Poonam Muttreja is a distinguished social development leader, women’s rights advocate, and institution builder serving as Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India (PFI). With over four decades of experience in the development sector, she has dedicated her career to advancing women’s empowerment, reproductive and sexual health rights, gender equality, population development, and sustainable rural livelihoods. Her professional mission is rooted in the belief that empowering women, enabling informed choices, and challenging deep-rooted social norms are fundamental to achieving inclusive and sustainable development. She has consistently championed a rights-based approach to healthcare and development, emphasizing the importance of placing women, young people, and marginalized communities at the center of policy formulation and program implementation.
At the Population Foundation of India, Ms. Muttreja has led initiatives that combine research, policy advocacy, strategic communications, and community engagement to address critical challenges in population health, family planning, reproductive rights, and gender equality. One of her most significant contributions has been co-conceptualizing Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon—I, A Woman, Can Achieve Anything, a pioneering multimedia entertainment-education initiative launched in 2014. Designed to challenge gender stereotypes, encourage women’s agency, and promote positive social and behavioral change, the program reached millions of viewers across India through television, radio, community platforms, and digital media. Its third season also introduced SnehAI, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to engage users on gender and reproductive health issues.
Before joining PFI, Ms. Muttreja served for 15 years as India Country Director of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, overseeing its grant-making and development programs in India. She also co-founded and led several influential development organizations, including the Ashoka India Foundation, Dastkar, and the Society for Rural, Urban, and Tribal Initiative (SRUTI). Through Dastkar, where she currently serves as Chairperson, she continues to support traditional crafts, artisan communities, women’s entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods. Her contributions extend to international development and policy platforms, including the Governing Council and Board of ActionAid International and India, and engagements with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, DC.
Academically, Ms. Muttreja is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she earned a master’s degree in public administration. Her leadership and development work have also received recognition, including the Rotary Award for Innovative Work on Livelihood Creation (1995), the Hewlett Foundation Fellowship for Peace and Global Studies (1992) and the Mason Fellowship at Harvard University (1991).
Driven by a lifelong commitment to social justice, women’s autonomy, and equitable development, Ms. Poonam Muttreja continues to influence India’s public health and development discourse through institution building, policy advocacy, and innovative communication. Her work reflects a sustained belief that lasting social transformation requires not only better policies and services but also a fundamental shift in attitudes, opportunities, and societal norms.
