To support national ABS mainstreaming in Côte d’Ivoire, the ABS Initiative commissioned a comprehensive study on laws, policies, strategies, and activities that could be aligned with ABS. The study analysed institutional and procedural entry points and identified key actors within ministries and institutions to drive integration. It focused on ministries covering the economy, trade, health, science, agriculture, rural development, and intellectual property, as well as national development policies, SDG implementation, and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). 

The research combined targeted keyword searches (e.g. “biodiversity”) with interviews across ministries. Findings were validated by experts and shared with ministry and academic representatives at a workshop, where the ABS Focal Point and participants developed around 30 joint goals and actions. 

Building on subsequent activities and networks - for example based on the national NBSAP process - Côte d’Ivoire’s ABS mainstreaming shows early success: ABS is included in the revised National Development Plan, and agreements are in place to integrate it into research institute curricula and forthcoming ministry policies.

This building block aims to strengthen awareness among government agencies responsible for ABS about the need for national ABS mainstreaming, aligned with Target 13 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, and to identify effective implementation approaches. To this end, the ABS Initiative organised a two-day workshop with ABS Focal Points from seven African countries. Participants analysed challenges for ABS mainstreaming, including limited cross-sector collaboration, balancing ABS priorities with other biodiversity goals, and gaps in implementing and monitoring benefit-sharing.

Using guiding questions, participants identified priority actors, mandates, partnership anchor points, and potential mutual benefits. Countries developed practical solutions, focusing on both technical collaboration with ministries and policy-level engagement to improve the enabling environment.

Strategic communication exercises helped to tailor ABS messaging for sectors such as agriculture, research, trade, and health by linking ABS to their specific policy objectives. Each country defined two priority measures and initial steps for implementation at home. The ABS Initiative also developed country policy briefs showcasing anchor and entry points for ABS mainstreaming.

1. Digital MRV (Measurement–Reporting–Verification) System

• What it is: AI-powered monitoring platform combining drones, satellite imagery, and blockchain verification.
• Why it matters: Ensures transparency, traceability, and credibility of every planted tree.
• Transferability: Can be adapted to monitor other nature-based solutions (wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, etc.).

2. Blockchain-Verified Tree Registry & Certificates

• What it is: Each planted tree is assigned a digital ID and certificate stored on blockchain.
• Why it matters: Builds trust with funders, companies, and individuals by proving tree ownership and survival.
• Transferability: Applicable to carbon markets, biodiversity credits, or ecosystem services accounting.

3. Youth Volunteer Engagement Model

• What it is: Mobilization of students and local youth (e.g., “Green Volunteers”) for tree planting, maintenance, and awareness-building.
• Why it matters: Builds long-term stewardship and community ownership of restored areas.
• Transferability: Can be replicated for climate education, waste management, or community energy projects.

4. Corporate Partnership & CSR Integration

• What it is: Businesses (telecom, finance, events, resorts, etc.) co-finance tree groves as part of CSR/ESG strategies.
• Why it matters: Provides sustainable funding for reforestation while aligning with companies’ branding and SDG goals.
• Transferability: Can be applied to other green initiatives (renewables, circular economy, eco-labels).

5. Three-Year Maintenance & Survival Guarantee

• What it is: Each planting project includes watering, fencing, and maintenance for at least 3 years.
• Why it matters: Addresses high mortality rates in tree planting, ensuring long-term carbon sequestration.
• Transferability: Maintenance-first approach can be adopted in agriculture, conservation, or infrastructure projects.

6. Community Education & Reward System

• What it is: Local residents and households (e.g., ger districts) participate and receive recognition, small rewards, or utility discounts.
• Why it matters: Incentivizes grassroots climate action and strengthens community buy-in.
• Transferability: Rewards model can support recycling, clean cooking, or water conservation programs.

This building block captures the iterative process of translating user insights into tangible menstrual pad prototypes. Guided by the national field research (Building Block 1), Sparśa developed and tested multiple pad designs to balance absorbency, retention, comfort, hygiene, and compostability.

The process took place in two phases:

Phase 1 – Manual prototyping (pre-factory):
Before the factory was operational, pads were manually assembled to explore different material combinations and layering systems. Prototypes tested 3–5 layers, usually including a soft top sheet, transfer layer, absorbent core, biobased SAP (super absorbent polymer), and a compostable back sheet. Materials such as non-woven viscose, non-woven cotton, banana fibre, CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), guar gum, sodium alginate, banana paper, biodegradable films, and glue were evaluated.

Key findings showed that while achieving high total absorbency was relatively easy — Sparśa pads even outperformed some conventional pads in total immersion tests — the main challenge lay in retention under pressure. Conventional pads use plastic hydrophobic topsheets that allow one-way fluid flow. Compostable alternatives like viscose or cotton are hydrophilic, risking surface wetness. Prototyping revealed the need to accelerate liquid transfer into the core to keep the top layer comfortable and dry.

Phase 2 – Machine-based prototyping (factory):
Once machinery was installed, a new round of prototyping began. Manual results provided guidance but could not be replicated exactly, as machine-made pads follow different assembly processes. Techniques such as embossing, ultrasonic sealing, and precise glue application were tested, alongside strict bioburden control protocols in the fibre factory.

Machine-made prototypes were systematically tested for absorption, retention, and bacterial counts. Internal testing protocols were developed in-house and then verified through certified laboratories. Initial results showed that bacterial loads varied significantly depending on fibre processing steps (e.g. cooking or beating order), underlining the importance of strict hygiene control.

Iterative design cycles combined laboratory testing with user comfort feedback, allowing continuous adjustments. By gradually refining layer combinations, thickness, and bonding methods, Sparśa optimized the balance between performance, hygiene, and environmental sustainability.

Annexes include PDFs with detailed prototype designs, retention test data, and bacterial count results. These resources are provided for practitioners who wish to replicate or adapt the methodology.

This building block outlines the findings and methodology of a nationwide field study conducted in 2022, which informed the Sparśa Pad Project. The research examined menstrual product usage, access, stigma, and user preferences among 820 Nepali women and adolescent girls in 14 districts across all seven provinces.

Using a structured face-to-face interview approach, the team employed ethically approved questionnaires administered by culturally rooted female research assistants. This method ensured trust, context sensitivity, and accurate data collection across diverse communities. The interviewers were trained in ethical protocols and worked in their own or nearby communities, thereby strengthening rapport and enhancing their understanding of local norms, power relations, and languages.

Key findings revealed a high reliance on disposable pads (75.7%) and ongoing use of cloth (44.4%), with product preferences strongly shaped by income, education, and geography. Respondents prioritized absorbency, softness, and size in menstrual products. While 59% were unfamiliar with the term “biodegradable,” those who understood it expressed a strong preference for compostable options, over 90%. Importantly, 73% of participants followed at least one menstrual restriction, yet 57% expressed positive feelings about them, seeing them as tradition rather than purely discriminatory.

These findings directly shaped the design of Sparśa’s compostable pads, informed the user testing protocols, and guided the development of targeted awareness campaigns. The accompanying link and PDFs include a peer-reviewed research article co-authored by the team and supervised by Universidade Fernando Pessoa (Porto, Portugal), as well as informed consent forms, a statement of confidentiality, and a research questionnaire. These documents are provided for practitioners' reference or replication purposes.

Why this is useful for others:

For Nepali organizations and local governments:

• The study provides representative national data to inform product design, pricing strategies, and outreach campaigns.
• It reveals regional, ethnic, and generational differences in attitudes that are essential for localized intervention planning.
• The questionnaire is available in Nepali and can be adapted for school surveys, municipal assessments, or NGO projects.

For international actors:

• The research demonstrates a replicable, ethical field methodology that balances qualitative insight with statistically relevant sampling.
• It offers a template for conducting culturally sensitive research in diverse, low-income settings.
• Key insights can guide similar product development, health education, and behavior change interventions globally.

Instructions for practitioners:

• Use the attached PDFs as templates for conducting your own baseline studies.
• Adapt the questions to reflect your region’s cultural and product context.
• Leverage the findings to avoid common pitfalls, such as overestimating awareness of biodegradable products or underestimating positive views on restrictions.
• Use the structure to co-design products and testing tools that truly reflect end-user needs.

This building block lays the groundwork for Sparsa Pad’s operational and strategic framework by focusing on three critical aspects: location selection, organizational structure, and market approach. The banana fiber factory is strategically placed in Susta, Nepal’s largest banana farming region, ensuring direct access to the primary raw material, while the final production facility in Bharatpur as industrial hub with strong logistical networks ,enables efficient assembly and nationwide distribution. By establishing Sparsa as a non-profit, the company can foster trust with NGOs and government bodies, securing support and partnerships to distribute free pads to underserved communities. The market entry strategy follows a phased approach: For sales, we’ll start by supplying NGOs and the government (B2B) for the first two years, ensuring pads reach those who can’t afford them. Later, we’ll sell directly to customers (B2C) through retail and online for long-term growth. This plan balances social impact with sustainability. 

This building block ensures Sparsa’s financial sustainability and product-market fit through a structured 4-year financial plan and iterative feedback collection. The financial plan forecasts pad sales to track progress toward independence from donations, helping avoid budget overruns. Simultaneously, a two-phase feedback process, first with close contacts for honest critiques, then with 300+ users from schools and communities refines product quality based on real insights. By aligning finances with customer needs, Sparsa can achieve long-term viability and user satisfaction. 

This building block focuses on building and maintaining key partnerships with NGOs, INGOs, municipalities, schools, colleges, hostels, and health centers to expand the reach of Sparsa’s biodegradable menstrual pads. These partnerships help create demand, enable pad distribution in rural and urban areas, and build long-term relationships that promote menstrual health awareness and sustainable business models. 

At both factory locations, we have formed user committees made up of local women. These women sell Sparsa pads in their communities, earn income, and help make  themself and the project sustainable. 

This building block ensures that women are prioritized for full-time employment across Sparsa’s production value chain from manufacturing banana fiber paper at the fiber factory to producing menstrual pads at the pad factory. These roles provide women with steady income, skills training, and economic empowerment, aligning with Sparsa’s mission of gender-responsive entrepreneurship. 
Men, on the other hand, are hired as seasonal workers during the banana harvest season. After farmers harvest bananas, Sparsa’s two male seasonal workers visit farms to cut and collect banana trunks, which are the raw material used to produce fiber. These trunks are then transported to the fiber factory for processing. This arrangement ensures a fair distribution of labor, with women at the core of value-added production and men supporting time-sensitive, heavy-lifting tasks during peak agricultural periods.