DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND TRAINING GRANT

PROJECT CONSISTS OF 3 COMPONENTS: 1) STUDIES RELATED TO PRIORITY GSL RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS; 2) SHORT-TERM TRAINING; AND 3) DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION CENTER. FOUR STUDIES WILL BE CONDUCTED. THESE INCLUDE THE MAHAWELI BASIN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, MONTANE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT STUDY, DRYLAND AGRICULTURE SECTOR STUDY, AND MAHAWELI BASIN DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THIRTY-SIX PERSONNEL CONCERNED WITH DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL BE TRAINED. TRAINING WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH U.S. SPONSORED COURSES, GSL IDENTIFIED COURSES, AND/OR SEMINARS. INFORMATION SERVICES OF THE AGRARIAN RESEARCH & TRAINING INSTITUTE WILL ALSO BE SUPPORTED. THIS SUPPORT WILL INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF MATERIALS (BOOKS, PERIODICALS, PRINTING SUPPLIES); EQUIPMENT (FURNITURE, MICROFICHE READERS, PRINTING EQUIPMENT, ETC); AND TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANS AND CLERICAL PERSONNEL. BENEFICIARIES WILL BE THE RURAL POOR WHO WILL BE RESETTLED UNDER THE MAHAWELI PROGRAM, FARMERS IN THE DRY ZONE, AND GSL OFFICIALS WHO WILL RECEIVE TRAINING. OVERALL PROJECT WILL BE COORDINATED BY THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND PLANNING. Amendment dated 12/5/80 provides additional funding to maintain future activities under the project and extends the project assistance completion date to 8/31/82. Project activities will remain essentially unchanged. Amendment of 1/8/82 extends project three years to 8/31/85 to allow the Mission to continue ongoing activities, initiate pilot activities, and provide pivotal aid to GSL development institutions. While the categories of assistance have been broadened to include such areas as marketing, housing, and private sector development, major funding areas are expected to be agricultural production and planning and rural preventive health care. (PD-AAV-889)