UNDP disburses Rs. 5.6 m for tsunami recovery in Matara

COLOMBO: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) formally handed over material and financial assistance worth Rs. 5.6 million, to 79 selected Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in the Matara district on June 9.

This assistance to CBOs is part of UNDP's efforts to support and strengthen local communities in post tsunami recovery activities.

The project 'Sustaining Tsunami Recovery by Organisations Networking at the Grass roots level through Promoting Local Accountability and Capacity Enhancement Systems' or (STRONG PLACES project) is being funded by the Government of Germany.

UNDP believes in building the capacity of the local people who are stakeholders and the final beneficiaries.

This UNDP project intends to empower civil societies to enter into equal partnerships with key development actors. It is envisaged that over time, CBOs will be recognised as main focal points in the sustainable development of their communities and not viewed merely as 'sub-contractors' for National NGOs and INGOs.

Institutional and Human Capacity Development of the selected NGO/CBOs will be achieved through knowledge-sharing and hands-on training with community practitioners. It will offer support for community mobilisation and documentation of good practices and lead to stronger partnerships for advocacy and broad public participation.

This project aims to grant CBOs and district-based NGOs with institutional support, thus moving away from the pattern of project-based funding.

There will be smaller grants extended for institution-building, human resource development, operations, logistics and support for community resource centers.

These UNDP efforts will provide a space for social mobilisation, a greater capacity for CBOs and district-based NGOs to access future funding and ensure sustainability of local needs and efforts.

Apart from Matara district this project will provide assistance to grass roots civil society organisations in seven other districts such as Galle, Hambantota, Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Jaffna and Mullaitivu.

The STRONG PLACES project is coordinated through a National Advisory Committee made-up of key civil society figures at national level and supported by District Advisory Committees in each district.

District Advisory Committees (DACs) comprise key civil society leaders and government officials mainly Divisional Secretaries and in some districts chaired by the District Secretaries themselves. CBOs are selected through a competitive process by the individual DACs and are monitored closely and evaluated by the DAC members throughout the process.

Minister Foreign Affairs and Ports and Civil Aviation Mangala Samaraweera, Sanaka Samarasinha, UNDP Deputy Country Director, Gamini Jayasekara, District Secretary of Matara and many civil society leaders of Matara district attended the ceremony.