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Rick Johnston

Technical Officer, Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) at World Health Organization

Rick Johnston is a prominent figure in the field of global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) monitoring and research. He currently serves as a Technical Officer in the Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health unit at the World Health Organization (WHO).1

Key Responsibilities

As the co-lead of the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP), Johnston plays a crucial role in:

  • Maintaining global databases on WASH services in households, schools, and healthcare facilities1
  • Leading WHO's efforts in monitoring wastewater generation and treatment, collaborating with UN-Habitat1
  • Contributing to the estimation of disease burden related to inadequate WASH1
  • Co-leading or significantly contributing to the monitoring of multiple Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators1

Professional Background

Before joining WHO in 2013, Johnston's career included:

  • Team lead for water supply and treatment at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) for four years1
  • Seven years in Bangladesh, working with UNICEF on arsenic mitigation (between 1996 and 2009)1

Education and Expertise

Johnston's educational background and areas of expertise include:

  • PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill1
  • MSc from Johns Hopkins University1
  • Specialization in drinking water treatment, particularly arsenic chemistry1

Research Impact

Dr. Johnston has made significant contributions to the field of WASH:

  • Author of over 80 publications1
  • His work has received over 6000 citations1
  • He has an h-index of 37, indicating the impact and relevance of his research1

In his role at WHO, Johnston manages the WHO side of the WHO/UNICEF collaboration and works on improving methods of global monitoring related to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.2

Highlights

Aug 1 · Nature.com
About the Guest Editors | Monitoring sanitation and wastewater services for the Sustainable Development Goals - Nature.com
Millions More People Got Access to Clean Water. Can They Drink It? - The New York Times

Related Questions

What are some of the key achievements of the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme under Rick Johnston's leadership?
How has Rick Johnston's work impacted global water and sanitation policies?
What challenges does Rick Johnston face in his role at the WHO?
Can you provide examples of Rick Johnston's contributions to disease burden estimation related to inadequate WASH?
How does Rick Johnston's background in environmental engineering influence his work at the WHO?
Rick Johnston
Rick Johnston, photo 1
Rick Johnston, photo 2
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Location

Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland