The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) is working towards building a healthier India. It is helping to address the limited institutional and systems capacity in India by strengthening education and training, advancing research and technology and facilitating policy and practice in the area of Public Health. PHFI is headquartered in New Delhi with national presence through its constituent units of regional Indian Institutes of Public Health (IIPHs) and Centers of Applied Research in core public health themes. The Foundation, established in 2006 as a public private initiative, is governed by an independent board comprising of senior government officials, eminent Indian and International academic and leaders, civil society representatives and corporate leaders.

Project Brief:

The Center for Environmental Health is a joint initiative of the Public Health Foundation of India and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai), and has been established with generous support from Tata Sons and Tata Consultancy Services. Environmental Health is an area of growing interest for PHFI, with our work in the space expanding over the past few years to address issues related to air pollution, climate change, pesticide use, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), while the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has been in the forefront of studying the social, economic and environmental determinants of health. This collaborative effort aims to set up this much-needed platform in India for dedicated and high quality research and capacity building in the area of environmental health.

In addition to a portfolio of research in areas such as air pollution, chemical exposures and climate change, the Center also offers a platform for young researchers to carry out work in WASH through fellowships and grants. Improving access to sanitation is a critical step towards reducing the environmental burden of disease. It also helps create environments that enhance dignity, self-esteem, and safety particularly for women and girls across India. Government programs like Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan were created to address the issue of open defecation by building toilets across India. However, evidence suggests that building toilets alone will not be sufficient to address India’s poor sanitation and hygiene status.

Deliverables:

• Assist in the expansion of the WASH portfolio at PHFI by conceptualizing new projects at the interface of WASH and health.
• Assist in the development of project proposals and project progress reports.
• Develop and maintain relationships with partners in this space.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications and reports on WASH and health.
• Coordinate with HR, Administration and Finance team as and when required.
• Any other task assigned by the supervisor.

Qualification:

• Essential: Bachelor’s degree in any related field is compulsory.
• Desirable: Candidate with Master degree desirable.

Experience:

• Essential: Around 2 years of experience in public health or related field.
• Desirable: Prior experience of working in WASH or environment health projects.

Source:https://phfi.org/opening/senior-research-assistant-6/