New York, 17 March 2026 – UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund) and FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding at UNFPA Headquarters in New York, marking a significant step towards accelerating innovation, investment and global collaboration in women’s health.
Together, the two organizations aim to improve maternal and reproductive health services and advance the elimination of women’s cancers. When countries request support, the partnership will support national health systems by expanding tools and training available to clinicians and by strengthening collaboration across the health workforce, including obstetric, midwifery and other maternal health professionals. The collaboration will also support practical innovations including technology-enabled cervical cancer screening, digital triage tools for obstetric emergencies and improved technologies to prevent postpartum haemorrhage.
"The partnership between UNFPA and FIGO reflects a truth borne out by the evidence: investing in maternal health saves lives, transforms communities, and requires urgent prioritization,” said Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA. "This agreement will help us strengthen midwifery and obstetric care models, expand evidence-based maternal health innovations, elevate clinical standards, and mobilize the skills and resources required to deliver measurable impact at scale."
The agreement formalizes a strategic partnership that brings together UNFPA’s global mandate and operational reach with FIGO’s leadership in professional mobilization, and its unmatched worldwide network of obstetricians and gynecologists supporting the dissemination of evidence-based clinical guidance.
A Global Opportunity
The UNFPA–FIGO partnership will support collaboration across regions, linking professional expertise, innovation and health systems strengthening to improve maternal and reproductive health services in low- and middle-income countries.
Prof. Dr. Frank Louwen, President of FIGO, emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships to advance women’s health and reproductive rights:
“This new partnership between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) marks a powerful commitment to advancing the health, rights and dignity of every woman and girl. It represents more than collaboration – it is a shared promise to improve access to quality reproductive health services, uphold human rights and leave no one behind.”
Through this MoU, UNFPA and FIGO will collaborate across several priority areas, including:
- Accelerating implementation of innovative solutions for women and girls in low- and medium-income countries, focusing on maternal health and safe motherhood
- Fostering global co-development and knowledge exchange between regions on innovative sexual and reproductive health technologies, including self-care products and advances in long-acting reversible contraception
- Supporting digital health innovation and data-driven decision-making
- Developing leadership and workforce capacity with clinical guidance, training standards and quality-of-care tools
- Promoting sustainable financing and investment cases for women’s health
About UNFPA
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working to uphold the rights and choices of women, girls and young people across more than 150 countries and territories. It reaches millions of women, girls and young people with essential health services, protection from violence, and with vital information about their bodies and rights. It also helps governments plan for changing population needs so people can thrive today and in the future, regardless of fertility trends.
About FIGO
FIGO is a professional organization that brings together more than 140 obstetrical and gynaecological societies from around the world. FIGO’s vision is that women of the world achieve the highest possible standards of physical, mental, reproductive and sexual health and well-being throughout their lives. FIGO leads global programme activities, with particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Learn more: www.unfpa.org | https://figo.org/
Media inquiries: media@unfpa.org
