RESILIENCE

 

The world conference on Disaster Reduction was held from 18^th to 22^nd January 2005 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. The key document that came out from the conference referred to as the Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA) primarily focus on building the resilience on National and Communities to disasters. The conference provided the opportunity develop strategic and systematic approaches to reducing vulnerabilities and hazards. The Strengthening Resilience in Tsunami Affected Communities Project (Referred to as SRTAC project in this document) is a unique project that works on strengthening Resilience from a multi sector perspective, especially in a developing country context. SRTAC is an Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and International Development research Centre (IDRC) funded project implemented in India and Sri Lanka. The key implementing partners of Sri Lanka are Lanka Jatika Sarvodaya Shramdana Sangamaya and Practical Action South Asia. The Project is implements in twelve rural villages with in Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Amapra districts.

Strengthening Fishing Communities > KARATHIVU

 In the Karathivu village in Ampara district, the fisheries sector is a key player in the village economy. After the Tsunmai the had many problems due to not replacing the Tsunami damaged fishing nets. There are three main fisheries societies in the village. We have discussed with all groups and fisheries department officers on issue related to the development of the sector. Damage net replacement was identified as the priority of the fishermen to improve their livelihoods. We were able to replace the damaged nets by use the funds from another Practical Action livelihood project. Licensed nets to the registered fishermen at the site. Due to strengthening of the fisheries sector nearly 150 families engaged in large scale fisheries and 50 families engaged in small scale fishing have been directly benefited.

BETTER WATER FOR A BETTER LIFE > Water Quality Improvement

 

 [Image: by Practical Action]

The Water quality improvement component has been implemented by Practical Action and Facilitated by Sarvodaya for the project sites. Water resource survey had been conducted by experts in all 12 project sites. Objective of activity was to assess the water quality, usage and identify the suitable sites for further research. Domestic and alternative water supply, topography and special features observed. Based on recorded GPS coordinates, major and minor roads, public places, water bodies, boundaries of GND and other important features will be demarcated in the maps. Data collected during the field visits and digital maps collected from Survey department wereused. Factors considered for selecting research sites were,  population density, pipe water availability, water associated Livelihoods, area of flooding during rainy season and community perceptions on alternative options. Based on a weighted criterion, four villages have been selected for the detailed study. Those GN divisions are Walhengoda, Thallala, Andaragasysya and Karathivu. Basic data and information on the water bodies exist in the villages were collected by Water Resource Survey. The attempts to collect data on discharge water quantity and runoff water were failed due to lack of data available at relevant institute. However the assessment based on observations and a water balance study will provide the required data for the survey. Survey has extended to the household levels to identify the water sources and community perceptions. There are many who had abandoned their water wells, thinking that the water quality had reduced after the Tsunami.  The household survey is currently been carryied out by the village project staff. Hundred households from selected 4 villages for detailed groundwater study and 50 house holds from other 8 villages will be covered by the survey. Water Quality Monitoring program has started for establishment of water quality monitoring wells. 20-30 number of water sources (wells and surface water bodies) were selected randomly from each 4 village to monitor the water quality. Salinity, electrical conductivity, and specific conductivity are the water quality parameters measured in the survey. In order to see the seasonal fluctuations, the measurements will be taken by every 2 months intervals. To study the Fluctuations of groundwater table will be examined through the readings of water depth taking every two months periods. The data collected by the monitoring program will analyze the data against the geology, soil and climatic conditions of study sites. However, information gathered from community and other government offices will be helpful to organize and to develop a mechanism to minimize salinity impacts.

CIDA’s Monitoring and Evaluation begins> EML CONSULTANTS (PVT)LTD

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), operating in Sri Lanka under the General agreement on Development Cooperation between the Government of Canada and the Government of Sri Lanka is launching a new project – Canada’s Tsunami Results Monitoring Project (CTRM)- in order to collect feedback and to document al overall impact of CIDA’s response to the 2004 tsunmai. CIDA has recruited services pf Environmental Management Lanka (EML) consultants Private Limited to carry out this activity over the next thireen months. The EML team will combine Sri Lanka and Canadian Experts in project monitoring, evaluation and result-based management.  They will individually monitor Canadian Funded tsunami projects throughout the country and report on progress of individual initiatives in terms of accountability. Transparency and results achieved, s well as implementing challenges and constraints.  The EML Consultant team is scheduled to meet the Sarvodaya-Practical Action Project team on 23rd April to develop an individual monitoring protocols with each Project Partner that incorporates the unique set of factors that each project is dealing with.  8)
 

THE BASKET SHOP> A Success Story

The handicraft sector of Waduruppa, Hambantota, had been showing many progressive changes during the past six month. After the Participatory Market Chain Analysis (PMCA) workshops, the village handcraft group has started a common production and sales centre at a rented location in the town. The problem for finding material was solved through switching to local fibres and plants. As a result of providing a handicraft production training using water hysinth (Eichhornia crassipes) they received an award for water hysinth handicraft products at a District craft exibition. One member of the group was recruited as a trainer by the National Craft Council (NCC) to train disable persons on Bag making at Ambalantota, and Hambegamuwa. Rural Enterprise Network (REN) started to provide the marketing and quality control inputs for the group. The Twenty five member group participated in a business planning workshop which helps them to improve the management and marketing skills. As a result of the interventions each of the group members were able to increase their monthly profit by Rs.1500 to Rs.2000 on average. Participatory Market system development approach was used at various degrees to identify the problems and potentials for sector development. Market mapping was the basis to determine the interventions in each of the sectors. Business Idea Generation and Business Planning training programs further strengthened the capacity of the cluster.

 

Peter Bennett Photo Shoot > at SRTAC Project Site

 Mr. Peter Bennett is a Canadian photographer and a writer who does photo and video documenting for IDRC, in some of their projects. He has been photographing in several Asian countries during the past few months. Ending his tour in Sri Lanka, on 4th April Peter visited the Pathegama village of the Galle district to capture the inside story of the Strengthening Resilience in Tsunami Affected Communities project of Sri Lanka. The main purpose of his photographing tour was to document the different components of the IDRC funded projects in Sri Lanka. He preferred photographing the village in its day to day natural environment, and its cultural habitat. Through his lense he captured incidental photographs of, the Village Information Center, Children’s computer course, village school, village livelihoods, Bio shield plantations, and local village life and culture. The village truely enjoyed Peter’s presence; it was not only a boost of encouragement for the villagers but also a productive day for Peter. Next week Peter will visit SRTAC project sites in Hambantota- and capture few more vital pieces- before he flies back to his long awaiting home.