BanaPads Social Enterprise produces comfortable sanitary pads from natural agricultural waste materials. They are low-cost, 100% biodegradable, safe and hygienic, and made locally, following international standards. The objective of this enterprise is to reduce absenteeism of schoolgirls in rural and poor communities while creating a women’s entrepreneur network through which the pads are distributed and sustainable independent micro-businesses are established.

The enterprise has won a SEED Africa Award in 2013. The 2013 SEED Awards in Ethiopia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda were supported by the European Union, which is made up of 28 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies.