CII

The confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of industry in India, partnering industry and government alike through advisory and consultative processes.

CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry led and industry managed organization, playing a proactive role in India s development process. Founded over 110 years ago, it is India s premier business association, with a direct membership of over 5800 companies from the private as well as public sectors, including Small and Medium Enterprises and Multinational Corporations and indirect membership of over 95,000 organizations from around 325 national and regional sectoral associations.

To know more about CII, visit: www.ciionline.org

About CII - Godrej GBC

The CII - Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre (CII-Godrej GBC) is a joint initiative of Government of Andhra Pradesh, Pirojsha Godrej foundation and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the technical support of USAID - a unique model of public-private partnership.

CII-Godrej GBC is the "Centre of Excellence" for Energy, Environment, Water, Green Buildings, Renewable Energy and Climate Change activities in India. The recently constructed building of the centre has been awarded the prestigious "Platinum Rating" of the US Green Building Council (USGBC). This is the first building in India and third building outside the USA to have been awarded the coveted platinum rating of USGBC.

To know more about CII-Godrej GBC, visit: www.ciigbc.org

WEF

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests.

The Water Initiative of the World Economic Forum facilitates multistakeholder partnerships in sustainable water and watershed management, involving active engagement from business, the public sector, local communities and civil society organizations. Its purpose is to help improve water resource management for communities, businesses and the environment and to improve access to water and sanitation services to all, thereby contributing to the wider international effort to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals.

At the Forum s India Economic Summit (New Delhi, 25-27 November 2005) the IBAW was launched.

To know more about WEF, visit: www.weforum.org

UNDP

UNDP is the United Nations s global development network and is on the ground in 166 countries. UNDP's extensive network link and coordinates global, national and local efforts to meet the development challenges.

UNDP s work in the water sector is guided by a commitment to assist countries to meet the Millennium Development Goals, with an emphasis on poverty reduction. Given the importance of water to poverty alleviation, human and ecosystem health, UNDP s response to the water crisis has been to emphasize an integrated approach to water resource management through effective water governance.

In India, UNDP has been supporting community-based water management initiatives in different parts of the country with a strong focus on building local institutions for water management, equity and gender concerns as well as sustainable use. It supports implementation, policy research as well as knowledge sharing on key issues in the water sector. As water governance comprises mechanisms, processes, and institutions through which all involved stakeholders articulate their priorities, exercise their legal rights and meet their obligations, supporting partnerships for water management is emerging as an important area for UNDP engagement.

To know more about UNDP, visit: www.undp.org For more information on UNDP s water governance work, visit: http://www.undp.org/water/index.html

USAID

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the independent government agency that provides economic development and humanitarian assistance to advance U.S. economic and political interests overseas. USAID programs in Inida focus on areas where help is needed most and people-level impact is high. Cutting edge alliances between U.S. and Indian organizations quicken the pace of progress. India is close to attaining its primary development goal: halving poverty by 2015 and eliminating it soon thereafter. The U.S. and India are committed to walking the last mile of development in partnership. Based on the Agency's overall strategy and goals, USAID/India and the Government of India have mutually agreed on projects in the following focus areas of Economic Growth, Energy, Health, Equity and Disaster Management. Programs respond to the following key U.S. national interests:

• Developing Global Alliances;
• Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade;
• Global Health; and
• Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance.

More information on USAID's work in India can be obtained from USAID website http://www.usaid.gov/in

SDC, India

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is Switzerland's international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).

SDC has been active in India since 1963 with development cooperation programs and humanitarian aid interventions designed to improve the living conditions of poor and marginalized segments of the population and to contribute to sustainable development. To achieve this goal, SDC has focused on strengthening the capabilities and rights of disadvantaged groups, on improving their income and work situation and on supporting public institutions as well as civil society organisations.

Starting with technical collaboration in livestock improvement in Kerala, SDC has progressively expanded its activities to other geographical areas in India (mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Sikkim) and to other fields such as:

• Natural resource management
• Rural finance and employment
• Rural energy and housing
• Decentralisation and local governance
• Empowerment and Social justice
• Human and Institutional strengthening
• Humanitarian aid

SDC has been cooperating in these fields with a variety of partners, notably community based organizations, non governmental organizations, research and education institutions, Central, State and local governments.

Between 2007 and 2009 the current cooperation Program of SDC India will be transformed in to the new Partnership Program which will fully come into effect from 2010 onwards. This Partnership Program involves a shift from traditional/classical development cooperation, towards a collaboration based on common interests, on joint ventures and shared investments, with the ultimate aim of reducing poverty. A key feature of this Program is the exchange of know how and technologies between Switzerland and India and the promotion of south-south cooperation. Adaptation to climate change and energy efficiency will be important areas of cooperation.

For more information on SDC's work in India, visit: www.sdcindia.in