Sri Lanka : North East Province Coastal Community Development

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Water-based natural resources management

Coastal communities in the East are characterized by high levels of poverty, weak and fragmented social institutions, inadequate and damaged physical infrastructure, and reduced access to services and markets. The long period of conflict has disrupted livelihoods, resulted in a loss of productive assets (fishing boats and gear) and household possessions, limited access to the natural resource base, and encouraged nonsustainable resource use practices. Communities lack social cohesiveness, and displacement and loss of family members and property have traumatized people, thus diminishing self-reliance and motivation. Women have been particularly affected and have experienced conflict differently from men. The conflict has resulted in a large proportion of households with female heads (FHHs) without social

acceptance and the means to earn a livelihood.

Institutional capacity at the provincial and district levels for natural resource management and planning is also extremely limited. In addition, nonenforcement of environmental rules and regulations is resulting in increasingly adverse impacts on coastal communities and the natural resource base upon which residents depend for their livelihood.

The scale of the economic damage and social dislocation due to the conflict has severely strained the Government's ability to

provide development assistance. It has therefore turned to the

international community, particularly the Asian Development Bank (ADB), for support.

The Project was designed in line with the Governments poverty reduction strategy. Also, ADB's Country Strategy and Program endorsed the Government's priority to reduce poverty and faciliate development of sustainable natural resource management system with the aim of improving livelihoods and supporting sustainable long-term economic growth.

Component 1: Sustainable Livelihood Improvement

Output 1: Livelihoods improved in a sustainable manner

Output 2: Livelihoods of coastal Vedda communities improved in a sustainable Manner

Component 2: Resource Management in 3 SMAs

Output 1: Community-level resource management improved

Output 2: SMA plans prepared and operationalized

Output 3: Study of coastal resource management issues in Northern Province

Component 3: Coastal Resource Planning

Output 1: Coastal resource management capacity strengthened and improved

Output 2: Environmental enforcement strengthened and improved

4. FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT

Output 1: Harbor facilities at Valaichchenai and Cod Bay rehabilitated

Output 2: Harbor management and operational efficiency improved

Output 3: Productivity of east coast fishing industry improved

Component 5: Project Implementation Support

Project management and monitoring services established

8,460 beneficiaries (50% to women) received micro credit to the amount of Rs. 256 Mn for various types of livelihood activities.

20 Micro-credit NGOs are enaged with NDTF and disbursed funds worth of Rs. 256 million.

Trincomalee 04

Batticaloa 06

Ampara - 08

Agreement signed between respective GAs and LEDS providers (Agromart, Practical Action & SEEDS).

Training programs for over13,764 benficiaries have been held.

There are no Veddah communities at present in the project area. However 4 villages identified. The so called Veddah communities totally refused any special treatment which they considered as derogatory remarks on them.

PNA of Vedda communities completed in 4 GN Divisions of Trincomallee districts so far

User groups are being established

Completed

Target is not realistic. smaller scale and larger scale interventions were finalized and 58 completed

3 SMA committees established and committee meetings held regularly.

SMA plans approved by ABD and CEA has prepared environmental profiles for 3 SMAs

Smaller scale and larger scale interventions were finalized and 58 completed.

3 Natural Resource Planners were recruited and fieled. The Natural Resources Planner from Trincomalee was fielded on 15 April 2005 while the Natural Resource Planner from Batticaloa and Ampara were fielded on 2 May 2005. Consultants in package II has been recruited bu t were only mobilized in November 2007, due to the volatile security situation.

On GOSL's request, Northern Study will not be underatken through the project funds.

The PPS has been unable to provide key staff to be deployed full time, due to lack of staff. Consultancy team is stationed in the PPS

Provincial inter agency planning group established and meetings are held regularly.

Preparation of coastal resource management plan completed.

Prepration of Coastal Resourse Plans are completed.

Inter Agency Planning group meeting held regularly with CCD, CEA, NARA, UDA and other relevant provincial agencies. Valuable materials for preparation of coastal resource plan have been collected from CCD, CEA, NARA and Department of Physical Planning.

Construction work at Valachchenai and Cod Bay is completed.

Completed

Completed

The PMO and DPOs are fully staffed and have sufficient equipment. The PO was established on 1 December 2003 and district project offices (DPOs) were established on 1 January 2004.

The PO and DPOs are fully staffed according to the revised staffing schedule, which was approved by the Department of Management Services and subsequently by ADB. Adding the DPD to the PO staff could ease the responsibilities currently shouldered by the PD.

IEC

Audio & Video Equipments procured and distributed to 3 districts.

Staff trained on that field.

Reporting systems

Monitoring formats in use.

Web-site developed on the project is being regularly updated

MIS developed .