Consultant – Climate and Health

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PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world's most pressing heath challenges. 

In India, PATH outlines its goal of providing all Indians with equitable access to high-quality primary healthcare for the most common communicable, non-communicable, and occupational diseases as well as for reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health issues. To make long-lasting changes to health systems, PATH collaborates with the governments of numerous states, non-profits, the commercial sector, regulatory agencies, and international organizations.
 

Project Specifications

India has the highest global prevalence of Low Birth Weight (LBW) and faces significant climate-related risks. Emerging evidence indicates that climate stressors such as heat exposure, air pollution, and food insecurity significantly contribute to LBW, posing a major public health concern. There is a dire need to support formative research to explore and establish the links between these climate stressors and LBW, laying the foundation for the development of cost-effective, scalable interventions tailored to India's most climate-vulnerable regions.
 

To address this gap, PATH aims to deliver a climate-adaptive maternal and neonatal care model by generating actionable insights and aligning with existing government maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) programs. The initiative 'From research to resilience: Preparing health systems for mothers and newborns amid climate change' funded through CIFF, will actively engage local communities, including women of reproductive age, pregnant and lactating mothers, alongside healthcare providers, policymakers, researchers, and climate experts. Through this engagement, the project seeks to drive systemic changes in maternal and neonatal health practices and policy frameworks. Specifically, landscaping will identify key climate change drivers contributing to LBW, design targeted intervention models to mitigate these impacts, and pinpoint high-risk regions with diverse climate vulnerabilities for focused implementation and integration into government programs. The purpose of this engagement is to support strategic advocacy efforts to promote the uptake and institutionalization of scientific evidence, knowledge products, and intervention model/ air and heat action plans developed under the project

About The Position

PATH is seeking an External Consultant – Climate and Health to provide technical expertise and strategically support in advocacy efforts for the effective development, alignment, and integration of project deliverables in the existing health programs and systems at national and state level. The consultant will work closely with the national team to provide technical assistance, for the development of intervention models and supporting policy advocacy.

Job Responsibilities:

Provide input for strengthening project outcomes/ products in alignment with national and state health and climate change priorities: The consultant will provide expert input to ensure the products/ deliverables developed under the project are scientifically sound, aligned with national/state health and climate priorities, and meet donor specifications. This will include reviewing drafts, suggesting improvements, and contextualizing the content to align with the existing policy and program framework in India.  State-level engagement and advocacy for project deliverables: Advocacy for Heat and Air Quality Health Adaptation Plans: In the project geographies of the identified geographies, the consultant will support in engagement and advocacy efforts with key stakeholders for the dissemination of heat and air quality health adaptation plans focused on MNH. This will include:

• Participating in and facilitating state-level consultations and technical meetings

• Presenting proposed action plans to state officials

• Providing guidance for implementation

Advocacy for integration of climate-resilient intervention model into MNH and HSS Programs: As one of the key deliverables of the project, a climate-resilient intervention model focused on MNH will be developed based on secondary research, global case studies, and evidence mapping of interventions from high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including South Asia. The consultant will play a pivotal role in driving policy engagement and advocacy efforts to facilitate the adoption of this model within existing maternal and neonatal health (MNH) and health systems strengthening (HSS) frameworks at the state level. This will include:

• Strategically engaging with key policymakers and senior leadership in the state health departments.

• Advocating for the adoption and integration of the developed intervention model within state-led programs and planning processes.

• Facilitating cross-learning and dialogue to identify opportunities for institutionalization through financial and programmatic channels.

Advocacy at the National level with key stakeholders and institutions

The consultant will also serve as a key resource person for exploring and supporting advocacy at the national level with institutions such as the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) and relevant divisions within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), facilitating dialogue on incorporating climate resilience and vulnerability assessment components into existing standards like Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) and the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS).

Required experience and qualifications

• Master's degree/ Diploma in Public Health/ International Health/ Environmental health, with MBBS graduation from a recognized university

• 15+ years of experience in health system strengthening, climate change adaptation, or maternal and newborn health programs

• Proven ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement and support policy-level advocacy.

• Strong analytical skills with experience in leading research, data synthesis, and geospatial analysis.

• Experience with INGOs in the research, health sector, and/or Ministries of Health, and government is preferable.

• Excellent communication and project management skills with the ability to lead large-scale initiatives. 

Duration: This position is funded till October 2025 for a period of 16 days (intermittent) and employment after the project period is subject to the availability of funds. Deliverables will be mutually agreed with the consultant at the time of engagement.

Skills/ Abilities

• Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills in English and Hindi

• Direct experience of independently liaising with government health functionaries, state-level administrators, and other development partners.

• Strong coordination skills

• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate in a matrix organizational structure.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-site team-based organizational structure, including partners and other collaborators

Location: Remote, with travel to national and state level