HR Business Partner East Africa
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management or equivalent is required.
- At least five years of experience in a senior Human Resource Management role, including two years at a supervisory level; an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted.
- Advanced knowledge of HR disciplines including employee development, change management, recruitment, branding, compensation practices, employee relations, compliance, performance management, and East Africa employment law.
- Ability to identify, recommend, and implement best-practice approaches that provide rapid, consistent, high-quality HR management and service in a fast-paced organization under pressure.
- Customer service, relationship-building and management, and consensus-building skills, with a focused and results-driven approach.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills, including identifying opportunities, diagnosing problems, and developing client-centered, evidence-based solutions.
- Ability to explain complex HR policies, processes, and recommendations to non-HR professionals.
- Written and verbal communication skills and ability to manage conflict and conflicting views.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Hands-on experience and certification with HR information systems and payroll systems.
- Knowledge of organizational structures, workflow, and operating procedures.
- Knowledge of labor regulations, industry trends, and norms.
- Ability to operate independently with limited management and drive change and innovation.
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information professionally.
- Ability to influence and lead, as well as collaborate in a team.
- Implement the HR strategy in line with organizational goals and objectives.
- Devise and implement metrics as needed.
- Consult, advise, and coach management and team members on identifying, defining, and implementing HR solutions aligned with business and departmental needs, global, regional, and local HR strategies, goals, legislation, regulations, and relevant standard operating procedures.
- Participate in workforce planning and job evaluation, ensuring compliance with local laws and global recruitment guidelines, and support recruiting managers throughout recruitment.
- Oversee full-cycle recruitment and directly recruit positions at all levels using traditional sourcing, networking, and innovative recruiting methods.
- Facilitate and coordinate recruitment and selection according to company policies and procedures.
- Coordinate recruitment and orientation or transition of new and transferring staff.
- Review and approve position requests and job descriptions, making recommendations and ensuring accuracy and consistency.
- Coordinate vacancy postings in appropriate internal and external media.
- Coordinate interviews and provide summaries of interview outcomes.
- Review job offers and contracts and ensure internal equity.
- Oversee HR administrative duties and ensure compliance with applicable legal and government reporting requirements.
- Ensure compliance with labor laws and minimize legal exposure.
- Develop and maintain the HR handbook; review policies and procedures and make recommendations.
- File and update personnel and statutory documents, maintaining staff information accurately, confidentially, and up to date.
- Lead exit management to support a seamless transition for departing employees.
- Champion business ethics and the code of conduct, escalate conduct issues, and ensure resolution and appropriate follow-up.
- Liaise with local legal counsel on HR issues requiring legal interpretation, as needed.
- Ensure leadership and line managers comply with HR practices and applicable local legislative and regulatory requirements, standards, policies, and guidelines.
- Administer staff benefits and compensation in accordance with HR policies.
- Ensure monthly HR payroll documentation is processed accurately and on time.
- Ensure exiting staff clearance forms are submitted before final dues are processed.
- Work with finance to orient and train staff on completing and submitting monthly timesheets.
- Ensure compliance with compensation principles during recruitment and promotion.
- Lead performance management, including planning annual reviews, training on goal setting, using budgets for development activities, and working one-on-one with managers and employees.
- Coordinate timely completion of the annual performance evaluation process.
- Coordinate timely completion of the annual merit plan process.
- Advise, train, and coach managers on performance management and supporting requirements.
- Lead employee relations and workplace investigations to resolve issues and conflicts.
- Mediate disciplinary procedures impartially and ensure fair administration consistent with legal and labor requirements.
- Maintain effective negotiation processes and harmonious employee-employer relationships.
- Advise supervisors on appropriate disciplinary plans of action.
- Identify and implement continuous improvements as agreed with management.
- Stay current with standard operating procedures relevant to functional requirements, locally or globally, and applicable industry practices.
- Represent employees in litigation, arbitration, or related legal matters.
- Develop staff-care action plans that support employee well-being and a positive working environment.
- Build trust with staff at all levels and in all roles.
About the company
Population Services International (PSI) advances global health in developing countries by tackling family planning, HIV/AIDS, maternal health barriers, and common childhood illnesses like malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia. It delivers health products and services at the community level, paired with communications campaigns and distribution to ensure people know about and can use them correctly, working through local governments and community groups. PSI differs from others by partnering deeply with local institutions and combining multiple health areas with a strong focus on outreach and distribution to drive lasting adoption. Its goal is to reduce preventable illness and death by expanding access to essential health services and building sustainable health systems.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$8.3M
Headquarters
null
Founded
1970
Get referred to Population Services International
See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- June 2026 Coach Mpilo reached 41,000 men, with 96% starting or resuming treatment.
- January 2026 PSI backed lenacapavir rollout across nine African countries, a major HIV-prevention tailwind.
- July 2026 partnership with Africa CDC expands PBID, strengthening a durable policy pipeline.
What critics are saying
- PSI said February 2025 U.S. aid terminations hit most funded programs, slashing services.
- Revelio data shows headcount fell 17.9% from 2023 to 2026, pressuring execution.
- If donor funding stays flat through 2030, PSI loses scale and relevance.
What makes Population Services International unique
- PSI pairs global health delivery with behavior-change programs across 50-plus countries.
- Its 2026 Africa CDC MoU embeds pharmacy-based immunization into national systems.
- PSI’s men-centered HIV model, Coach Mpilo, tackles stigma with peer coaches.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Benefits
Remote Work Options
Flexible Work Hours
Wellness Program
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
0%1 year growth
0%2 year growth
0%Appointment needed: the AI health chatbots closing the care gap. * Posted October 6, 2026 * Impact Area Digital Health Today, your phone can answer almost anything. Questions about dinner recipes, travel recommendations, research citations - questions that once took real time and effort are now resolved in seconds. But for millions of people, answers about their own health remain out of reach. In an age when AI can recommend your next binge-watch or plan your vacation itinerary, access to reliable health information and care still falls dangerously short for too many. To bridge this gap, PSI is partnering with governments across Africa to implement and scale digital health tools that put accurate, personalized health information directly in people's hands. From health chatbots to AI-enabled digital companions, these tools are creating effective, more accessible pathways to trusted information - giving people a private place to ask questions they may not feel comfortable asking in person - while helping people navigate services and find the support they need to stay healthy and safe. Here are some of the chatbots powering access to reliable health information and shaping the future of digitally-powered care. Jali: strengthening access to health information in Kenya during the Ebola outbreak. COVID-19 was a stark reminder of how deadly health misinformation can be. In response, PSI partnered with the Kenya Ministry of Health in 2023 to launch Jali - a WhatsApp-based health chatbot offering credible, on-demand health information to over 150,000 users across Kenya. During the pandemic, there were 1 million interactions on Jali, giving people accurate answers about how to get tested, seek care, and protect those around them. In 2025, PSI explored what else Jali could do. PSI partnered with Microsoft and Intellisoft to develop a prototype AI integration for Jali, designed to make it a smarter, more adaptable tool that could respond to the full range of health questions Kenyans face every day. Ultimately, the AI functionality did not go live, but the prototype gave PSI a way to test how AI could build on a platform people already knew and used. As Glady's Mugambi, Director of Health Promotion and Education at the Kenya Ministry of Health, put it: "With Jali, we are not only sharing information on what is going on, but we are also empowering Kenyans to take control of their health." That trust proved critical when Ebola outbreaks emerged in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rather than waiting for misinformation to spread, the Kenya Ministry of Health used Jali to proactively share accurate updates on the risk level and steps communities could take to stay safe. With COVID-19, misinformation cost lives. With Jali, Kenya was ready. Coach Mpilo A: a digital self-care tool supporting people living with HIV in South Africa. More than 2 million men living with HIV in South Africa are not on treatment. Research tells PSI this is not about men being indifferent or apathetic, it is about the fear and stigma surrounding HIV that keep men from seeking out testing and treatment. That's where Coach Mpilo comes in. In partnership with the Gates Foundation and Matchboxology, PSI created Coach Mpilo: a highly effective peer support model that trains men who are living well with HIV to be 'coaches' of men facing practical and psychosocial barriers to care. Despite its success, the scale of Coach Mpilo's peer support program was limited by the number of people able to serve as coaches. So PSI asked a different question: could PSI bring the most essential elements of Coach Mpilo - a safe, relatable source of information, and a warm bridge to in-person care - into a digital format that could reach anyone, anywhere? The result is Coach Mpilo AI, a WhatsApp health chatbot designed for people in South Africa seeking confidential support on sex, relationships, HIV, TB, mental health, and overall health and well-being. Built in partnership with Audere, Matchboxology, and Wits Health Consortium the tool aims to do what the original model alone cannot: reach anyone, anytime, at scale, extending the reach of the health system, enhancing access to care, and relieving pressure on healthcare providers. Coach Mpilo AI has been embraced by users and health providers alike: "The clinic does not always have time to teach you," one user said, "Coach Mpilo teaches you. If you do not understand something, the coach explains it." Another added: "I had a problem I didn't know how to express, but now I feel able to deal with it." As digital tools like Coach Mpilo create new ways for people to seek information and support, providers are also seeing changes in how openly people communicate about their health. One nurse shared, "Some would say they couldn't come out openly about their health concerns. But now they can talk freely. They can speak about anything they want to speak about." In its first seven months, Coach Mpilo AI has already reached more than 100,000 users, facilitated over 200,000 conversations, and partnered with 3,400 health providers across 161 clinics in South Africa. By supporting people with health information, screening, psychosocial support, practical reminders, connections to in-person care, and referrals to other sources of care, Coach Mpilo AI meets people where they are with the health resources they need. Learn more about Coach Mpilo. Nurse Lina: a sexual and reproductive health resource for women in Uganda. For many women in Uganda, getting reliable information about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) means navigating stigma, misinformation, and limited access to services. Nurse Lina is designed to change that. A WhatsApp-based AI chatbot developed by PSI Uganda, Nurse Lina offers women a simple, private, and judgment-free way to get accurate information about SRH on a platform they already use. What makes Nurse Lina effective is not just what it knows, but how it communicates. The chatbot explains contraception options clearly - how each method works, what side effects to expect, and what to do next - while actively addressing the myths and fears that often prevent women from seeking care in the first place. Because the conversation is private, women can ask questions they might feel too shy or judged to ask in a clinic. Nurse Lina also bridges the gap between information and action. After hearing her options, the chatbot connects women to a nearby trusted health facility so she can access services quickly and easily. For many users, this makes the difference between knowing their options and actually using them. In a setting where stigma and access barriers are real, Nurse Lina meets women where they are and supports them on the rest of their SRH journey. OKY: supporting menstrual health in Côte d'Ivoire. For many adolescent girls in Côte d'Ivoire, navigating menstrual health can feel limited by stigma and misinformation. Developed by UNICEF and launched this June in Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with PSI, OKY is a free, confidential mobile app that helps young girls track their menstrual cycles, understand how their periods affect their body and mood, and access reliable information on puberty and SRH. Built in partnership with girls, for girls, it uses educational, relevant content that is accessible even to first-time smartphone users. One user said, "In Africa, menstruation is considered taboo, but the Oky app comes as a lifesaver, providing us with accurate and essential information about our menstrual and sexual health." More than a tracking tool, OKY gives girls the knowledge and confidence to manage their menstrual health on their own terms and in their own time. At a time when period stigma and misinformation remain significant barriers to girls' education, confidence, and well-being, OKY offers a trusted, private space where girls can ask questions, understand their menstrual cycle, and feel less alone. The official launch in June, chaired by the Chief of Staff of Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Health, signals strong government commitment to putting digital technology at the service of adolescent girls' health and well-being. Looking forward. Technology is moving fast and PSI is working to make sure access to health information keeps pace. Chatbots will never replace the value of in-person care, but they are a powerful tool for strengthening the pathways that connect people to health education, credible information, and services they can trust. AI can make health information easier to reach, but technology is not the end point. Trusted information, human oversight and connections to care remain essential to helping people make informed decisions about their health. Alongside its partners, PSI will keep building digital health tools that put people and communities first. Because no matter how someone prefers to access care - a hospital, a clinic, a community health worker, or a WhatsApp message - everyone deserves information and care that is accurate, accessible, and free from judgment. In a world where your phone can answer almost anything, it should be able to help you stay healthy too. That is the future PSI is building.
Smart Start Ethiopia: supporting couples to plan their futures together. * Posted August 11, 2026 * Impact Area Women's Health At 18 years old, Wube Belete wanted a different future. Living with her husband's family in rural Ethiopia, she had little control over household decisions and few opportunities to make money, dependent entirely on her husband's limited income. Like many young married women in the area, she faced pressure to focus on domestic responsibilities and begin having children early. Across Ethiopia, many adolescent girls and young women face similar challenges. Nearly half of girls marry before age 18, and most begin having children before age 20. In rural areas, limited access to contraception and restricted decision-making power can make it difficult for young women to plan their futures or space pregnancies safely. In fact, the unmet need for contraception is nearly three times higher in rural areas than it is in urban areas of Ethiopia. Many begin childbearing soon after marriage, facing heightened health risks, including complications during pregnancy and childbirth such as obstetric fistula, eclampsia, maternal mortality, and poor newborn health outcomes. To address these challenges, PSI's A360 program partnered with Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Health to implement the Roadmap to Integrating Smart Start in Ethiopia (RISE) program across all regions in Ethiopia. Funded by the Gates Foundation, the program links financial planning with sexual and reproductive health counseling to support young couples planning their families to align with their economic goals. To date, over 120,000 adolescent girls and young women adopted modern contraceptive methods through the Smart Start model. Moreover, they have strengthened skills in household decision-making, financial planning, and communication. At its core, Smart Start reframes family planning conversations around financial planning and aspiration-setting. Rather than approaching contraception as a standalone health issue, Smart Start creates opportunities for couples to discuss their goals together: continuing education, starting businesses, building financial stability, and deciding when they want to have children. Through guided conversations led by trained health extension workers, couples map shared goals and explore how the timing of pregnancy can affect their economic plans and future opportunities. By engaging both partners, the program creates space for joint decision-making, shifting family planning from an individual responsibility to a shared priority. These conversations can reshape household dynamics and future planning for many young women. For Wube, Smart Start was transformative. When she first tried to participate in the Smart Start program, she faced resistance at home. "She didn't want me to join," Wube recalls of her mother-in-law. "She said there would be nobody to handle the household chores." Still, Wube persisted and joined, drawn by the opportunity to learn about financial planning and building a different future. As she began saving and exploring income-generating activities, her confidence grew. "The training sessions greatly helped me to get where I am now financially," she says. With these new insights, Wube initiated conversations with her husband about their future. "We need to move out of your parents' house if our lives are ever going to change." Together, they decided to move out and build a more independent future. Wube started a small vegetable business, using savings and small loans to grow her income. As financial pressures eased and communication improved, household dynamics also began to shift. "My husband encourages me to save," she explained. "Now he supports me at home." With greater financial security and stronger communication between partners, Wubeis now able to play a leading role in decisions about when to have another child - aligning her reproductive choices with the future she wants to build. Wube's story reflects broader changes happening through the Smart Start program in Ethiopia. In 2025 alone: * 121,256 adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 years adopted contraceptive methods through the Smart Start model. * 364,975 received counseling through Smart Start pathways. * Through program support, 47,109 girls attended their first antenatal care visits, while 124,690 attended postnatal care services. * Additionally, 37,957 pregnant girls and young women benefited from skilled delivery services, with 77% of those who delivered adopting immediate postpartum family planning methods. But beyond the numbers, Smart Start is helping shift how couples approach decision-making, communication, and future planning. Wube's story reflects the power of centering couples' lived realities, economic aspirations, relationship dynamics, and social pressures in health programming. By connecting reproductive health to the economic realities and aspirations of young families, the program demonstrates that meaningful and sustained change happens when women and couples are supported to plan their futures on their own terms. Donate to support its work. By Karin Hatzold, Senior Advisor II, Infectious Diseases Lenacapavir (LEN) represents one of... By Betty Abera, Project Director, Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Across Africa, pharmacies... By Malcolm Quigley, Director of Strategic Partnerships, PSI Across sub-Saharan Africa, many people walk... By Malcolm Quigley, Director of Strategic Partnerships, PSI The world does not have an innovation... The past year challenged the global health community in unprecedented ways - and one in which PSI and... In August 2025, health officials in Xepon District noticed something unusual: malaria cases were rising... The fight against HIV has reached a pivotal moment. Scientific breakthroughs are creating new opportunities... In Garowe and Burtinle, many families had long relied on untreated borehole water for drinking, cooking,... Every woman deserves the ability to make informed decisions about her reproductive health and the contraceptive... At 18 years old, Wube Belete wanted a different future. Living with her husband's family... By Karin Hatzold, Senior Advisor II, Infectious Diseases Lenacapavir (LEN) represents one of... By Betty Abera, Project Director, Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Across Africa, pharmacies... By Malcolm Quigley, Director of Strategic Partnerships, PSI Across sub-Saharan Africa, many people walk... By Malcolm Quigley, Director of Strategic Partnerships, PSI The world does not have an innovation... The past year challenged the global health community in unprecedented ways - and one in which PSI and... In August 2025, health officials in Xepon District noticed something unusual: malaria cases were rising... The fight against HIV has reached a pivotal moment. Scientific breakthroughs are creating new opportunities... In Garowe and Burtinle, many families had long relied on untreated borehole water for drinking, cooking,... Every woman deserves the ability to make informed decisions about her reproductive health and the contraceptive... At 18 years old, Wube Belete wanted a different future. Living with her husband's family...
How a former goalkeeper is closing South Africa's HIV treatment gap for men. June 8, 2026 In South Africa, men are less likely than women to start and stay on HIV treatment. Coach Mpilo, founded by a former football goalkeeper and funded by the Gates Foundation, pairs HIV-positive "coaches" with "players" to turn that around. South Africa carries the world's largest HIV burden, with roughly eight million people living with the virus, close to one in five adults. Treatment coverage reveals a stubborn gender gap: by UNAIDS figures, about 80 percent of women living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy, compared with only 68 percent of men. Men test later, start treatment later, interrupt it more often, and die of HIV-related causes at higher rates than women. Coach Mpilo was built to address that specific failure. The program grew out of the work of Silver Shabalala, a former goalkeeper for Durban's AmaZulu Football Club, who became an HIV advocate after his brother was diagnosed while imprisoned in Pretoria. When Shabalala and his colleagues asked men directly why so many avoided treatment, the answer was about trust rather than logistics. The men wanted proof that someone like them could live openly and well with HIV. As Shabalala put it, in an interview with the Gates Foundation, men wanted proof that someone like them could live openly and well with HIV. "A man needs a friend he can speak to, a friend who has walked that journey and has accepted himself." That insight drives the model. Coaches are men living openly with HIV, stable on treatment, and trained over about a week in interpersonal communication, mentorship, and problem-solving. They take referrals from clinics and community testing sites, field calls prompted by posters, accompany men to appointments, and ease the disclosure conversations that many men dread. The framing borrows from sport, with "coaches" mentoring "players." "Mpilo" means life or health in Zulu. Coaches lean on simple teaching tools, including bottles of colored beads to show how treatment suppresses the virus, and on the U=U message, short for Undetectable = Untransmittable. This means that once treatment suppresses the virus to undetectable levels, it cannot be sexually transmitted. The approach is led by Population Services International with Matchboxology and partners including BroadReach Healthcare and Right to Care, with funding from the Gates Foundation. A 2020 pilot across three districts produced strong early retention, and an independent evaluation in KwaZulu-Natal, run by the University of Cape Town's SALDRU with J-PAL Africa, is now measuring longer-term effects on viral suppression, mental health, and stigma. The Gates Foundation reports that 96 percent of the 41,000 men reached so far have started or resumed treatment. Coaches are recruited locally, trained in about a week, and work close to home, which makes the program quick to set up and deploy. That makes the current threat to it striking. Recent cuts to public health funding have cost some coaches their paid positions, yet many keep showing up, escorting men to clinics without reimbursement. As Shabalala sees it, the program built brotherhood. That may be the clearest measure of whether peer support can outlast the budgets that started it. This summary is based on the following sources:
What PSI is looking forward to in 2026. The past year challenged the global health community in unprecedented ways - and one in which PSI and its partners rose to meet those challenges head-on. Thanks to the dedication of colleagues, governments, partners, communities, and supporters around the world, Population Services International continued advancing equitable access to quality healthcare, strengthening systems, and reaching the people who need it most. As the first month of 2026 comes to an end, Population Services International is choosing to lead with optimism. Because even in difficult moments, this community continues to persevere, adapt, and deliver impact - and there is a great deal to be excited about this year. Across PSI, some of the exciting activities and partnerships Population Services International is looking forward to in 2026: * Drones supporting health system resilience in Madagascar: Population Services International has partnered with Aerial Metric to use drones to more effectively reach people with quality health products. * The distribution of Lenacapavir across Africa: PSI and partners are supporting nine early-adopter African countries to introduce the twice-yearly injectable to prevent HIV. * Market-based sanitation (MBS) in Mozambique: Population Services International partnered with UNICEF to revitalize the sanitation market and strengthen climate resilience. * Engaging men as partners, not bystanders: Population Services International has joined the Gates Foundation in creating spaces where men and women can co-advocate for better health outcomes. * Pharmacy-based immunization delivery (PBID): With Takeda and national partners, Population Services International is unlocking the full potential of pharmacies to deliver life-saving vaccines. * Scaling digital health workforce development and integration: Population Services International is partnering with governments to integrate public and private digital health systems and build the workforce capacity to turn digital tools into real-world impact. * Powering health systems strengthening in Sierra Leone: Population Services International is partnering with the Government to strengthen health systems from the ground up - improving community-based care, enhancing disease surveillance, and advancing One Health coordination. * The institutionalization of PMC: Perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) is an effective method to prevent malaria and PMC strategies are being implemented in global health guidelines and national health strategies. * Supporting evidence-based global health research: In 2025, PSI contributed to 57 peer-reviewed publications and Population Services International look forward to continuing research that lays the groundwork for effective health interventions. There's power in positivity and partnership. Join Population Services International in starting the year on an optimistic note - and share what you're looking forward to in 2026 in the comments. Donate to support its work. Related. In the remote village of Saniyani Moryani, Sindh, lives Arbab Khatoon Tunio, a determined woman who has... By Betty Abera, Project Director, Pharmacy-Based Immunization As the world continues to analyze the aftermath... By Dr. Karin Hatzold, Director of Global HIV, TB and Viral Hepatitis Programs The consequences... Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of infectious disease death globally. In 2023, over... Like many in its global community, PSI has received termination notices for the vast majority of its... The past year challenged the global health community in unprecedented ways - and one in which PSI and... By Dr. Karin Hatzold, Global Infectious Diseases Lead, PSI World AIDS Day 2025 marks a landmark moment... By Susan Davis, Philanthropy Advisor and Global WASH Professional, Dain Hansen, Executive Vice President... "I have chosen the implant. I need to make sure I finish my school without any disruptions." Chimwemwe... In northwest Nigeria, nearly one in three girls becomes a mother by age 19. These young girls, still... In the remote village of Saniyani Moryani, Sindh, lives Arbab Khatoon Tunio, a determined woman who has... By Betty Abera, Project Director, Pharmacy-Based Immunization As the world continues to analyze the aftermath... By Dr. Karin Hatzold, Director of Global HIV, TB and Viral Hepatitis Programs The consequences... Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of infectious disease death globally. In 2023, over... Like many in its global community, PSI has received termination notices for the vast majority of its... The past year challenged the global health community in unprecedented ways - and one in which PSI and... By Dr. Karin Hatzold, Global Infectious Diseases Lead, PSI World AIDS Day 2025 marks a landmark moment... By Susan Davis, Philanthropy Advisor and Global WASH Professional, Dain Hansen, Executive Vice President... "I have chosen the implant. I need to make sure I finish my school without any disruptions." Chimwemwe... In northwest Nigeria, nearly one in three girls becomes a mother by age 19. These young girls, still...
VUT partners with PSI to promote menstrual health and student well-being. "Population Services International (PSI) donated sanitary pads to Vaal University of Technology, which were distributed across student residences. The initiative supports the health and well-being of young women." On 7 November 2025, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) received a generous donation of sanitary pads, along with Trust condoms, from Population Services International (PSI). The initiative aimed to promote menstrual health, restore dignity, and support young women from diverse backgrounds within the university community. PSI, a globally recognised nonprofit organisation, is dedicated to improving public health with a strong focus on sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, and gender equality. Through this donation, PSI reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women and ensuring that female students have the resources to manage their health with confidence and dignity. Following the donation, VUT, through its Institutional HIV and AIDS Unit (IHAU), led the distribution of sanitary pads to various student residences, ensuring that young women in need were reached. Peer educators played a pivotal role in this process, assisting with the distribution across residences such as Nkandla and others on campus. Their involvement ensured that the process was well coordinated and that students received both products and guidance. During the handover event, Mr Vincent Mdluli, HIV Assistant Coordinator at VUT, delivered a heartfelt message on the impact of such contributions. He noted that access to sanitary towels and other donated items would greatly assist students, particularly those facing financial hardship. "These pads will bring back women's pride," he said, emphasising that many young women come from challenging backgrounds and that this gesture would help restore their confidence and self-worth. Mrs Maureen Motsukunyane, Director of IHAU, expressed sincere gratitude to PSI for recognising and responding to the needs of students. She highlighted that the initiative would make a tangible difference in many lives. "These sanitary towels will help most of our needy students," she said, urging young women to use the resources wisely and remain focused on their education. Students also shared heartfelt messages of appreciation. Ms Nkosazana Ntado from Nkandla residence said, "This kind of gesture should be done often, as it helps other girls who really need it." Likewise, Ms Lesego Ramothibe added, "Thanks to PSI and VUT, because this will really help one lady, I don't want to lie." Through this initiative, PSI, VUT, and its peer educators have demonstrated the transformative power of partnership in advancing menstrual health and supporting student well-being, ensuring that no woman's education is disrupted by a lack of essential resources.