Kulandai Raj serves as the Team Leader, Water, Sanitation & Climate Resilience at Dev Rishi Educational Society (DRES), where he leads the organization’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives while providing strategic direction for programme implementation, behaviour change communication, and community engagement. A seasoned programme and communications professional with over 17 years of experience in the development sector, he has successfully led multidisciplinary teams and partnered with government institutions, international development agencies, and local communities to deliver sustainable social impact across India.

• Leads the Water, Sanitation & Climate Resilience initiatives at DRES.
• Provides strategic leadership for WASH and behaviour change programmes.
• Oversees programme planning, implementation, monitoring, and partnerships.
• Strengthens institutional collaboration with government and development partners.
• Promotes community-led sustainable development and climate resilience.
• Contributes to DRES’ mission through evidence-based programme leadership.

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Professional Journey

Kulandai Raj has built an exceptional career spanning more than seventeen years across national and international development programmes. Throughout his professional journey, he has worked with globally recognized organizations including UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID-FHI 360, BBC Media Action, John Snow India (JSI), and multiple central and state government departments. His expertise spans programme strategy, Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), public health, WASH, climate resilience, and community development, enabling him to successfully design and implement large-scale social development initiatives.

• Over 17 years of experience in the development sector.
• Worked with leading international development organizations.
• Collaborated extensively with central and state government agencies.
• Led multidisciplinary teams across diverse thematic programmes.
• Managed projects involving multiple stakeholders and communities.
• Built extensive expertise in strategic programme management and communication.

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Key Contributions

Throughout his career, Kulandai Raj has contributed to numerous high-impact development programmes focusing on public health, environmental sustainability, and social behaviour change. His leadership has supported the successful implementation of initiatives addressing some of India’s most critical development challenges.

• Leads strategic planning and implementation of WASH programmes.
• Designs and implements Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategies.
• Strengthens partnerships with government, development agencies, and communities.
• Supports programme monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management.
• Provides technical guidance on climate resilience and sustainable development.
• Builds institutional capacity through training, mentoring, and stakeholder engagement.
• Drives community awareness campaigns for long-term behavioural transformation.

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Core Expertise

Kulandai Raj possesses multidisciplinary expertise across programme management, development communication, and public policy.

• Programme Strategy & Management
• Social & Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)
• Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
• Faecal Sludge & Septage Management (FSSM)
• Climate Resilience
• Public Health Communication
• Immunization Programmes
• Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
• Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH)
• Tuberculosis (TB) Programmes
• HIV Prevention
• Gender & Women’s Empowerment
• Youth Development
• Child Marriage Prevention
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Government Liaison
• Capacity Building
• Community Mobilization
• Strategic Communications

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Professional Values

Kulandai Raj believes that sustainable development is achieved through inclusive leadership, community participation, and evidence-based decision-making. His work is driven by a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and creating measurable social impact.

• Integrity
• Inclusive Leadership
• Innovation
• Accountability
• Collaboration
• Community Empowerment
• Sustainability
• Continuous Learning

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Academic Background

Kulandai Raj’s multidisciplinary educational background complements his extensive professional experience in development, communication, environmental sustainability, and public policy.

• Master’s Degree in Mass Communication & Journalism
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
• Diploma in Environmental Science, Swedish Institute for Public Administration, Sweden

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Future Focus

Kulandai Raj remains committed to strengthening integrated water, sanitation, climate resilience, and public health programmes through innovation, strategic partnerships, and community-driven development. He continues to support DRES’ vision of creating sustainable, resilient, and inclusive communities across India.

• Advancing integrated WASH and climate resilience programmes.
• Strengthening behaviour change communication for sustainable impact.
• Expanding strategic partnerships with national and international stakeholders.
• Promoting evidence-based programme planning and implementation.
• Supporting inclusive and sustainable community development.
• Driving long-term social transformation through collaborative leadership.