Mr. Raman V. R. is an expert in policy, financing, and governance in health and its determinants, including water, sanitation and hygiene, food security and nutrition, education, employment, and climate. His work spans Indian states and select engagements in South Asia and Africa, with a strong focus on gender equality and social inclusion in underserved geographies.

He has played a central role in establishing and strengthening major state–civil society partnerships, including the Mitanin Programme (Chhattisgarh), Sahiyya Programme (Jharkhand), and Swasthya Sathi Programme (Uttar Pradesh). He is also a co-founder of key health systems initiatives such as the State Health Resource Centre (Chhattisgarh), the Public Health Resource Network, the Health Governance Hub, and the National Nodal Institute for Health Policy and Systems Research at PHFI.

He has held senior leadership roles at the State Health Resource Centre, Public Health Foundation of India, WaterAid, the Sanitation Learning Hub (IDS, Sussex), and the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability. Currently, he supports civil society organisations and people’s movements, and serves as National Convenor of the Public Health Resource Network. He studied public health at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.