The
work is to a large extent based on two Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between Sweden and India. One is in the field of environment and
climate and the other one is in the field of health. These MoUs are
important since they provide the political support. There is a big
interest on both sides for collaborations in these areas.
Long history with India
Since Sida was founded in the 1960s, India has been one of the
biggest recipients of economic aid from Sweden. When India tested its
nuclear weapons in 1998, the Swedish government chose to terminate the
bilateral development cooperation agreement. The collaboration continued
through support to multilaterals and the civil society in India. Since
2009 the traditional aid is being phased out and the focus is on partner
driven cooperation.
Partner driven cooperation
The objective with partner driven cooperation is to achieve
self-sustained relationships between Swedish and Indian actors that can
benefit people living in poverty. The collaborations are focused on
exchange of knowledge and experiences in areas that India has an
interest to develop and where Sweden has a comparative
advantage.
The Swedish actors are often insecure about the conditions in India
and hesitant to initiate collaborations. The Indian actors generally
know very little about Sweden. Therefore, Sida plays a role in
stimulating collaborations and to provide the opportunity for Indian and
Swedish partners to meet and exchange ideas.
Financial support is given to partnerships between Swedish and Indian
actors and to “facilitators” that work with stimulating collaborations.
Apart from the bilateral funds there are for example multilaterals
and organisations in the civil society that have activities in India
that also are funded by Sida.
Priority area is environment and climate
Collaborations in the area of environment and climate are prioritized
in the selective cooperation with India. The focus has been on energy
and sustainable urban delevopment. Examples of projects that have been
financed during the last years;
- The Swedish Energy Agency and Bureau of Energy Efficiency in India on collaboration for energy efficiency.
- The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and Centre for Science
and Environment work together in a training for environmental regulators
in India.
- Kurseong Municipality and IVL and other Swedish partners in a collaboration about sustainable water management.
- The Swedish Energy Agency as facilitator for collaborations in the
area of waste to energy and biogas. Sida has also supported separate
collaboration projects in this field.
- IVL, Innventia and CII Green Business Centre as facilitators for collaborations in the area of pulp and paper.
- Several projects for collaborations about using research results in the areas of health and environment.
- Training programme on local environment management. Collaboration between Swedish actors and Indian municipalities.
- DemoEnvironment that is administrated by the Swedish Agency for
Economic and Regional Growth. Support to demonstration and planning
projects in India.
Apart from partner driven cooperation Sida is still supporting:
- Centre for Science and Environment. One of the leading Indian organization on environmental issues.
- Toxics Link that works with issues around chemicals and toxic materials.
- Tarun Bharat Sangh that works with sustainable water management in rural areas.
- Save the Children India to work with a project on environmental health in the Sunderbans.
Cooperation in the field of health
There is a focus on maternal and infant health. Examples of projects that have been financed during the last years:
- Karolinska Institute and Indian partners to strengthen midwifes in India.
- Uppsala University and Ipas working together with selected states to increase the access to safe abortions.
- Lund Iniversity and MAMTA working together in collaboration with
selected states on a training for youth friendly health services.
- Several projects for collaborations about using research results in the areas of health and environment.
Sida projects in India
