Disaster in Sri Lanka: "The present crisis has presented us with a great challenge. Hundreds of thousands of us have lost loved ones, houses and livelihoods. The relief and rebuilding effort is needed urgently today, but it is also needed in the form of mid and long-term support.
There is another side to this challenge. An inspiring number of people and organizations have come forward with goodwill and finance. We want to see immediate benefits with a lasting impact. However, expertise of how best to help is limited.
In such a situation it has become imperative to develop and apply some basic guidelines that can orient the vast numbers of people and resources aiding the relief effort. While urgency is the need of the hour, there is a substantial body experience, both within Sri Lanka and in the rest of the developing world, that points to the pitfalls associated with relief and development assistance.
The service
As part of its support towards this process, CEPA will offer its advisory support on a no-fee basis to those individuals and organizations that would like to receive support in planning their contribution and turning it into appropriate action with a lasting impact.
CEPA will;
develop general guidelines on rehabilitation and development work,
specific support to organizations in the identification, design, delivery and monitoring of rehabilitation efforts.
Despite the fact that we feel the need to act immediately, we also need to remember,
Sustainable and lasting impact requires longer-term support and commitment Rebuilding lives and livelihoods requires time and patience
The scale of the trauma will produce different coping mechanisms, we have to respect and work with the different choices people will want to make.
Preliminary Guidelines:
Adapting CEPA's experience in poverty related development interventions, and drawing specifically on rehabilitation projects in Sri Lanka , we would like to share some preliminary guidelines. These will be updated and revised on a continuous basis.
Ensure adequate information by coordinating with relevant authorities / agencies, including at the location
Get information on similar efforts and complement them to avoid competition and duplication
In addition to provision of immediate needs, focus on investment into longer-term economic and social infrastructure and means of generating income
Decide on how to select beneficiaries and make the selection criteria transparent
Invite joint planning and implementation with those affected, rather than ‘doling out'
Draw on local capacities and resources wherever possible and don't do what people can do themselves
Avoid patronizing those affected and drawing political mileage
For an elaborated version of these guidelines, which are being disseminated to those interested, (click here)
Those organizations wishing to learn more should please contact,
Azra Jafferjee
Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA)
29, Gregory's Road, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Tel: 94-11-2676955-8, Fax: 94-11-2676959
E-mail: cepa@sltnet.lk, aj-cepa@sltnet.lk,
Web: www.cepa.lk "
There is another side to this challenge. An inspiring number of people and organizations have come forward with goodwill and finance. We want to see immediate benefits with a lasting impact. However, expertise of how best to help is limited.
In such a situation it has become imperative to develop and apply some basic guidelines that can orient the vast numbers of people and resources aiding the relief effort. While urgency is the need of the hour, there is a substantial body experience, both within Sri Lanka and in the rest of the developing world, that points to the pitfalls associated with relief and development assistance.
The service
As part of its support towards this process, CEPA will offer its advisory support on a no-fee basis to those individuals and organizations that would like to receive support in planning their contribution and turning it into appropriate action with a lasting impact.
CEPA will;
develop general guidelines on rehabilitation and development work,
specific support to organizations in the identification, design, delivery and monitoring of rehabilitation efforts.
Despite the fact that we feel the need to act immediately, we also need to remember,
Sustainable and lasting impact requires longer-term support and commitment Rebuilding lives and livelihoods requires time and patience
The scale of the trauma will produce different coping mechanisms, we have to respect and work with the different choices people will want to make.
Preliminary Guidelines:
Adapting CEPA's experience in poverty related development interventions, and drawing specifically on rehabilitation projects in Sri Lanka , we would like to share some preliminary guidelines. These will be updated and revised on a continuous basis.
Ensure adequate information by coordinating with relevant authorities / agencies, including at the location
Get information on similar efforts and complement them to avoid competition and duplication
In addition to provision of immediate needs, focus on investment into longer-term economic and social infrastructure and means of generating income
Decide on how to select beneficiaries and make the selection criteria transparent
Invite joint planning and implementation with those affected, rather than ‘doling out'
Draw on local capacities and resources wherever possible and don't do what people can do themselves
Avoid patronizing those affected and drawing political mileage
For an elaborated version of these guidelines, which are being disseminated to those interested, (click here)
Those organizations wishing to learn more should please contact,
Azra Jafferjee
Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA)
29, Gregory's Road, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Tel: 94-11-2676955-8, Fax: 94-11-2676959
E-mail: cepa@sltnet.lk, aj-cepa@sltnet.lk,
Web: www.cepa.lk "
