UNFPA Launches The Equalizer Challenge to Scale Women’s Health Innovations

New York, 11 April 2025 – UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, in collaboration with MIT Solve, IE University, and Women of Wearables, is announcing the launch of The Equalizer Challenge: Scaling Women’s Health Innovations. This innovation challenge, enabled by the generous support from the Governments of Germany and Luxembourg, will support women-led enterprises in moving their projects beyond the pilot stage and achieving meaningful, scalable impact on women’s health. 

Women’s health remains critically underfunded. "Every minute, at least two women die globally from breast or cervical cancer or pregnancy-related complications due to inequitable access to healthcare," says Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA.

Despite the severity of these issues, only 1% of global healthcare research and innovation funding addresses female-specific conditions beyond oncology. Even more alarmingly, only 0.2% of research and development funding focuses on sexual and reproductive health in developing countries, despite its critical role in determining lifelong well-being. Gender biases persist in technology and healthcare design, reinforcing the need for inclusive, impactful solutions. The Equalizer Challenge seeks to bridge this gap by investing in innovations that reach underserved communities, leaving no one behind.

The challenge provides catalytic funding alongside a six-month capacity development programme featuring biweekly coaching, expert mentorship, and direct connections to global health and investment networks. Whether through medical devices, digital health platforms, personalized medicine, or breakthrough solutions addressing health conditions unique to women, this challenge seeks bold, women-led innovations that don’t just push boundaries but break through them, reshaping the future of care.

More information on eligibility and how to apply is available here.

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About UNFPA 

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education.