The ADB administered Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction has granted $2.5 million for a project to provide cash-for-work and skills training for at least 2,500 families in five conflicted-affected districts in the North, an ADB statement said Friday.
The funds will assist in the rebuilding of about 100 kilometers of rural access roads and 200 kilometers of field irrigation canals, and will complement the separate ADB-assisted, Conflict Affected Region Emergency (CARE) Project, which is also helping to rehabilitate damaged and neglected infrastructure, ADB announced.
Since the three decades long war ended in May 2009 the Sri Lankan government has resettled almost 90 percent of the 280,000 displaced during the final phase of the war against the Tamil rebels.
However, the damage to rural infrastructure, including irrigation systems during the conflict period has deprived the people being resettled now of the means of earning a living, the ADB said.
K. M. Tilakaratne, Senior Project Implementation Officer in ADB's Sri Lanka Resident Mission has said that the project provides opportunities for vulnerable groups in resettled areas to get immediate income from the repair of damaged infrastructure, as well as skills training for future livelihood activities.
According to the ADB, the cash-for-work program will provide jobs for about at least 2,500 resettled people to restore and maintain irrigation systems and access roads in the districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, and Vavuniya.
Another 2,000 people will get training in modern sustainable agricultural production practices, the marketing of farm goods, food processing, and other self-employment skills.
Selection for the two activities in the program will be limited to one eligible male or female member of each resettled family.
The people selected for the cash-for-work program are required to open savings accounts and deposit 25% of their incomes for use in future livelihood creation activities.
Community-based organizations will be set up at the resettlement villages to oversee the project, and since most villagers have no experience with banks, they will hold savings passbooks over the course of the program to ensure participants comply with the deposit requirement, the ADB explained. At least 50% or more of those selected for the work program and skills development training will be women.
Along with the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction Grant, the Government of Sri Lanka will provide assistance of $150,000, with communities making an in-kind contribution of $137,500 for a total project cost of $2.78 million.
The Ministry of Economic Development will execute the project which will be implemented over 30 months. The project is expected to be completed by December 2012.
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