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| Sunday, 18 December 2005 |
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Konrad to operate from India by Elmo Leonard The poverty alleviation program carried out by Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF) will continue here, for some time, notwithstanding that KAF pulls out of Sri Lanka end-December, ceasing a presence of 36 years. These programmes will be directed from New Delhi, KAF's representative to Sri Lanka, Dr. Carola Stein said. KAF has a worldwide presence. It is primarily engaged in the strengthening of democracy, justice and peace in the countries they operate in. The main objectives of all these programs was to build up the capacity of institutions and the capacity of people. At the same time these programs are aimed at strengthening the civil society, at a rising the awareness of people and mobilising people to be active and conscious citizens in their country, Dr Stein said. KAF had implemented hundreds of programs during their stay, here. Taking a few at random, Dr Stein said that in 1969, KAF started the integrated rural development programme. KAF had developed entirely new and innovative concepts in this area, among others, the `change agents programme,' in the villages, which was very popular and successful in those days. Simultaneously, KAF focused on programs to improve the capacities of the local administration in cooperation with the Academy of Administrative Sciences (AAS). With KAF assistance, AAS was transformed into SLIDA. Many capacity building programs for civil servants were implemented during the long term cooperation between KAF and SLIDA. Among others, the `induction training for the higher civil services,' was elaborated at that time, a one year course for newly recruited civil servants, which continues today, Dr Stein said. KAF also funded NIBM among other organisations, worked out a study on the competitiveness of state owned enterprises, an idea which was taken over by the World Bank soon after, Dr Stein said. KAF is the first organisation that supported the private sector, establishing the Industrial Services Bureau - ISB in Kurunegala to improve the efficiency of the small and medium enterprises in the North Western Province. Today, ISB has become one of the major service providers for the business sector in Sri Lanka, Dr Stein said. KAF began collaboration with the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) in intensively training hundreds of officers of central and local public services. And, KAF supported the program of the National Academy of Political Education, the former, Ranjan Wijeratne Academy, Dr Stein said. Furthermore the KAF assisted various programs on poverty alleviation and the political empowerment of women in the SAARC region through SAPNA and other organisations. A network of women's organisation from six SAARC countries had been created recently, for the exchange of experiences and pro-active lobbying on gender issues. Two books in Sinhala, Gender and Methodology by Indrani Iriyagolle and Human Rights: Concepts and Practices by Prof Kamala Liyanage have been published, Dr Stein said. |
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