June 30 of year N+1. This implementation report will include a financial report.

Finally, they undertake to share their action with the other partners in the poverty strategy and to contribute, where appropriate, to the work on social innovation and the dissemination of good practices.

IX. Practical information

Calendar

Opening date of the call for projects: week of May 30, 2022

Date of submission of applications - closure of the call for projects: July 13, 2022

Regional project selection commission: week of September 5, 2022

Application file

The application must be submitted on the "simplified procedures" website and must include the following documents in order to be declared complete and admissible:

• Form completed on the "simplified procedures" website;
• The answers provided must allow the project to be presented in a detailed, clear and striking manner. The stakes, the partnerships established or being established and their nature as well as the objectives of the actions carried out must be stipulated;
• Submission of a provisional budget;

Processing of applications

Projects must be submitted on the "simplified procedures" website via the following linkhttps://www.demarches - simplifiees.fr/commencer/dreets - hdf - lutte - contre - la - precarite menstruelle . The DREETS will check their completeness and then process the files that are declared complete.

For further information, applicants may contact the DREETS or the DRDFE:

DREETS: Mrs Bénédicte Guibard, in charge of the project and steering of social BOP, benedicte.guibard@dreets.gouv.fr

DRDFE: Ms. Claire Quesnel, Regional Director for Women's Rights and Equality in Hauts-de-France, droits-des-femmes@hauts-de-france.gouv.fr

Source: www.somme.gouv.fr

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