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.’

Dr. Natalia Kanem

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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Previous Executive Directors

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Deputy Executive Directors

Deputy Executive Director (Management)

Andrew Saberton

He joined UNFPA in May 2009 as Chief of Accounts, promoted to Chief of Finance Branch 2 years later and again to Director,…

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Deputy Executive Director (Programme)

Diene Keita

Ms. Keita joined UNFPA in 2006 as Representative in Mauritania, and thereafter served in representative positions in Benin,…

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