CONTENTS   quick impact   ESSP Kandy visits IFSP

January 2003

Responding to the needs of returning IDPs

The IFSP ‘quick impact programme
for internally displaced persons’ (IDP) is supporting families who are returning to their villages or who have already returned but could not yet get back to their places of origin.

The focus is on short-term support for re-establishing livelihoods and on nutrition and food security in particular. Activities include the reconstruction of basic village infrastructure and houses, development of agri-based production infrastructure, reactivation and improvement of services and support for small scale economic activities.

The ‘quick impact programme’ aims at supporting displaced families who returned after the cease-fire (‘recent returnees’). It includes former IDPs from the Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim communities who came already a few months or a few years ago. Since many of these ‘early returnees’ are confronted with poor to very poor living conditions a dual and complementary approach addressing both groups adequately will avoid or reduce a possible rift among the communities.

All individual families identified for support in 13 villages in the 7 DS Divisions of Trincomalee Town & Gravets (Iluppaikulam, Aaththimoddai), Kuchchaveli (Kumpurupitty, Casim Nagar, Veerancholai) Pada-visiripura (Meegaswewa, Jayanthupura), Muthur, (Allai Nagar, Kaddaiparichchan Aru, Kudamuruddi) Seruvila (Raja-Aala), Gomarankadawela (Kalyanapura) and Morawewa (Morawewa) have expressed their willingness to return to their places of origin. They have so far not received government support. The locations of return are, as far as known, their original villages and the lands are said to be their properties (this is to be explored during the course of planning and implementation). According to surveys done and information gathered from the ‘quick impact villages’ no land mines were recorded.

Altogether up to 400 families are expected to be addressed directly. A total of up to 2,000 families are expected to benefit from improved production and village infrastructure and services. The budget is estimated at Rs. 54 million of which 75% were made available by  the Federal German Government as a special allocation and 30% are expected as contribution from the Sri Lankan Government and from participating families.                                    top

The quick impact programme follows the ‘resettlement programme 2002-2005’ proposed by the Ministry of Eastern Development for Trincomalee district in October 2002. This programme was prepared by the Government Agent Trincomalee and the District Planning Secretariat in close cooperation with relevant departments and the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) in particular, local community organisations (CBO), non government organisations (NGOs) and international agencies. The IFSP ‘quick impact programme’ was proposed to the District Coordination Committee (DCC) meeting of 11 November and endorsed on 27 December 2002.

To successfully implement the programme close cooperation, good coordination and fullest support from partner institutions have to be ensured. IFSP has a facilitating role, whereas CBOs are implementing partners. Government departments and Divisional Secretaries have to provide accelerated services. NHDA will take a leading role in the reconstruction and repair of houses. NGOs are support partners. The local NGO, SEDOT, was selected as partner for communication and provision of services to village communities.

The modes of delivery will follow the established and recognised approaches of IFSP: i) short-cut PNA, ii) intensive dialogue to clarify obligations of involved partners to ensure commitment  and contribution, iii) conducting agreements with village CBOs, iv) disbursement of funds and supply of tools, material, food baskets and cash payments under food-for-work activities and, v) effective monitoring. The selection of beneficiaries is to be done in closest cooperation with the village communities themselves. The IFSP vulnerability profile serves as guideline for dialogue.

The establishment of capacities for physical implementation is a challenging task. The ‘quick impact programme’ commenced in November 2002. It is expected to continue through the first quarter 2003. In case projects proposed could not materialise due to land problems IFSP will facilitate other activities that benefit IDPs on a ‘first come – first serve base’ whereby the capacity and willingness of communities to contribute are prime criteria for support.

The ‘quick impact programme’ its concept, locations, activities and budget estimate can be downloaded PDF file (84 KB)

Year-end get-together with visitors from Kandy                     top

The ‘season’s get-together 2002’ was held with the GTZ supported Enterprise Service Systems Promotion Project Kandy (ESSP) on 20 December. This was the first visit of a Sri Lankan – German Development Cooperation team to IFSP Trincomalee. ESSP project director Mr P.G. Samaratunge and GTZ team leader Dr Volker Steigerwald were welcomed by Mrs Rohini Singarayer, project director IFSP. IFSP staff organised an extensive field visit. It was agreed that IFSP would visit ESSP Kandy in 2003.