Past Projects: Sri Lanka

Towards Sustainable Livelihoods In Matara And Galle: A Post-Tsunami Response In Sri Lanka

Where:

Matara and Galle, Sri Lanka

Who:

CHF and Sewa Lanka Foundation (SLF)

Funded by:

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

Purpose:

To assist, support and enable poor, rural households in Matara and Galle provinces to attain sustainable livelihoods and thereby reduce their economic and social vulnerability.

Situation:

The 2004 tsunami struck two-thirds of Sri Lanka’s coastline, profoundly affecting the lives and livelihoods of people living there, including those in the southern provinces of Matara and Galle. An estimated 94% of food crops and livestock assets were damaged. A range of small food and craft enterprises were also seriously affected. While relief and physical reconstruction continues in the area, the re-establishment of lost livelihoods is essential for long-term social and economic recovery.

Goals:

Approximately 4,000 families assisted with direct project interventions; 4,000 additional families expected to benefit indirectly though the capacity building component of the project.
Increased real income of communities, focusing on the most vulnerable groups such as women and single-parent families, through enhanced and sustainable livelihoods.
Strengthened capacity of Sewa Lanka Foundation (SLF), community-based organizations (CBOs) and local governments to support and sustain gender-sensitive sustainable livelihood development.
Increased productivity and profitability of private-sector micro and small enterprises.
Increased dialogue and cooperation among targeted communities to prevent and mitigate conflict.

Results:

A total of 983 households now use improved methods to grow coconuts after the project provided seedlings andtraining in bed preparation and cultivation.
Local field staff are now working more closely with farmers on a more regular basis than before the project.
A total of 400 people (mostly men) are now growing cinnamon trees after the project provided seedlings and training.
Close to 900 households (mostly the women) now plant and harvest vegetables in household gardens after being provided training and seeds.
Mothers who attended nutrition education during the first stage of the project now feed their children red rice instead of bread for breakfast, improving their children’s nutrition
More than 25 households run vegetable nurseries as a result of project support and training.
The project has constructed or restored 59 public wells.
Community facilitators are more confident in their abilities to coach households as a result of participation in training exercises.
As a result of training, the CBOs have been strengthened and CBO leadership is more conscious of their duties and responsibilities.