EDEKA has joined Plan International Germany to launch a new programme aimed at supporting girls’ education and health in Ghana.
The project, announced on 5 October 2026, will operate in Ghana’s Oti Region.
Called “Girls. Education. Future.”, the initiative is designed to reduce barriers that can prevent girls from attending school regularly, particularly those connected with menstruation, hygiene and access to suitable facilities.
Plan International said many girls continue to face limited information about menstruation, inadequate sanitation and difficulty accessing appropriate products.
The programme will combine education with practical support inside schools.
Planned measures include:
- Health and hygiene education.
- Menstrual health awareness.
- New school health clubs.
- Safe toilets offering greater privacy.
- Reusable menstrual products for girls.
- Support designed to improve regular school attendance.
The partnership involves EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. KG and Plan International Germany.
The project will run across ten communities in the Oti Region. Plan International says 1,000 girls will receive reusable menstrual products and ten school latrines will be built.
Ten school health clubs will also be established or strengthened, with pupils and teachers trained to share information on menstruation, health and hygiene.
The programme will also involve families and male community members through discussion groups and fathers’ clubs designed to reduce stigma and improve support for girls.
For EDEKA, the programme adds another social responsibility initiative to a business with a major role in Germany’s food retail and supply chain.
The cooperative EDEKA network works with around 3,200 independent retailers and employs approximately 417,500 people.
Its network generated turnover of around €77.3 billion in 2025, according to information released alongside the new partnership.
EDEKA also has a significant role further up the grocery supply chain.
Its EDEKA Fruchtkontor operation is included among the leading fresh produce businesses in Germany, while the wider group remains one of the country’s most influential supermarket organisations.
Grocery Trade News has also examined EDEKA’s position among Germany’s leading supermarkets by market power.
The Ghana programme focuses on creating conditions that allow girls to continue their education without menstruation becoming a regular reason for missing school.
Plan International said the aim is to give girls the knowledge, facilities and support needed to continue their education with greater confidence and independence.
The partnership builds on EDEKA’s existing activity in the Oti Region, where it has been involved in cocoa-community projects since 2021.
Editor’s note: Grocery Trade News reviewed Plan International Germany’s 5 October announcement and existing GTN coverage of EDEKA’s grocery, fresh produce and German retail operations.
