UNDP-led private sector giving facility launched to help society’s vulnerable segments

First row (from left): Rathika de Silva, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka; Dr. Anver Hamdani, Director Medical Technical Services, Coordinating In Charge/ COVID-19, Ministry of Health; Natasha Boralessa, Group Director, Brandix Apparel Limited; Malin Herwig, Officer in Charge, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka; Rakhil Fernando, Managing Director, Daraz Sri Lanka; Malika Samaraweera, Group Head of Corporate Communication. Second row (from left): Fadhil Bakeer Markar, Policy and Engagement Team Leader, UNDP in Sri Lanka; Kasthuri Chellaraja Wilson, Executive Director, Group CEO, Hemas Holdings PLC; Dilhan C. Fernando, CEO, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company; Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, Resident Coordinator, United Nations in Sri Lanka; and Vimlendra Sharan, Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Food and Agriculture Organization; Heshan Fernando, CEO and Co-Founder, oDoc Sri Lanka; Janakie Karunaratne, Lead- Corporate Affairs, Hemas Holdings PLC.
 - Pic by Waruna Wanniarachchi

In an effort to help communities survive the ongoing economic crisis, the worst experienced in Sri Lanka since independence, a UNDP-led private sector giving facility was launched in Colombo this week.

The health and food sectors are two of the most heavily affected by the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, with severe medical and food supply shortages, availability of basic pharmaceuticals and overall health and wellbeing continuing to be significantly affected.

Responding to the crisis, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka leveraged its experience to develop a giving facility, comprising of two mechanisms; by channelling private sector funds towards procuring essential and non-essential medical supplies and address food security; and by channelling individual donations through a crowdfunding mechanism set up by UNDP. 

Coming on board were key private sector actors including Hemas Holdings PLC, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, Brandix Apparel Limited and Daraz Sri Lanka. The entities pledged their commitment through the facility to complement and strengthen the ongoing health sector efforts of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) and food sector efforts led and coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) among others.   Sarvodaya, the United Nations Global Compact Network Sri Lanka and oDoc Sri Lanka will also come onboard as strategic partners of the facility. 

“Now is the time for the private sector to show solidarity and prove what we have known all along – investing in prevention is good for business. Therefore, we call on you to urgently support our Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan to provide life-saving assistance to the women, men, and children most affected by the crisis and thus prevent a deterioration of humanitarian needs in the country,” said Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, Resident Coordinator, United Nations in Sri Lanka speaking at the launch event held at the UN Compound in Colombo this Thursday.

Reiterating UNDP’s convening role in the facility, Malin Herwig, Officer in-Charge, UNDP in Sri Lanka said the giving facility will provide vital health and food sector support, liaising closely with relevant partners on procuring and delivering based on clear requirements, in strict compliance with UNDP’s globally renowned procurement guidelines. 

“UNDP through its overall response efforts towards Sri Lanka’s recovery has leveraged its prior experience and strong relationship with the private sector to kickstart this facility, and looks forward to engaging with further private sector actors in working closely with fellow UN agencies, committed to empowering and strengthening vulnerable communities,” she said.

The individual crowdfunding facility will be launched in the coming weeks, which provides the opportunity for individuals to contribute towards alleviating the impacts of the crisis, not only through addressing shortages in the healthcare sector but also by contributing to strengthening food security and other response measures in Sri Lanka. 

The launch event saw the participation of several high-level representatives from partnering organizations including Dr. Anver Hamdani, Director Medical Technical Services, Coordinating In-Charge/ COVID-19, Ministry of Health; Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, Resident Coordinator, United Nations in Sri Lanka; Kasthuri Chellaraja Wilson, Executive Director, Group CEO, Hemas Holdings PLC; Dilhan C. Fernando, CEO, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company; Natasha Boralessa, Group Director, Brandix Apparel Limited; Rakhil Fernando, Managing Director, Daraz Sri Lanka; Heshan Fernando, CEO and Co-Founder, oDoc Sri Lanka;Rathika de Silva, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka;Malin Herwig, Officer in-Charge, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka; and Vimlendra Sharan, Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Food and Agriculture Organization.