Dr. Natalia Kanem

In a career spanning over three decades, Dr. Natalia Kanem has dedicated her life to improving the health and lives of women and children by championing their rights and choices. She leverages her combined expertise in science, public health and philanthropy to advance the reproductive health and rights of women and girls, and to uphold the human dignity of all.

As United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, Dr. Kanem oversees its life-saving policy, development and humanitarian work in over 120 countries, with the aim of assuring that ‘every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.’

Executive Director

Dr. Natalia Kanem

UNFPA is calling for a decisive, coordinated set of actions to achieve bodily autonomy, reproductive rights and gender equality well in time for 2030. Yes, it is ambitious. But together we can achieve it.

Dr. Natalia Kanem

Executive Director of UNFPA

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The ED stands, smiling with four other women

At the tented village in Nabavatu community, Vanua Levu, where families displaced by Cyclone Yasa in 2020 continue to live in makeshift tents, UNFPA Patron, H.R.H. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, and UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem, met with the women of the community to learn about how women and girls of Nabavatu Village have been impacted by the crisis, including their sexual and reproductive health and psychological wellbeing.

Macuata, Fiji | 25 April 2023

Dr. Kanem announces new commitments from Luxembourg and the Gates Foundation at Global Citizen's annual event. © Mary Kang for Global Citizen

New York | 24 September 2022

Dr. Kanem addressing audience on global citizen stage. She is in orange. She stands along side three other women.

Dr. Kanem addresses a live audience at 2022's Global Citizen concert. She is on stage with Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Payzee Mahmod, Connie Britton and Anuschech Amir Khalili. © Mary Kang For Global Citizen

New York, US | 24 September 2022

SWP22 launch in Dakar with Executive Director Dr Natalia Kanem

Dakar, Senegal | 01 April 2022

Dr Kanem walks through area hit by Typhoon Rai in the Philippines

Executive Director of UNFPA Natalia Kanem visits Southern Leyte three months after Typhoon Rai (Odette) hit

Southern Leyte, Philippines | 27 March 2022

Dr. Kanem hands an orange dignity kit to a young women

Executive Director of UNFPA Natalia Kanem visits Southern Leyte three months after Typhoon Rai (Odette) hit

Southern Leyte, Philippines | 27 March 2022

Dr Natalia Kanem speaks with young refguee women at a shelter in Chisinau, Moldova

Executive Director of UNFPA Natalia Kanem (right), visits a Ukrainian refugee family who has recently fled war in their country, March 10, 2022 at the Manej Stadium that was transformed overnight into a refugee shelter, in the capital Chisinau, Moldova.

Chisinau, Moldova | 10 March 2022

Ukrainian Mother hands her baby to Dr Natalia Kanem to hold. Surrounded by two other women

Executive Director of UNFPA Natalia Kanem, visits a Ukrainian refugee family who has recently fled war in their country, March 10, 2022 at the Moldexpo centre that was transformed overnight into a refugee shelter, in the capital Chisinau, Moldova.

Moldova | 10 March 2022

UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem visits a mother and her newborn at the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital’s maternity ward. © UNFPA/Luis Tato

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 17 May 2021

UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem meets with Dr. Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize winner and one of the foremost experts on the treatment of sexual violence in crisis settings, at the facility he founded, Panzi Hospital.© UNFPA/Luis Tato

Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 13 May 2021

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