Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation

What Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation does

Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation (GSCDM) is a nonprofit advocacy coalition founded in May 2019 by Dr. Radha Paudel and headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal, where its global secretariat is housed at the Radha Paudel Foundation. The organization originated and stewards the Dignified Menstruation (DM) framework — described as the youngest global movement among human rights, development, feminism, and menstruation movements — which applies a holistic, decolonized, survivor-led, life-cycle lens to all forms of menstrual discrimination including stigma, taboos, abuse, violence, and restrictions. GSCDM operates across more than 35 countries through a coalition model spanning organizations and individual advocates working in menstrual health, WASH, human rights, SGBV, gender equality, climate justice, SRHR, LGBTQIA++, disability, HIV, and humanitarian response.

The coalition's core offerings comprise proprietary intellectual property (the DM 3Ps Model for evaluating menstrual products, the Dignified Menstruation Friendly Indicators certification framework, and a globally launched Dignified Menstruation Symbol), a portfolio of 18+ publications including training manuals, handbooks, and targeted guides (for LBQ women, women with disabilities, and neurodevelopmental populations), and programmatic infrastructure including six-month virtual fellowships, three-month regional leadership programs (e.g., a 9-country Asian program with AIDS Healthcare Foundation), and annual International Dignified Menstruation Day conferences (6th edition in Boston and Kathmandu in December 2024; 7th edition in 2025). Strategic anchor partnerships include The Colombo Plan (where DM is a flagship program), Amplify Change, AHF, and Agence Française de Développement, alongside regional partners such as Escuela de Educación Menstrual Emancipadas in El Salvador.

GSCDM's business model is nonprofit and partnership-driven rather than commercially transactional. Direct revenue is limited to nominal membership dues (Individual USD 25/year, Organization USD 50/year) and donations, while program operations are funded through grants and partner co-organization. The organization sells no technology product; its "go-to-market" is movement-building via conferences, fellowship cohorts, multilingual digital content (English, French, Nepali, Spanish), and policy advocacy. Material recent milestones include Nepal's National Assembly unanimously endorsing the Resolution on Dignified Menstruation on March 21, 2025, and the declaration of Nepal's first Dignified Menstruation-Friendly Wards — establishing GSCDM as a recognized standard-setter for menstrual dignity policy.

Name

Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation

Legal name

Global South Coalition For Dignified Menstruation

Website

https://dignifiedmenstruation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation is a Nepal-headquartered nonprofit coalition, founded in 2019, that stewards the Dignified Menstruation human rights framework across 35+ countries through publications, fellowships, annual conferences, and policy advocacy targeting menstrual discrimination.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Menstrual Health Advocacy and Education

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Administration of Public Health Programs (923120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning (SRH/FP) Programs (BPADAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Performance Management & Quality Improvement (HLAJAMAJ)

Keywords

• Menstrual health advocacy
• Menstrual hygiene education
• Human rights training
• Gender equality capacity building
• Menstrual dignity publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Kathmandu

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GSCDM develops and disseminates publications, training manuals, and population-specific guides on dignified menstruation, and delivers fellowship and capacity-building programs for advocates, organizations, and governments. It anchors the annual International Dignified Menstruation Day on December 8 and conducts policy advocacy, including contributions to Nepal's Resolution on Dignified Menstruation, using proprietary frameworks such as the DM 3Ps Model and Dignified Menstruation Friendly Indicators.

Product overview

Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation is a non-profit advocacy organization that develops and distributes publications and programs focused on dignified menstruation. The portfolio centers on a comprehensive training manual and practical handbook that form the foundation of their educational approach, supplemented by specialized guides addressing LGBTQ+ communities, women with disabilities, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The organization delivers capacity building and fellowship programs that leverage research and evidence-based policy advocacy, and organizes the annual International Dignified Menstruation Day on December 8th. Additional offerings include video content, photo galleries, and publications in multiple languages including Nepali, all serving their mission to dismantle menstrual discrimination through a human rights lens.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Training Manual on Dignified Menstruation
• Dignified Menstruation: A Practical Hand Book
• Dignified Menstruation: An Essential Guide for Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer Womxn 2025
• Dignified Menstruation is Everyone's Business
• Stories on Menstrual Discrimination among Women with Disability in Nepal
• Training Manual on Dignified Menstruation (Nepali)
• Surgical Menopause
• JUMLA: A Nurse's Story
• Apabitra Ragat
• Unholy Blood
• Menstrual Stories: An Anthology from Global South
• International Dignified Menstruation Day
• Video Stories on Dignified Menstruation
• Dignified Menstruation Fellowship Program
• Capacity Building Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Nepal's National Assembly unanimously endorsed the Resolution on Dignified Menstruation on March 21, 2025 — a first at national legislative level.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major, supporting and regional.

• The Colombo PlanflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDignified Menstruation is a flagship program of The Colombo Plan, an international intergovernmental organization. GSCDM launched two books — the Training Manual on Dignified Menstruation and Menstrual Stories: An Anthology from the Global South — at The Colombo Plan's 73rd Anniversary in July 2024. This institutional endorsement positions dignified menstruation as a cross-cutting development priority.
• Radha Paudel FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Radha Paudel Foundation (RPF), founded by GSCDM's own founder Dr. Radha Paudel, serves as the host organization for GSCDM's secretariat office in Kathmandu, Nepal. GSCDM was initiated by RPF and RPF continues to co-host fellowship programs and advocacy initiatives with GSCDM.
• Amplify ChangemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmplify Change co-organized the 6th International Dignified Menstruation Day event in Kathmandu on December 8, 2024, alongside GSCDM, Radha Paudel Foundation, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, demonstrating a strategic partnership in advocacy and event co-development.
• AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHF collaborated with GSCDM/RPF to organize a three-month virtual leadership program on dignified menstruation with participants from nine Asian countries (Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam). AHF also co-organized the 6th International Dignified Menstruation Day in Kathmandu.
• Agence Française de Développement (AFD)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFD was listed as a co-organizer of the 6th International Dignified Menstruation Day event in Kathmandu in December 2024, alongside GSCDM, Radha Paudel Foundation, Amplify Change, and AHF.
• Escuela de Educación Menstrual Emancipadas (El Salvador)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerEscuela de Educación Menstrual Emancipadas organized the 5th Latin America Conference on Dignified Menstruation in El Salvador, hosted by GSCDM as a regional partner, expanding the movement's reach in Latin America.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• AFRIpads: AFRIpads is a social enterprise manufacturing reusable menstrual pads in Uganda. It is adjacent to GSCDM as a participant in the global menstrual health ecosystem, but operates in product distribution rather than advocacy.
• The Case for Her: The Case for Her is a philanthropic fund supporting women's sexual health and wellbeing, including menstrual health. Relevant as a potential funder and ecosystem participant in the same space as GSCDM, though not a direct operational competitor.

Broad incumbents

• WaterAid: WaterAid is a major international WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) nonprofit that integrates menstrual hygiene into its programming. Comparable to GSCDM in addressing menstrual hygiene as a development and rights issue, but as part of a much broader WASH portfolio.
• Plan International: Plan International is a large international NGO advancing children's rights and gender equality, with dedicated menstrual health and hygiene programming. Comparable to GSCDM in addressing menstrual discrimination through a gender rights lens, but operating at much larger scale.
• UNFPA: UNFPA is the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, the largest global body operating in GSCDM's menstrual health / SRHR space. Comparable overlap with GSCDM's mission but operating at vastly larger scale and with broader SRHR remit.
• Simavi: Simavi is a Dutch NGO focused on WASH and SRHR in Asia and Africa, including menstrual health programming. Comparable to GSCDM's rights-based approach to menstrual health, with overlap in South/Southeast Asia geographies.

Direct peers

• WASH United: WASH United is the closest direct comparable: it runs Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28), a global awareness day that competes directly with GSCDM's International Dignified Menstruation Day (December 8). Both organizations coordinate global coalitions, develop advocacy materials, and push policy frameworks around menstrual hygiene and dignity.
• Days for Girls: Days for Girls is a nonprofit advancing menstrual health through education, advocacy, and product access across 100+ countries. Comparable to GSCDM in mission, global coalition model, and emphasis on capacity-building rather than purely product distribution.
• The Pad Project: The Pad Project is a US-based nonprofit focused on menstrual health education and advocacy, founded in response to the documentary "Period. End of Sentence." Comparable to GSCDM as an advocacy-led nonprofit working to destigmatize menstruation globally.

Emerging players

• Irise International: Irise International is a menstrual health nonprofit focused on East Africa, with research-driven programs on menstrual health and dignity. Comparable to GSCDM's evidence-based, advocacy-led approach, though operating at a smaller geographic scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dignifiedmenstruation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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