Health and Well-Being
Public health is the backbone of resilient societies. It extends beyond the treatment of illness to encompass prevention, health promotion, equity, and systems that support well-being at scale. Our services are designed to inform impactful strategies, guide policy, and improve health outcomes across diverse populations.
We work at the intersection of population, public health, and social development to generate evidence to inform policy, and design context-specific interventions that drive measurable and sustainable impact.
Projects
Adolescent Atlas
The Adolescent Atlas of India is an innovative data visualisation and evidence platform developed by PopulationCouncil Consulting to map the health, well-being, and development outcomes of adolescents across the country. Drawing on national surveys, research studies, and program data, the Atlas provides granular, district-level insights into key indicators related to sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, education, gender norms, and social protection.
Designed to inform policymakers, program implementers, and researchers, the Atlas highlights regional disparities and intersectional challenges faced by adolescents especially girls in different socio-economic and cultural contexts. It serves as a powerful tool to guide targeted interventions, monitor progress, and prioritise investments in adolescent-focused policies and programs.
By centering adolescents in India’s development agenda, the Atlas underscores the need for evidence-based, equity-driven, and youth-centered solutions to support their transition to healthy and empowered adulthood.
Advancing Reproductive Health through Evidence and Action in Sub-Saharan Africa
Improving women’s reproductive health and reducing maternal morbidity and mortality remains a core priority across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire are advancing this agenda by expanding access to modern family planning (FP) methods. The PopulationCouncil Consulting’s support to Evidence Consortium for Family Planning (ECFP) is central to this momentum. It brings together program implementers, evaluators, and country-based stakeholders in each of the countries to assess FP program design and delivery, generate actionable insights, and support the scale-up of effective, equitable, and sustainable strategies. Grounded in country context, each evaluation is tailored to national health system capacity, cultural dynamics, and implementation realities. Mixed-method approaches, and real-time learning are embedded throughout, with cost-effectiveness analyses guiding investment in scalable, high-impact solutions.
In Ethiopia
The ECFP is evaluating the large-scale Postpartum Family Planning (PPFP) implemented across 300 high-volume public health facilities in six regions to increase voluntary postpartum FP use and integrate services into the RMNCH-N continuum. PopulationCouncil Consulting, in collaboration with Population Council Ethiopia and MERQ (the local partner), is conducting an impact evaluation to generate insights on what works, for whom, and in what context.
In Nigeria
The ECFP is evaluating the scaled-up comprehensive family planning program implemented in Kano and Kaduna states. The program includes strengthening of 900 public health facilities, demand generation through social and behavior change (SBC) strategies via community outreach and program cadre. PopulationCouncil Consulting, in partnership with Population Council Nigeria, is leading a multi-tiered impact evaluation and adaptive monitoring framework.
In Cote d’Ivoire
The ECFP is evaluating the large-scale health system strengthening programs, implemented by local partners, for delivery of free family planning services via public health facilities. PopulationCouncil Consulting, in partnership with the local evaluation partner, is conducting the impact of health system strengthening via realist and case study methodologies.
Together, these efforts aim to build responsive, evidence-informed, and resilient family planning systems that empower women and improve reproductive health outcomes across SSA.
Assessment of Health and Wellness Centres
Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) are a key component of India’s Ayushman Bharat initiative, aimed at transforming primary healthcare across the country. These centres provide comprehensive, accessible, and affordable healthcare services that go beyond traditional maternal and childcare to include prevention, early diagnosis, and management of non-communicable diseases, mental health, dental care, and elderly care. By bringing healthcare closer to communities, HWCs strengthen the foundation of India’s health system, promote wellness, and reduce the pressure on hospitals, ensuring better health outcomes for all.
PopulationCouncil Consulting conducted a rapid assessment of HWCs across seven Indian states, covering 920 HWCs and nearly 9,000 community members, highlighting significant improvements in service delivery and user satisfaction. Conducted to evaluate the performance and community impact of HWCs, the study found increased uptake of non-communicable disease (NCD) screenings, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCH) services, and enhanced detection and treatment of communicable diseases. Improved diagnostics, greater availability of essential medicines, and stronger reporting systems emerged as key outcomes.
The introduction of Community Health Officers (CHOs) at HWCs has played a pivotal role in expanding service reach and improving quality of care. Their presence has contributed to greater community engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, CHO-facilitated teleconsultations have strengthened linkages between patients and doctors, enabling timely access to specialized care. These findings offer valuable insights for scaling and strengthening India’s primary healthcare system and can inform similar health system transformations globally.
Health, Nutrition, and Sanitation Integration Among SHGs: Multi-Study in UP & Bihar
In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the integration of Health, Nutrition, and Sanitation (HNS) within Self-Help Groups (SHGs) has proven to be a transformative approach to community development. Initiatives like JEEViKA in Bihar have successfully embedded HNS education into SHG activities, leading to improved maternal and child health practices, enhanced nutritional awareness, and better sanitation behaviors.
PopulationCouncil Consulting conducted several interrelated studies under this initiative, including an impact evaluation of health and nutrition interventions, a system-strengthening assessment for integration within the JEEViKA platform, and outcome and process evaluations of the Mobile Vaani and Nutrition Intensive Sustained Engagement (NISE) models. Additional studies, such as cost-effectiveness analyses, time-use surveys, and anthropometric assessments, enriched the evidence base.
Using a multi-dimensional evaluation approach, the study engaged over 100,000 respondents including married women with children under two years, SHG members, village organisation leaders, and program personnel at various levels. The focus was to assess the behaviour change communication (BCC) strategies and the system’s capacity to deliver integrated health and nutrition services through SHGs. These models highlight the effectiveness of SHGs as platforms for delivering comprehensive HNS interventions, fostering sustainable development and resilience in underserved communities. The project generated actionable insights for enhancing community-based platforms and contributed to policy and programmatic decisions to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Evidence Generation and Impact of TCI Interventions on Urban Family Planning
The Challenge Initiative (TCI) NextGen program in India, led by PSI India, aims to strengthen urban reproductive health systems through local ownership, capacity building, and evidence-based decision-making. Implemented from 2016 to 2020 in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, the program adopted an implementation science approach to scale high-impact family planning interventions. These included optimising services at urban primary health centres, organising outreach during Urban Health and Nutrition Days, and enhancing provider capacity to deliver a broader range of contraceptive options and manage logistics.
PopulationCouncil Consulting played an important role in generating evidence and research outputs from two cross-sectional surveys conducted across 14 cities. Findings showed that TCI interventions significantly increased the intention to use and actual uptake of modern reversible contraceptives among married women in urban slums. Training and sensitisation of ASHAs improved community engagement and attendance at Village Health, Sanitation, and Nutrition Days (VHSNDs), further strengthening contraceptive adoption. We also facilitated dissemination and policy dialogue at national and international platforms, advancing the urban family planning agenda.