Handicap International - Federal Information Sri Lanka Country Card EN

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1 SRI LANKA 2016 MANDATE Handicap International in Sri Lanka develops and implements projects to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people, including people with disabilities and their families, promotes their active participation and inclusion in reconciliation actions, develops partnerships at all levels, as part of the national policy on disability, inclusive economic development and peacebuilding. SITUATION Following three decades of armed conflict, Sri Lanka is currently embarking on a postconflict reconciliation and transitional justice process. Addressing the needs of people with disabilities, whose disability has been caused or exacerbated by the conflict remains a pressing concern, and has been given greater impetus by the recent ratification of the UNCRPD. Following the Tsunami in 2004, Sri Lanka suffered further extensive damage, physically and socially. Natural hazards are a common feature of the island, where floods, droughts, landslides and cyclones regularly affect economically vulnerable populations. Although the country moved to middle-income status in 2010, there is still an unequal distribution of economic growth, with certain districts particularly at risk of falling behind. People in situations of vulnerability, such as people with disabilities or women-headed households are not benefitting on an equal basis from increasing economic opportunities and remain vulnerable to external shocks. INITIAL ACTIONS In 1992, a project focusing on training rehabilitation professionals was implemented in Colombo and Jaffna, but had to close down in 1993 due to the prevailing security situation. In 2003 a team returned to Sri Lanka to develop quality standard procedures for mine clearance, in partnership with UNDP 1. In 2004, with the support of ECHO and local partners, an aid programme for mine survivors in Eastern Sri Lanka was set up aimed at opening a physical rehabilitation 2 centre (PRC) in Batticaloa. Since 2014, the programme has focused its action on building resilience to natural hazards and promoting the participation of the most excluded people in reconciliation and economic development processes. KEY FACTS Human Development Index (HDI) * Life expectancy* 74.9 Gross National Income per capita * (PPA$) Population** Surface area** *UNDP: Human development report 2015 ** UNSD /188 classified countries HDI value: ,779 $ per year 21,4 million 65,600 sq.km Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Oslo convention on cluster munitions Ottawa mine ban convention Ratified in February 2016 State not party State not party 1 United Nations Development Programme 2 Functional rehabilitation consists of helping people with disabilities to find the best possible autonomy in their daily living actions (toileting, dressing, eating and mobility). Elise Cartuyvels elise.cartuyvels@handicap.be 1

2 Governance and inclusive economic development processes Improvement of local economic development opportunities and promotion of more sustainable development and inclusive growth. The project will empower civil society organisations in order to ensure that vulnerable populations can access salaried employment, mainly with branches of large companies. This project will also improve the region s gaps in terms of community accountability, governance and access to information through the empowerment of civil society organizations and links with local authorities, the private sector and service providers. Training sessions for local authority staff (on democratic governance) and stakeholder/civil society consultation; Coaching and training of civil society organisation staff to improve relationships with stakeholders; Development of replicable tools and experiences for local authorities to enhance inclusive economic development and practices; Support the implementation of inclusive initiatives with large private companies through corporate social responsibility practices; Creating case studies of methods and guidebooks; Conducting community and civil society organisation awareness-raising campaigns on inclusion; Conducting access to services and community needs assessments; Establishment of the formal Economic Development Forums (EDFs) network; Direct beneficiaries: More than 500 vulnerable persons have started or developed a new or existing economic activity; 30 local level civil society organisations (450 members - cooperatives, farmers and fishermen s associations, chambers of commerce and industry, etc.); 4 key socio-economic service providers (30 people) and 4 large private companies (60 people) support vulnerable and marginalized groups to participate in development opportunities; 5 target local authorities (25 people); 550 member organizations; Approximately 100,000 members of the population of the 7 divisions are beneficiaries of this project Centre for accessibility, monitoring and information on disability; Employers Federation of Ceylon; Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities; Eastern Provincial Council; Eastern Province: Batticaloa district: Koralai Pattu Pradeshiya Sabha (3 Divisions: Koralai Pattu-Valaichchenai, Koralai Pattu-Central, Koralai Pattu South-Kiran); Manmunai South West Pradeshiya Sabha (1 Division); Trincomalee district: Trincomalee Urban Council (1 Division); Mutur Pradeshiya Sabha Sabha (1 Division); Ampara district: Thirukkovil Pradeshiya Sabha (1 Division). Elise Cartuyvels elise.cartuyvels@handicap.be 2

3 Inclusive community-based disaster risk management Help build resilient communities through an inclusive community and school-based disaster risk management model in Sri Lanka. Handicap International, in consortium with several NGOs (ACTED, Oxfam and Save the Children) supports the Government of Sri Lanka to replicate the Inclusive community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM) and School-based disaster risk management (SBDRM) model within the framework of Sri Lanka s comprehensive disaster management programme ( ) and the Education sector development framework and programme ( ) by: - The institutionalisation of a sustainable model of inclusive CBDRM promoting national priorities - The enhancement of the systems and technical capacities of the ministry for disaster management and the ministry of education to replicate inclusive CBDRM and SBDRM with national and local stakeholders - The demonstration of two zonal education and three district DMC capacities to replicate the inclusive CBDRM model in 20 administrative divisions/16 schools 100 representatives from 69 organisations including the Ministry of disaster management and the Ministry of education staff members 63 other representatives from 63 organisations involved in the project and inclusive CBDRM and/or trained on mainstreaming disaster risk reduction 45 members of civil society organisations 720 members of 20 administrative divisions (GN) and 16 schools 26,370 girls, boys, women and men with and without disabilities who benefit from preparedness and small-scale mitigation measures. 30 technical officers from the divisional secretariat, Predeshiya Sabha and zonal education trained in accessibility Handicap International is the leader of a consortium with ACTED, Oxfam and Save the Children Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka: districts of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa Peace and governance through the participation of women with and without disabilities The project aims to increase the participation of women with and without disabilities in peace processes and decision-making, in line with the National action plan for the protection and promotion of human rights ( ) and Sri Lanka s national peace and reconciliation process. This plan highlights the exclusion of people with disabilities and places women and children with disabilities as marginalized groups within a marginalized group. Handicap International will help women with and without disabilities to enhance their leadership skills in order to facilitate community reconciliation at local and national level, to support social integration and to engage government in strengthening vulnerable groups and individuals. Equality trainers (ETs), i.e. community mobilisers, will be trained in gender, protection and reconciliation Advocacy and awareness campaigns led by the ETs and local women s groups on women s rights & equality and on peacebuilding and reconciliation Strengthening of local women s groups, regional forums and national networks Research on the situation and needs of women with and without disabilities Drafting and disseminating of recommendations for policy review at regional and national level Direct beneficiaries: 7,070 (4,335 women; 3,135 men), including disability equality trainers; female disabled people s organisation members; members of women s groups and forums; civil society organisations and community leaders; local authority representatives; female government staff and officers Indirect beneficiaries: Approximately 70,000 people including civil society; local authorities; government administrations; religious leaders Elise Cartuyvels elise.cartuyvels@handicap.be 3

4 Women Development Centre (WDC), a local NGO with a rights-based approach addressing prevention, intervention and advocacy, challenging violations of children s and women s rights, mobilising women leaders within networks of women s organisations, facilitating social justice and socio-economic inclusion; International Centre for Ethnic studies (ICES). The ICES has been particularly influential in shaping policy and the public imagination on issues of ethnic diversity and constitutional reform in Sri Lanka; Central Province: Kandy district (20 divisions); Northern Province: Kilinochchi district (4 divisions); National level: Colombo Support to the most vulnerable households affected by floods in Batticaloa, Kilinochi and Mullaitivu districts From November, a depression system formed to the northeast of Sri Lanka and brought heavy rainfall to the country, leading to several floods events which affected more than 38,000 people. A second depression system brought heavy rainfall to the east and north of the country on 4 and 5 January 2016, leading to several floods affecting more than 11,000 people. The highest impact of the floods was in Batticaloa district with 8,344 people affected. Monitoring of the situation and follow-up assessments after the initial rapid assessments demonstrate that the majority of people in the north and east of Sri Lanka have rapidly been able to cover their basic needs. Despite an overall picture of resilient communities, floods have impacted two population groups in the relevant areas: Socio-economically vulnerable households with fewer or no assets and high levels of dependency (relatives with disabilities, older people, etc.). They are victims of socio-economic exclusion and social marginalisation. These families show very low resilience and have become food insecure after the floods. Returnee households living in temporary shelters or make-shift shelters. The impact of the floods on their temporary shelters or make-shift shelters was severe with loss of household items and shelters collapsing. Distribution of food and shelters to vulnerable families to cover their needs: Direct beneficiaries: 4,800 people 48 youths (34 girls, 14 boys) 3,648 adults (2918 women and 584 men) 1,104 older people (795 women and 199 men) 480 people with disabilities are amongst the project beneficiaries INGOs: ACTED and OXFAM; National and local authorities; Districts de Batticaloa, Kilinochchi et Mullaitivu Southeast Asia - Regional Project Sigmah: Programming Database & Project Management Tool A regional project implemented internally by Handicap International (HI) Sigmah (Informatic System for Humanitarian Aid Projects Management) is an open source software developed and coordinated according to the project management needs of a group of 11 French INGOs. Handicap International joined the project in 2011 to enhance the overall quality of its project management. The four programmes under the responsibility of the Asia Desk use this tool to assess its benefits, and plan its application beyond the Asia region Partners of the project Elise Cartuyvels elise.cartuyvels@handicap.be 4

5 MAIN FUNDING BODIES European Commission DEVCO European Commission ECHO US Department of State Federal Foreign Office Elise Cartuyvels 5