Japan provides US $ 3.8mn via UNDP for women’s economic wellbeing

The Japanese government, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will provide a US $ 3.8 million grant to support the vulnerable smallholder farming families in the Dry Zone districts in the North-Central, North-Western and Eastern provinces, with a focus on women’s economic empowerment and adoption of green agricultural technologies.

Funded by the Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB) and working together with the Government of Sri Lanka and relevant stakeholders, the intervention aims to achieve its objectives through two projects: the first focusing on diversifying livelihoods and introducing entrepreneurship programmes, targeting women-led MSMEs. 

The second aims to strengthen energy and food security, through the revival of the rural agricultural economy by providing access to innovative markets, value and supply chain improvements along with the adoption of modern, green agricultural technologies, which will increase productivity and efficiency. 

A total of 58,000 women and youth will directly benefit from these projects, while indirectly impacting over 132,000 vulnerable community members from the North-Central, North-Western and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. To mark the beginning of these projects and to recognise the government of Japan’s support to the interventions, a launch event was held yesterday with the participation of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Mizukoshi Hideaki, UNDP Sri Lanka Resident Representative Azusa Kubota,  JICA in Sri Lanka Chief Representative Tetsuya Yamada, Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, senior government officials and development partners.  

Gracing the occasion, Gunawardena stated, “The Government of Sri Lanka appreciates the continuous support extended by the Government of Japan and UNDP towards the country’s efforts to recover from the socioeconomic crisis. We believe this is a significant step towards creating a food and energy secure Sri Lanka, both vital sectors to the fabric of the country’s economy.” 

Highlighting Japan’s commitment to the people of Sri Lanka in crisis recovery efforts, Mizukoshi stated, “Japan has been working together with the Government of Sri Lanka and relevant UN agencies for economic and social empowerment of women in Sri Lanka, including the formulation of the National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security. These new projects will provide for practical means to uplift the lives of vulnerable communities. Especially, we recognise the special needs of women-headed household in conflict-affected areas. It is a great opportunity to create positive synergy with the UNDP’s expertise and the JICA’s technical assistance for supporting livelihood and vulnerable communities.” 

Commenting on the role of the UNDP in bringing together stakeholders and facilitating such processes in times of need, Kubota stated, “These are times when multiple-solutions through multiple-partnerships are required because we are faced with compounding and complex challenges. I am grateful for the commitments demonstrated by a wide range of actors present today. We must join hands to address the needs of the most vulnerable and affected segments of society – particularly women-headed households. And investing in them will have visible, long-term benefits for the families and communities.”