1. Ampara District Master Plan Project Preliminary Report Presentation & Follow-up
prepared for
Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA)
and
Government of Sri Lanka, Ministry of
Housing and Construction by
Canadian Agro-Sustainability Partnership (CASP)
November 2006

2. Background
December 2004 – Tsunami strikes Sri Lanka with Ampara District suffering 10,000 deaths, $600-million in property damage, and 23,000 homes destroyed or damaged
June GOSL and CASP sign MOU for Ampara District Master Plan
January CIDA signs Contribution Agreement with CASP (GOSL and Government of PEI provide additional support)
February CASP establishes three Ampara District offices (plus Colombo office) and begins project work
April project staff in place
July 2006 – Preliminary Master Plan Report submitted
September Initial CASP/CIDA Demonstration Projects approved and underway

3. Master Plan Responsibilities
Over month period prepare long-term Master Plan to guide reconstruction and redevelopment of Ampara District for the next years
Identify gaps/needs not addressed by other groups and identify possible funding sources
Implement projects as necessary
Identify/fund Demonstration Projects during this process and act as a facilitator or implementing agency for larger projects

4. Master Plan Objectives
Improve socio-economic conditions while protecting the environment
Restructure district economy in line with its resources
Promote development of agriculture, fisheries, tourism, industry, and ports
Enhance economic growth in rural areas
Create environment to attract private sector investment
Improve inter- and intra-district mobility
Enhance social harmony and equity
Suggest fixing the bright spot so we can read the second bullet, also elsewhere in the presentation.

5. Specific Economic Objectives
By end of planning period (2008)…
Increase agricultural output by 15%, adopting an integrated approach related to policy, regulation, land, irrigation, transport, institutions, and agri-based industries
Increase industrial sector output by 20% by providing a foundation for growth including agro- and fisheries- based processing, port development, small scale manufacturing, and other resource-based industrial initiatives
Reduce unemployment from 13% to 11% by developing livelihoods opportunities in agriculture, fisheries, cottage industries, and an expanded services sector, micro credits, and other self-employment initiatives
Increase productivity by 25% through improved training, technology, and support infrastructure to economic sectors
Achieve real GDP growth rate of 8-9% annually from
Increase tourist arrivals to 100,000 by 2015

6. Sector Analysis
Detailed analysis of sectors including: Agriculture (Crops, Livestock, Irrigation); Communications & Technology; Education & Training; Industrial Development & Tourism; Energy & Power; Fisheries & Aquaculture; Health; Housing; Livelihoods; Transport
Cross cutting themes: Environment; Gender; Peace & Conflict

7. Major Issues: Lack of Capacity
Shortages of staff/infrastructure; planning problems; accountability issues
Solutions:
Donors/INGOs need to adopt a “hands on” short-term focus in addition to longer term transitional hand-over plans
More project presence on the ground in the district
Increased partnering to address critical areas of: technical expertise; local input/buy-in; and project management
Training programs (technical, languages, etc.)
Infrastructure improvements (transportation; electricity; computers/communications; support services; equipment; etc.)

8. Major Issues: Improved Communications with Beneficiaries
Until late 2005 no media outlets in district - even now only Tamil language radio station & newspaper
Complex ethnic mix: Muslim (41%), Sinhalese (40%), Tamil (18%)
Solutions: More local stakeholder involvement; greater use of newspaper, radio, and TV media; increased transparency and accountability; more cooperation between organizations; development of local information/awareness networks in schools and through other institutions

9. Major Issues: Coordination
Many organizations involved at micro level without sufficient consideration of the “big picture”/external factors
Challenges:
Inter-project dependencies result in project start/completion delays
Lack of communication among key stakeholders
Sector-wide projects difficult without coordination and communication
Some “coordination” committees are really “communications” only, resulting in illusion of coordination
Without “big picture” guidance some donors/NGOs unable to fully utilize funding

10. Reconstruction Gaps
Although there are excellent reconstruction projects undertaken by donors, INGOs, NGOs, and CBOs, there are also significant gaps which must be addressed, including…
Inadequate attention to environmental sector projects such as solid waste management - a major problem throughout the District
Shortage of specialists addressing cross-cutting themes of gender and peace & conflict.
Disproportionate focus on an assortment of stand-alone projects for sectors such as agriculture, without sufficient attention to agriculture development at the macro level
Some tsunami victim groups (e.g. the physically & mentally handicapped) are being largely neglected in this process
Because of individual donor/INGO focus on their own projects, there is a lack of attention to larger and potentially important projects which require multi-donor/INGO resources.

11. Key Recommendations
Strengthen the facilitation/coordination mechanism so that more gets done better and faster
Increase capacity building resources by strengthening organizations and encouraging local cooperation on common projects
Increase public participation/awareness and communications (including media and local networks)
Adopt a sectoral strategy that places highest priority on housing, livelihoods, and environment
Increase the on-the-ground presence and access in Ampara District of donors and INGOs
Respond to the constraints of ethnic divisions in the District by ensuring an ongoing role for outside parties to advance and lead many reconstruction initiatives in both the short and longer term

12. Demonstration Project Fund
CASP has committed $300K from its own resources for demonstration projects to…
Undertake small to mid-size projects as needed
Ensure projects are in place to demonstrate best practices
Show the people of Ampara District that this is more than just a planning exercise
Examples:
Hardy Institute (Ampara Town) Biogas Project
Akkaraipattu Community Computer/ English Training Centre
SouthEast University (Oluvil) Gender Studies Programme
Maruthamunai (Kalmunai) Handloom Sector Centre of Excellence

13. Master Plan: Achievements to Date
Since the project began in January 2006, achievements include…
Three centrally located, fully staffed project offices (Ampara Town, Kalmunai, Akkaraipattu) generating lots of local and INGO traffic
Leading reconstruction communications program in the District, including Rebuild Ampara website/videos/blog, half-hour weekly radio programme (Tamil), 2-pages in monthly Tamil newspaper, plus a network of 30 schools, all-faiths clergy network, and 22 Local Advisory Committees
Leading gender awareness program in the District, with gender built into all projects (same approach with environment and peace & conflict) and provision of gender resources to other INGOs
DRAFT Preliminary Master Plan report completed, receiving praise and support from stakeholders
Successful activities across all sectors including 5,000 people attending our two-day Internet cafe, letters each week in response to our radio program, large turnouts to all our public involvement sessions, as well as ongoing awareness programs on solid waste management and, more recently, on gender in our 30 school systems
Variety of CASP Demonstration Projects underway/in final planning
Outstanding cooperation and support for Master Plan from all Sri Lankan stakeholders, donors, and INGOs

14. Conclusion: Priorities
Strengthen facilitation/coordination
More resources for capacity building
Increase public participation, awareness, and communications
Adopt sectoral strategies with highest priority on: Housing; Livelihoods; and Environment
Emphasize and develop sustainability