My position:

I lead the work on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) in the World Health Organization’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (which includes the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Human Reproductive Programme).

My work (in a nutshell):

My work includes building the epidemiologic and evidence base on ASRH and supporting countries to translate this data and evidence into action through well-conceived and well-managed policies and programmes.

Our work in WHO:

Our work on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) in WHO covers five complementary areas. Firstly, to inform advocacy, policy formulation and programme development, we work to strengthen epidemiologic estimates in selected aspects of ASRH at both the national and subnational levels. Secondly, we undertake/support research –  including social and behavioural research in areas such as gender socialization in young adolescents, intervention effectiveness research on cutting edge areas such as digital health, and implementation research to address programmatic challenges in scaling up ASRH programmes with quality and equity. Thirdly, we complement this body of prospective research work with policy and programme review, documentation and evaluation to draw out lessons from country-level action. We also systematically distil evidence from research. Fourthly, we develop normative guidance for policy makers and programme managers on ASRH issues identified by them as priorities. Fifthly, we support policy formulation, programme design, implementation and monitoring of ASRH programmes using strategic entry points i.e. government-led initiatives supported by the Global Financing Facility, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Joint UN Programme to Accelerate an End to Child Marriage.

My background:

I joined WHO in early-1993 and worked on HIV prevention in WHO’s Global Programme on AIDS till the end of 1995. After a short stint in UNAIDS, I moved back to WHO in mid-1996. Since then, my work has focussed on adolescent health. Before joining WHO, I worked in Zambia, India and Zimbabwe for 12 years – providing primary care services (with a private Zambian company – Kitwe Medicare Center), preventing childhood malnutrition (with a Zambian NGO – Kitwe Nutrition Group), preventing HIV and responding to people with HIV (with another Zambian NGO – Copperbelt Health Education Project), setting up a regional training and mentoring initiative – ‘School Without Walls’ (with the Canadian Public Health Association); and funding HIV/AIDS related work – ‘NGO AIDS Cell’ (with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation).

During my career in WHO, which has spanned over 25 years, I have:

• led or contributed substantially to a number of the World Health Organization’s publications including evidence reviews, policy and programmatic guidance, advocacy documents, training and self-learning materials and research/evaluation tools, and
• travelled to countries around the world, where I have stimulated and supported research studies and evaluations, and contributed to strengthening policies and programmes, in different social, cultural and economic contexts.

Drawing upon these experiences, I have presented in scores of global, regional and national conferences, and authored/co-authored 3 books, 8 book chapters, 30 newsletter articles and blog pieces and 122 peer-reviewed journal articles: https://drvchandramouli.com/

Recipient of the Society for Adolescent Medicine and Health’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022