DFID’s support for health and education in India

This review assesses DFID’s performance in India by looking through the lens of DFID’s work in one state across four health and education programmes.

Score: Green/Amber
  1. Status: Completed
  2. Published: 18 May 2012
  3. Type: Other
  4. Subject: Country focus, Education, Global health
  5. Assessment: Green/Amber
  6. Location: India
  7. Lead commissioner: Graham Ward CBE

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Review

This review assesses DFID’s performance in India by looking through the lens of DFID’s work in one state across four health and education programmes. We awarded a green-amber score and made four recommendations.

Findings

Educational and health indicators in Bihar are improving. DFID’s assistance is contributing to these improvements, although the degree to which we can attribute positive change to DFID varies between programmes. DFID has a clear idea of how it will make a difference, including being aligned with Indian national and state level initiatives. There is scope for DFID to shift its assistance even further towards those areas where it has most impact, such as the transfer of knowledge and skills. This could improve the value for money of UK involvement.

Recommendations

  1. Beginning with its work in Bihar in education and health, DFID should clearly identify and monitor what are the particular benefits provided by UK aid in order to focus its activities where it adds most value.
  2. DFID should clarify its forward strategy in Bihar to enable delivery partners to plan sustainable programmes for the future.
  3. DFID should increase even further the contribution it makes through technical assistance in India, which transfers skills and knowledge, because this is where it adds most value.
  4. DFID’s planned anti-corruption strategy should include strengthening ties with local law enforcement bodies and establishing a whistle-blower hotline.

 

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Timeline

Review publication

Published 18 May 2012

Government response

Published 22 May 2013

ICAI follow-up

Published 1 July 2013