RASTA

Research and Analyses for Scientific Transformation and Advancement (RASTA) is a multi-institutional collaborative platform, initiated by the Population Council in 2018. Now in its second phase, RASTA 2.0, is spearheaded by PopulationCouncil Consulting with support from multiple partners. Its core mission is to help partners and its clients to drive evidence-based programmatic and policy decisions that accelerate India’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

RASTA has been playing a pivotal role in providing analytical and technical support to various departments in the Ministries of the Government of India, working on achieving the health and nutrition goals for the country.

Key Achievements

Guiding Donor Strategies

Several development partners have utilised RASTA analyses to shape and refine their family planning (FP) and maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) program strategies.

Adolescent Health Data Tool

Developed to enable data-driven adolescent programming in India, highlighting key health vulnerabilities at national, state, and district levels.

Investing in Migration and Family Planning

RASTA evidence on this topic sparked critical dialogue and catalysed state-led initiatives to meet the contraceptive needs of returning migrants during and after COVID.

Documenting the Successes and Input into India’s Family Planning Priorities

RASTA evidence shaped key discussions between FP2020 stocktaking and FP2030 goals, to define national priorities and strengthen programmatic responses.

Our Collaborators

We support national and state level programs and policies of eight Ministries/Government institutions, partnered with more than 20 academic institutions and five development partners.