Local empowerment to re-establish livelihoods in the North

More than 2,400 households and about 6,000 micro and small entrepreneurs stand to benefit from a project launched recently in Vavuniya by Minister for Labour Relations and Productivity Promotion (MLR&PP), Gamini Lokuge.

The MLR&PP and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will jointly implement the three-year project, Local Empowerment through Economic Development (LEED). It is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), under the Australian Community Rehabilitation Program (ACRP).

Minister Gamini Lokuge and project partners at the launch

The ACRP program aims to strengthen the capacity of local governance structures and support them to adopt policies and development plans that strengthen social cohesion; increase economic opportunities and ensure that individuals and groups, particularly those who are marginalised, or excluded, are able to fully participate in development; and empower critical actors at the community level who will support and strengthen peace and development.

LEED is an area-based economic development program that aims to assist vulnerable sectors through skills training and enterprise development in Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna. It works to improve local village economies by helping develop value chains or forward and backward linkages that allow small and micro enterprises in villages to work together and more efficiently.

It will also work to revive some small and medium enterprises affected by the war, by training apprentices and conducting productivity studies.

Minister Lokuge said that the first workshop for local project partners would take place on October 26 in Vavuniya. On October 27, participatory planning meetings will take place in two villages in North Vavuniya, to consult target groups about training programs that will lead to the creation of group enterprises.

At least six projects are planned, benefiting at least 60 beneficiaries, during the period October-December 2010.

A four-day practical training seminar on preparing enterprise plans will also be held in Vavuniya North, from 9-12 November. The seminar will involve at least 15 women who already have some commercially useful skills but need to learn about small and micro-enterprise planning and management. After training, project participants will be given start-up tools and basic equipment so that they can start their enterprises, the Minister added.

LEED will introduce new, empowering, instruments and systems for planning, project delivery and post-project follow-up. These will be shared with local government agencies and training providers to build up their long-term capacity.

Implementing these interventions in a synchronised manner in the district will have a profound impact on the local economy, will raise income levels, reduce vulnerability and create opportunities for all.