ICICI Centre for Child Health and Nutrition (ICCHN)

Job Opportunity The ICICI Centre for Child Health and Nutrition (ICCHN) is a non-profit, grant making and research group focused on improving the health and nutrition status of poor women and children in India. With a specific mandate to promote child health in the early years, ICCHN focuses on the problem of chronic child undernutrition in India manifested in terms of low weight at birth and poor growth outcomes. Despite recent spurts in economic growth, high levels of child undernutrition in India have persisted due to the poor nutritional and social status of women, limited access to essential health and child development services for the poor and nutritional insecurity. Both the state and civil society in India have attempted to address this situation and yet large scale change in these indicators has been difficult to attain. In this context, ICCHN aims to contribute by undertaking and supporting research into the complex pathways that lead to undernutrition as well as the interventions most likely to catalyse change. In collaboration with pioneering NGOs, it works to develop and mainstream, effective and sustainable strategies designed to facilitate communities and public systems to improve children and women’s nutritional status in rural and urban areas. This includes building sectoral capacity to continuously innovate, undertake research and translate research findings into effective policies both at local and regional levels. Given the critical role played by the state in promoting health, strengthening public systems of health and national child development programmes is the mainstay of ICCHN’s work. ICCHN has been founded through the initiative of ICICI Bank- India’s leading private sector bank (www.icicibank.com)- as a part of its effort to contribute to human development in the country. It builds on the Early Child Health practice of the Social Initiatives Group of ICICI Bank. ICCHN operates from Pune and has action research projects in the states of Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and the city of Mumbai. It supports system strengthening initiatives in the states of Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Mumbai. The centre has a multidisciplinary team comprising sociologists, anthropologists, social workers and rural managers. Its structure and culture encourage collaborative and interdisciplinary work. It seeks to recruit committed individuals with a desire for social change from similar backgrounds as well as disciplines such as Public Health, Development Studies and Economics. Given that ICCHN is based in Pune but has projects all over India, the positions are both in Pune as well as at other field sites. Recruitments are open for the following position. Interested candidates are requested to write with a resume, statement of purpose and 2 references (Names and Contact details) to Ms. Anita Shah, HR at anita.shah@icchn.org.in. Senior Programme Associates Expected to play a leadership role for development of strategies for scaled change in child health and nutrition. Work involves defining and evolving strategic areas of focus essential for ICCHN to achieve its mission. Ensuring quality of analysis and partnerships, project development, project review and support, related research and documentation, and publication within areas identified will be important components. Building teams and mentoring team members will be an equally significant responsibility. Interested candidates must have a Masters and/or Ph.D in a relevant discipline such as Sociology, Social Anthropology, Economics, Development Studies, Social Work, Rural Management, Public Health and Health Administration. Experience is desirable. These positions are based in Pune, involve extensive travel, work in interdisciplinary teams and management of several projects/ initiatives. Candidates should be articulate in English Language and should have outstanding analysis and documentation skills. Remuneration depends on qualification and relevant experience and could range from Rs. 50,000 to 80,000 CTC per month. more Information Click