Nilesh Kumar

Background

About Nilesh Kumar

With over 25 years of progressive experience in the development sector, I have honed my expertise in program management right from the field level to the state level on different health issues including Maternal and Child Health, Family planning and HIV/AIDS. Holding a postgraduate degree in Marketing and Systems from Pt. JNIBM, Vikram University Ujjain, I have successfully collaborated with both public and private sectors to drive impactful initiatives. Currently, I serve as the General Manager – Program Implementation at Population Services International India (PSI India), spearheading the planning and execution of The Challenge Initiative (TCI) program in Jharkhand. This transformative initiative focuses on improving the modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) in urban areas, with a special emphasis on slums and vulnerable populations across five intervention cities in the state. Prior to my tenure at PSI India, I was the Senior State Director at Ipas Development Foundation (IDF), overseeing the Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) program across Bihar and Jharkhand. Before this, while based in Ranchi, I led the Expanding Access to IUCD Services in India program, working closely with the Jharkhand state government to strengthen reproductive health services. My journey in development also includes pivotal roles such as: • City Manager at FHI 360 (Gorakhpur, UP), leading the Urban Health Initiative—a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded project focused on family planning in urban slums. • State Project Coordinator at Pathfinder International (Bihar), driving the Raksha Project to reduce postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and testing innovative health interventions like the Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG). • Behavior Change Communications Consultant at UNICEF (Jharkhand), providing technical expertise for the establishment of an IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) cell. • Key contributor at PSI India, working for around seven years on BCC-focused initiatives across Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Bihar. With a deep commitment to advancing public health, social equity, and sustainable development, I continue to collaborate with governments, non-profits, and private stakeholders to design and implement high-impact programs that drive meaningful change in underserved communities.