WomenX Collective Launch to Transform Women’s Health Globally

UNFPA unveiled new initiative at World Health Summit in Berlin

On October 15, 2024, UNFPA launched the WomenX Collective, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming women's health worldwide. Unveiled during the World Health Summit 2024 in Berlin, this new programme focuses on delivering innovative health solutions to underserved communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Through a series of global hubs, the WomenX Collective will connect advanced technologies with local communities to close the health gap for women and girls, with a particular focus on reproductive health and maternal health.

The first hub, located in Berlin, was launched in collaboration with Charité – Universitätsmedizin and the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH). This marks the beginning of a global network, with future hubs planned in cities like Nairobi by 2025. These hubs will serve as innovation centers, driving collaboration between local and global partners to bring transformative health solutions to the regions that need them most.

Closing the Health Gap for Women and Girls

According to Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, global inequality in healthcare access remains a pressing issue, especially for women. “Every minute, at least two women die globally from breast or cervical cancer or pregnancy-related complications due to inequitable access to healthcare. Through the WomenX Collective, UNFPA aims to help bring innovative health solutions to underserved communities, closing the health gap for women worldwide.”

The WomenX Collective aims to address the underrepresentation of women in healthcare research and development. Only 1 per cent of global research and development (R&D)  funding targets women’s health beyond oncology and just 0.2 per cent focuses on sexual and reproductive health in developing countries. By promoting evidence-based, scalable innovations, the programme will target these gaps and help accelerate progress toward more equitable healthcare systems.

A $100 Million Investment Target by 2030

The WomenX Collective also sets ambitious financial goals. UNFPA aims to raise $100 million by 2030 to fund women’s health projects, scale successful innovations and promote collaboration across sectors. Initial funding commitments have already been secured from key international donors such as the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Organon & Co., and Deutsche Postcode Lotterie. These funds will help implement advanced solutions, including antenatal ultrasound screening, self-care and other solutions in developing countries.

“The investment in women's health is convincing with numbers: Through new, women-centered evidence-driven investment opportunities, we want to show that for every dollar invested, a dividend of over 7 euros is possible by 2030’, says Dr. Nigina Muntean, Chief of Innovation at UNFPA. “By investing in women's health and fostering innovation, we can unlock significant economic returns and ensure advancements reach those most in need.”

A Global Hub Network for Health Innovation

The WomenX Collective is designed to operate through a series of global hubs, with the Berlin hub setting the foundation for future expansion. The hubs will function as connectors between the local and global ecosystems of experts in women’s health, promoting the development and dissemination of health solutions tailored to local needs. 

By building a global network, the WomenX Collective will foster cross-sector partnerships, involving academic institutions, private sector leaders, local governments and communities. These collaborations will ensure that health innovations are not only developed but also scaled effectively to reach the women and girls who need them most.

Looking Ahead: The Vision of WomenX Collective

The vision for the WomenX Collective is bold: to eliminate healthcare inequities for women and girls globally. As the Berlin hub begins its operations, the programme will focus on scaling successful health innovations, training healthcare professionals and empowering communities to take charge of their health. Over time, UNFPA hopes that the WomenX Collective will serve as a model for how innovation, collaboration and investment can transform health outcomes for women worldwide.

For more information on the WomenX Collective and its upcoming initiatives, please visit https://www.unfpa.org/womenx-collective