Pad-Up Africa

What Pad-Up Africa does

Pad-Up Africa is a non-profit menstrual health and hygiene advocacy organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria. The organization's mission is to end period poverty, promote menstrual dignity, and empower adolescent girls and women across Africa through a combination of education, product distribution, advocacy, and sustainable training. It was founded in response to UNESCO findings that one in ten girls in sub-Saharan Africa misses school due to menstruation.

The organization delivers its impact through a portfolio of signature programs rather than a unified technology product. Core programs include Walk4Pad (an annual advocacy walk with 6+ editions completed), School Sensitization Programs, Community Bleeds Initiative, Cover Her Stain Campaign (a male engagement initiative), Menstrual Sports Day, Reusable Pad Production Training, and Sanitary Pad Distribution. To date, the organization reports reaching 10,000+ girls and women, distributing 12,000+ sanitary pads, and conducting 35+ menstrual hygiene campaigns. Its operations span schools, rural communities, and IDP camps across Nigeria with stated intent toward broader African reach.

Pad-Up Africa operates as a donation-funded non-profit with a small team of 7 employees and no commercial revenue stream. All products and educational services are provided at no cost to beneficiaries. The organization partners with entities including Marie Stopes International (MSI), NTA (Nigerian Television Authority), FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria), the Junior Entrepreneurship Foundation (JEF), BSGN, Kiek, Shamies, SuperSelf Foundation, SSHHH, and Go Educate Them to extend its reach. It is led by Executive Director Ashley Lori with a lean management team handling operations, gender inclusion, community development, media, and business development.

Name

Pad-Up Africa

Legal name

Pad-Up Africa

Website

https://padupafrica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pad-Up Africa is a Nigerian non-profit founded in 2017 that combats period poverty across Africa through menstrual health education, sanitary pad distribution, reusable pad training, and community advocacy programs targeting adolescent girls, women, schools, and IDP camps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Menstrual Health Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAA

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYCRABAIAB

Menstrual Pads (Reusable/Cloth)

Consumer Products & Retail/Beauty & Personal Care/Feminine Care

SECONDARYBPAGAAAG

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

Keywords

• Menstrual health education
• Period poverty advocacy
• Sanitary pad distribution
• Reusable pad training
• Community sensitization programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Abuja

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Pad-Up Africa operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and charitable foundations. The organization accepts donations of menstrual products, funds, and volunteer time to support its mission of ending period poverty in Africa.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pad-Up Africa is a non-profit organization that addresses period poverty in Africa by delivering menstrual health education, distributing sanitary pads and reusable menstrual products, and running community sensitization and advocacy campaigns. Its programs target adolescent girls and women in underserved communities, schools, rural areas, and IDP camps in Nigeria and across Africa. All offerings are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, funded through donations and partnerships.

Product overview

Pad-Up Africa operates as a non-profit menstrual health and hygiene advocacy organization offering a portfolio of programs rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include educational programs (School Sensitization Programs, Menstrual Health Education), community engagement initiatives (Community Bleeds Initiative, Community Outreaches), advocacy campaigns (Walk4Pad annual walk, Cover Her Stain Campaign), and empowerment programs (Reusable Pad Production Training, Sanitary Pad Distribution). The organization also runs Menstrual Sports Day as a school-based awareness event. These programs work together to address period poverty through education, product access, and community mobilization across Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Walk4Pad Annual advocacy walk program that raises awareness about period poverty, menstrual hygiene, and the need for menstrual dignity across communities in Africa. Open to participants, sponsors, and partner organizations.
• School Sensitization Programs School-based education sessions that provide students with accurate, age-appropriate knowledge about menstruation, menstrual hygiene management, puberty, body confidence, menstrual pain, and stigma reduction. Delivered to schools across Nigeria and Africa at no cost.
• Community Outreaches Outreach events that deliver menstrual health education and product support to rural communities, IDP camps, and underserved areas where access to menstrual products and accurate information is limited.
• Cover Her Stain Campaign Male sensitization campaign designed to engage boys and men in ending menstrual shame, stigma, and bullying in communities.
• Menstrual Sports Day School-based sports and education event that promotes menstrual confidence, physical participation, and period-positive conversations among students.
• Community Bleeds Initiative Community-centered program that creates safe spaces for menstrual health conversations, education, and peer support across communities.
• Reusable Pad Production Training Training program that teaches women and girls in rural communities and IDP camps how to produce reusable sanitary pads, providing sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions and livelihood opportunities.
• Sanitary Pad Distribution Distribution of sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene kits to underserved girls and women across schools, rural communities, and vulnerable populations. Over 12,000 pads distributed cumulatively.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ girls and women reached with menstrual health support
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BSGNminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBSGN (Breast Cancer Support Group Network) appears as a partner organization collaborating with Pad-Up Africa on menstrual health initiatives.
• NTA (Nigerian Television Authority)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNTA is a media partner providing coverage and visibility for Pad-Up Africa's menstrual health campaigns and advocacy events.
• FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFAAN partners with Pad-Up Africa to support menstrual health initiatives, potentially at airport facilities.
• MSI (Marie Stopes International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSI is a strategic partner collaborating on reproductive health and menstrual health programs across Africa.
• JEF (Junior Entrepreneurship Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJEF partners with Pad-Up Africa on entrepreneurship and empowerment programs, particularly related to reusable pad production training for women.
• Go Educate ThemminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGo Educate Them is an education-focused partner supporting Pad-Up Africa's school outreach and sensitization programs.
• KiekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKiek is a partner organization supporting Pad-Up Africa's menstrual health advocacy and distribution activities.
• ShamiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShamies is a partner supporting Pad-Up Africa's campaigns and programs.
• SuperSelf FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSuperSelf Foundation supports Pad-Up Africa's mission through funding and programmatic partnerships.
• SSHHHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSSHHH is a partner organization collaborating with Pad-Up Africa on menstrual health initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AFRIpads: Uganda-based social enterprise producing reusable menstrual pads and training local women in manufacturing. Comparable in combining pad production with livelihoods training across East Africa.
• The Pad Project: US-rooted non-profit funding pad distribution and education programs globally, including in Africa. Comparable mission and grant-funded model.
• Days for Girls: Global non-profit addressing period poverty through reusable pad kits and menstrual health education, with volunteer-led country chapters across Africa. Directly comparable mission, delivery model, and beneficiary focus.
• ZanaAfrica: Kenya-based non-profit providing menstrual health education and sanitary pads to schoolgirls. Comparable mission, school-focused distribution model, and East Africa footprint.
• Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE): Rwanda-based social enterprise using local banana fiber to produce affordable menstrual pads with livelihoods training. Comparable pad production + livelihoods model in East Africa.
• Femme International: Tanzania/Kenya-focused non-profit delivering menstrual health education and reusable products to schoolgirls. Comparable school-based outreach and reusable pad distribution model.

Emerging players

• Ruby Cup: Social enterprise distributing reusable menstrual cups across Africa through institutional partnerships. Comparable alternative menstrual product focus and partnership-led distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Always (P&G) / Whisper (P&G) — Keeping Girls in School Program: Procter & Gamble's Always brand runs corporate-led menstrual health education programs and pad distribution in African schools. Comparable in-school beneficiary model with significantly larger funding and scale.
• Marie Stopes International (MSI): Large global reproductive health organization providing contraceptives, post-abortion care, and menstrual health programming across Africa. Comparative at the sector level as a global incumbent with overlapping menstrual health agenda.
• UNICEF (MHM Programme): UN agency running large-scale menstrual health and hygiene (MHM) programs in schools and emergencies across Africa. Operates in the same mission space with much broader scope and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@padupafricatv
• Facebookfacebook.com/padupafrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/padupafrica
• Instagraminstagram.com/padupafricatv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pad-Up Africa