Session in cooperation with the International Centre for Municipal Development, FCM, Canada

 

The larger conflict that continues to rage in Sri Lanka is felt and often mirrored at the community level. Within the framework of the Canada/Sri Lanka Municipal Cooperation Programme (MCP), Community Support Funds (CSFs) have been created in 5 local governments to promote social cohesion through dialogue and cooperation. The CSF is a small flexible grants mechanism for community projects in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kalmunai, Galle and Matara. These communities are very multi-ethnic/religious and very segregated in many ways. The CSF has become a mechanism for increasing communication between the different ethnic and social groups. In each of the local governments a CSF committee has been formed, including community representatives from different ethnic groups and representatives from the municipality (elected officials and staff). MCP supports the local governments in the development of their committees and the criteria and mechanisms to manage their fund. MCP also provided training for the CSF committee members on the 3 cross-cutting themes of MCP – environmental sustainability, gender equality and peacebuilding.

People directly involved in the CSFs and in the MCP will share their experiences and their views on questions such as: can social cohesion be bought through small grant mechanisms, or is there more to it? How do the CSF committees function, and what are the lessons learned in the process? Would these apply in other situations and countries as well? What is the role of the local governments in the 5 communities? Are the CSFs part of a wider policy and practice to promote social cohesion? What else do they do and how does that work? How important is the framework of the Canada/Sri Lanka MCP for the success of the CSFs?

Moderator
Nalaka Siriwardena, Program Office - Funds, Sri Lanka/MCP/FCM, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Speakers

Razeen Kalanthar Lebbe Mohamed, Resident Engineer, Hairu engineering Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Kalmunai, Sri Lanka

 

Judithrani Stephen, Program Assistant, Trincomallee Urban Council, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

 

Nithyarajani Satheeskumar, Management assistant, Municipal Council, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

 

Mohamed Nabavi Mohamed Navavi, Municipal Councilor of Matara, Sri Lanka

 

 

 

City Diplomacy Presentation