Joint Country Environmental Analyses (CEA) are being undertaken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. In both instances, the CEA is a joint product of DFID, World Bank and the respective state government. OECD is also contributing to the CEA for Uttar Pradesh.

AsDB and the World Bank are working with the Government to prepare a tsunami-related damage and needs assessment which is expected to be completed by end February 2005.

Electronic government procurement (eGP) harmonization joint methodologies and toolkits (joint products of AsDB, IADB and WB) have been applied in India via eGP standards, and eGP - an Introduction for Executives.

The Government of India (GoI) is committed to universalizing access to and completion of elementary education of satisfactory quality by 2010. In order to provide a comprehensive policy and budgetary framework for achieving these goals, GoI launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), its National Program for Universal Elementary Education (UEE). Also, to strengthen the legal framework, GoI introduced the 86th Constitutional Amendment (2002) to make elementary education a fundamental right of every child (currently, there are 108 million children aged 6 to 10 years attending primary school). SSA is a compact between the central government, states, districts and civil society, with a decentralized framework for planning and service delivery.

The India Elementary Education Project (EEP), is a multi donor (DFID, EC and WB) initiative in support of the SSA program and covers universal basic education by 2010 for all 6-14 year old children. The EEP is the first (national) SWAp in India in which the three development partners have pooled 30 percent of total project funding ( US$ 3.5 billion) for the next 3.5 years. Specifically, DFID (US$ 346 million), EC (US$ 200 million), IDA (US$ 500 million) with the GoI's and states’ funds of $2.45 billion. In addition, the EC has set aside 10 million Euros for technical assistance.

Assured by a comprehensive capacity assessment, these development partners are relying on the governments’ own rules and procedures in procurement and financial management. This was eased by the facts that (i) there was no ICB; (ii) there is no resettlement; and (iii) there are no significant adverse environmental impacts. The three agencies have been sharing and rotating responsibilities and have worked jointly with the GoI in project preparation, have appraised the program collectively and have also agreed to a fully harmonized accounting, supervision and monitoring framework. This includes joint donor review missions with GoI twice a year.

The Project took 10 months to prepare. It was approved by the WB Board on April, 2004, and became effective in June, 2004. $75 million was disbursed by the end of FY04.

In 2002, CIDA agreed to delegate responsibility to DFID to act on its behalf in assisting the Government of Madhya Pradesh with the formulation of its medium-term state health sector strategy through the appointment of consultants.

DFID’s office in India (DFIDI) administers the Arrangement in which the financial management will follow DFIDI guidelines as outlined in the contract issued to each consultant. A joint account established for the project, is managed by DFIDI with CIDA’s approval of expenditures in accordance with agreed milestones. Disbursements will be made in Sterling converted from Canadian dollars using the exchange rate applicable on the date of transfer.

Four UN funds and programs (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, and WFP) have harmonized their program cycles with the Tenth Five Year Plan (TFYP) (which articulates development priorities of GoI for 2003-2007).

AsDB and the World Bank are working with the Government to prepare a tsunami-related damage and needs assessment which is expected to be completed by end February 2005.

Harmonization efforts include alignment with systems in selected states and use of SWAps. In the education sector, DFID, EC and WB support SSA (India’s National Program for Universal Elementary Education- UEE) through the India Elementary Education Project (EEP) - the first (national) SWAp in India in which the three development partners have pooled 30 percent of total project funding for the next 3.5 years.

In the health sector, the EC is supporting the Health and Family Welfare Sector Development program with budget aid and techical assistance. In the energy sector, AsDB, USAID and World Bank- GEF have joint plans of operation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.

UNDP supported the development of the National Biodiversity Strategy Plan of India through a participatory approach where local communities working jointly with Government partners, scientific organizations, and civil society organizations have produced a comprehensive National Action Plan reflecting the complex problems and opportunities from the field.