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Local Empowerment through Economic Development (LEED) - Final Evaluation

eval_number:

2210

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/2210

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Sustainable development

category:

Economic and social development

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comments:

Farmers growing rice and other field crops, papaya growers, fisher folks, women, persons with different abilities, households with virtually no productive capital. ILO, Government agencies at the division level, Department of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations.

challenges:

Risk associated with introduction of papaya, skepticism about the commitment of businesses from the Southern Sri Lanka, low capacity in implementing agencies,

success:

Cooperation from the Departments of Cooperatives, Labour, and Agriculture at the local level, project’s response to local needs, continued support from the Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations, commitment of project staff and ILO CO, and most importantly continued support by the DFAT/Australian High Commission in Colombo

context:

Need for economic development activities became prominent and internally displaced persons stated to their previous home base or new lands offered by the Government. The Northern Sri Lanka had a record of accomplishment of successful operations of cooperative societies.

description:

Under the post-conflict conditions, it is important to respond with a pragmatic sustainable livelihood approach soon after the humanitarian support so that affected people are able to put together their lives again. Experience suggests that a long gap between humanitarian response and livelihood support creates confusion and inhibits confidence and willingness to take up income and employment generating activities thereby creating a sense of insecurity and loss of confidence. Often humanitarian support tends to be temporary in nature and development partners first crowd in and coordinating aid becomes a daunting task and challenging particularly for the government agencies. In Sri Lanka, it happened in the same way. Initially, some of the national and international nongovernmental agencies provided one-time temporary support for livelihood. ILO support came at a time when other players moved out of the conflict-affected area and ILO’s support filled the vacuum created by other development partners including non-governmental organizations. ILO took into account local needs for sustainable livelihood options typically related to what their strengths called for. As a result, initially, ILO support went to the rehabilitation of rice mills followed by fisheries. Soon after, papaya became commercially viable, particularly when project facilitated market assurance for up to 200 MT papaya for export through CR Exports. It was timely and offered far greater income opportunities compared to traditional subsistence farming.

administrative_issues:

Delay in mobilizing the CTA

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/210296

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location:

country:

Sri Lanka

region:

Asia and the Pacific

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eval_title:

Local Empowerment through Economic Development (LEED) - Final Evaluation