Interview | Nigina Muntean, Chief of the Innovation Unit at UNFPA and co-founder of WomenX Collective

A better future for women's health

Berlin will be the first hub of WomenX Collective – a new global center for advancing research, innovation and investment in women's health. This initiative aims to bridge the gap in women's health solutions by fostering stronger partnerships and rallying resources to promote gender equality in science, technology, and finance. Dr. Nigina Muntean, head of the Innovation Unit at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), co-founded WomenX Collective.

 

 

 

Why is it so important for UNFPA to do something for women's health right now? 

Women's health is at the heart of our mission, and its urgency is at an all-time high. Every minute, at least two women die due to female health issues. Most of these deaths are preventable. Progress in healthcare is enormous, but it is not reaching most women and girls equitably. This is what drives the WomenX Collective, a bold initiative to transform health for women and girls in developing countries by delivering scalable, evidence-based solutions.   

What is planned for the WomanX project? 

WomenX Collective aims to transform the health of women and girls by leveraging UNFPA's global footprint and expertise. It will foster partnerships to address health gaps with advanced products, services and processes. WomenX Collective aims to establish a series of hubs around the world and raise at least $100 million in catalytic investments to support women's health projects, scale innovative solutions and promote them across sectors. 

Which medical topics could be in the center of attention initially? 

Initially, WomenX will focus on maternal and reproductive health, including cancer. Every day, nearly 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and a similar number die from cervical cancer. WomenX aims to scale up life-saving diagnostics, monitoring and treatment and related processes to potentially avert 10.4 million unintended pregnancies, 3.2 million unsafe abortions and 21,000 maternal deaths. 

Why did you choose Berlin as a hub in the WomanX project? 

As the first WomenX Hub, Berlin leverages Germany's innovation ecosystem and commitment to advancing women's health. Berlin is a global leader in health innovation and offers access to a powerful network of researchers, private sector leaders, and health alliances. This strategic location will enable WomenX Collective to forge transformative partnerships and drive meaningful, lasting change for women's health. 

Personal profile 

Dr. Nigina Muntean has been leading the Innovation Division at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) since 2022. Prior to that, she held various positions at UNFPA, including in New York City, Istanbul and Addis Ababa. Dr. Muntean has more than 25 years of experience and has also worked with the World Health Organization, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Doctors Without Borders, and other organizations and hospitals. She is a medical doctor by profession, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. She grew up in Uzbekistan and now lives in New York City. 

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