Job Description
Position Title: Research Associate
Project Name: Anveshan Research Grant
Understanding Financial & Institutional Drivers that Sustain Public Toilet O&M
Location: New Delhi
Employment type: Consultancy
Employment Duration: 4 months (till July’26)
About WASH Institute
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Institute (WASH Institute), established in 2008, is a non-profit organization, dedicated to providing practical solutions to tackle a wide range of water, sanitation, hygiene and environmental issues in India and the neighbouring countries. WASH Institute aims to build the capacities of the sector through programs that provide a) training and academic courses, b) technical advisory and consultancy services, and c) grass roots community WASH programs.
WASH Institute has been conducting extensive training programs for government functionaries, private sector professionals, NGOs, and other practitioners with the objective of effective WASH implementation across the country. In addition, our academic campus offers Diploma and Masters level courses in sanitation, under affiliation to a leading university.
As part of our WASH Advisory program, we provide PMU services to central, state, and local governments in both urban and rural areas to support implementation of SBM, JJM, and AMRUT schemes. Our community WASH programs are currently ongoing in 15 locations across 8 states and 1 Union Territory in India.
We are a multi-disciplinary team that tackle complex multi-faceted problems of behaviour change, quality of service, and sustainability of WASH interventions. We are looking for experienced professionals to work with us towards our visions of “a world where all the communities have access to safe, protected and sustainable drinking water and sanitation services, with improved hygiene practices”.
We are looking for experienced professionals to join our vibrant team.
Position Summary:
Supported by IIM Indore’s Anveshan Grant, this project tackles a vital gap in India’s urban sanitation. While the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-U) has successfully scaled toilet construction, many facilities struggle with operational failures. By evaluating 1,400 sites across 15 Urban Local Bodies, this research aims to bridge the gap between infrastructure and impact.
The Research Associate will help conduct qualitative field research and literature reviews to develop practical budgeting frameworks and scalable O&M models to ensure sustainable service delivery.
Key Roles and Responsibilities:
1. Qualitative Research & Field Engagement :
• Literature Review: Conduct comprehensive reviews of municipal budget practices, national O&M guidelines, and monitoring mechanisms for public toilets.
• Primary Data Collection: Design questionnaires and lead field visits to conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with ULB officials, caretakers, and private operators.
• Institutional Analysis: Analyse the infrastructure-to-staff ratios and monitoring mechanisms within various municipal bodies.
2. Reporting & Dissemination
• Categorization Analysis: Classify public toilets based on location, user groups, and footfall to inform O&M model development.
• Policy Output Development: Assist in drafting preliminary findings, policy briefs, and the final research report intended for government officials and practitioners.
• Workshop Support: Provide logistical and technical support for consultation workshops with WASH practitioners and government officials.
In addition to above, supporting and rendering services as needed to the Project Team in the completion of project deliverables.
Preferred Qualification and Experience:
• Education: Master’s degree in urban planning, Infrastructure Planning, Public Policy, Development Studies, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum 1 year of experience in research, consulting, or development sector projects
• Strong qualitative research skills (KIIs, FGDs, stakeholder interviews).
• Excellent writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to synthesise complex information into clear insights.
• Familiarity with urban sanitation, public infrastructure, or municipal systems.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Fluency in English required; Hindi or other regional languages preferred.
How to Apply?
Please submit your updated curriculum vitae (CV), including 200 words cover letter explaining why you think you are suitable for the job of Research Associate.
Applications can be e-mailed to careers@washinstitute.org. The last date to submit your application is 17 February 2026 with subject Job Application – “Research Associate”. Applications (CVs) will be reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
WASH Institute is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women candidates to apply.
WASH Institute does not discriminate candidates based on age, caste, class, sex, gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, disability, and health.
