Ampara DistrictAmpara DistrictMaster Plan ProjectMaster Plan Project

Preliminary Report Preliminary Report Presentation & Follow-upPresentation & Follow-up

prepared for

Canadian International Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)Development Agency (CIDA)

and

Government of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Government of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Housing and ConstructionHousing and Construction

by

Canadian Agro-Sustainability Partnership (CASP)Canadian Agro-Sustainability Partnership (CASP)

November 2006

BackgroundBackground

• January 2006 - CIDA signs Contribution Agreement with CASP (GOSL and Government of PEI provide additional support)

• February 2006 - CASP establishes threeAmpara District offices (plus Colombo office) and begins project work

• April 2006 - 35 project staff in place• July 2006 – Preliminary Master Plan Report

submitted• September 2006 - Initial CASP/CIDA

Demonstration Projects approved and underway

• December 2004 – Tsunami strikes Sri Lanka with Ampara District suffering 10,000 deaths, $600-million in property damage, and 23,000 homes destroyed or damaged

• June 2005 - GOSL and CASP sign MOU for Ampara District Master Plan

Master Plan ResponsibilitiesMaster Plan Responsibilities• Over 18-24 month period

prepare long-term Master Plan to guide reconstruction and redevelopment of Ampara District for the next 20-25 years

• Identify gaps/needs not addressed by other groups and identify possible funding sources

• Implement projects as necessary

• Identify/fund Demonstration Projects during this process and act as a facilitator or implementing agency for larger projects

Master Plan ObjectivesMaster Plan Objectives• Improve socio-economic conditions while

protecting the environment

• Restructure district economy

in line with its resources

• Promote development of agriculture,

fisheries, tourism, industry, and ports

• Enhance economic growth in rural areas

• Create environment to attract

private sector investment

• Improve inter- and intra-district mobility

• Enhance social harmony and equity

Specific Economic ObjectivesSpecific Economic Objectives By end of planning period (2008)…• Increase agricultural output by

15%, adopting an integrated approach related to policy, regulation, land, irrigation, transport, institutions, and agri-based industries

• Increase industrial sector output by 20% by providing a foundation for growth including agro- and fisheries-based processing, port development, small scale manufacturing, and other resource-based industrial initiatives

• Reduce unemployment from 13% to 11% by developing livelihoods opportunities in agriculture, fisheries, cottage industries, and an expanded services sector, micro credits, and other self-employment initiatives

• Increase productivity by 25% through improved training, technology, and support infrastructure to economic sectors

• Achieve real GDP growth rate of 8-9% annually from 2008-2015• Increase tourist arrivals to 100,000 by 2015

Sector AnalysisSector Analysis• Detailed analysis of sectors including: Agriculture (Crops,

Livestock, Irrigation); Communications & Technology; Education & Training; Industrial Development & Tourism; Energy & Power; Fisheries & Aquaculture; Health; Housing; Livelihoods; Transport

• Cross cutting themes: Environment; Gender; Peace & Conflict

Major Issues:Major Issues:

Lack of CapacityLack of Capacity

• Solutions:

– Donors/INGOs need to adopt a “hands on” short-term focus in addition to longer term transitional hand-over plans

– More project presence on the ground in the district

– Increased partnering to address critical areas of: technical expertise; local input/buy-in; and project management

– Training programs (technical, languages, etc.)

– Infrastructure improvements (transportation; electricity; computers/communications; support services; equipment; etc.)

• Shortages of staff/infrastructure; planning problems; accountability issues

Major Issues:Major Issues:

Improved CommunicationsImproved Communicationswith Beneficiarieswith Beneficiaries

• Until late 2005 no media outlets in district - even now only Tamil language radio station & newspaper

• Complex ethnic mix:Muslim (41%), Sinhalese (40%),Tamil (18%)

MuslimSinhaleseTamilOther

• Solutions:More local stakeholder involvement; greater use of newspaper, radio, and TV media; increased transparency and accountability; more cooperation between organizations; development of local information/awareness networks in schools and through other institutions

Major Issues:Major Issues: CoordinationCoordination

• Many organizations involved at micro level without sufficient consideration of the “big picture”/external factors

• Challenges:– Inter-project dependencies result

in project start/completion delays– Lack of communication among

key stakeholders– Sector-wide projects difficult

without coordination and communication

– Some “coordination” committees are really “communications” only, resulting in illusion of coordination

– Without “big picture” guidance some donors/NGOs unable to fully utilize funding

Reconstruction GapsReconstruction Gaps• Although there are excellent reconstruction projects undertaken by

donors, INGOs, NGOs, and CBOs, there are also significant gaps which must be addressed, including…- Inadequate attention to environmental sector projects

such as solid waste management - a major problem throughout the District

- Shortage of specialists addressing cross-cutting themes of gender and peace & conflict.

- Disproportionate focus on an assortment of stand-alone projects for sectors such as agriculture, without sufficient attention to agriculture development at the macro level

- Some tsunami victim groups (e.g. the physically & mentally handicapped) are being largely neglected in this process

- Because of individual donor/INGO focus on their own projects, there is a lack of attention to larger and potentially important projects which require multi-donor/INGO resources.

Key RecommendationsKey Recommendations• Strengthen the facilitation/coordination mechanism

so that more gets done better and faster

• Increase capacity building resources by strengthening organizations and encouraging local cooperation on common projects

• Increase public participation/awareness and communications (including media and local networks)

• Adopt a sectoral strategy that places highest priority on housing, livelihoods, and environment

• Increase the on-the-ground presence and access in Ampara District of donors and INGOs

• Respond to the constraints of ethnic divisions in the District by ensuring an ongoing role for outside parties to advance and lead many reconstruction initiatives in both the short and longer term

DemonstrationDemonstrationProject FundProject Fund• CASP has committed $300K

from its own resources for demonstration projects to…– Undertake small to mid-size

projects as needed– Ensure projects are in place to

demonstrate best practices– Show the people of Ampara District

that this is more than just a planning exercise

Examples: • Hardy Institute (Ampara Town) Biogas

Project• Akkaraipattu Community Computer/

English Training Centre• SouthEast University (Oluvil) Gender

Studies Programme• Maruthamunai (Kalmunai) Handloom

Sector Centre of Excellence

Master Plan: Master Plan: Achievements to DateAchievements to DateSince the project began in January 2006, achievements include…

• Three centrally located, fully staffed project offices (Ampara Town, Kalmunai, Akkaraipattu) generating lots of local and INGO traffic

• Leading reconstruction communications program in the District, including Rebuild Ampara website/videos/blog, half-hour weekly radio programme (Tamil), 2-pages in monthly Tamil newspaper, plus a network of 30 schools, all-faiths clergy network, and 22 Local Advisory Committees

• Leading gender awareness program in the District, with gender built into all projects (same approach with environment and peace & conflict) and provision of gender resources to other INGOs

• DRAFT Preliminary Master Plan report completed, receiving praise and support from stakeholders

• Successful activities across all sectors including 5,000 people attending our two-day Internet cafe, 200-300 letters each week in response to our radio program, large turnouts to all our public involvement sessions, as well as ongoing awareness programs on solid waste management and, more recently, on gender in our 30 school systems

• Variety of CASP Demonstration Projects underway/in final planning

• Outstanding cooperation and support for Master Plan from all Sri Lankan stakeholders, donors, and INGOs

Conclusion: PrioritiesConclusion: Priorities

• Strengthen facilitation/coordination

• More resources for capacity building

• Increase public participation, awareness, and communications

• Adopt sectoral strategies with highest priority on: Housing; Livelihoods; and Environment

• Emphasize and develop sustainability