Sri Lanka Supporting Regional Governance Program (SuRG); October – December 2011 Quarterly Report

The program was designed to support regional governance in the Eastern Province and Polonnaruwa District by focusing on four program components: social equity, local governance, community empowerment and transformation, and open dialogue. After the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) in May 2009, SuRG expanded its programming to include targeted initiatives in the Northern Province. In December 2010, USAID extended the contract base period from February 2011 to June 2012. A modification to Section C of the contract and the budget was signed in July 2011, reflecting changes in the operating environment in Sri Lanka and USAID programming priorities. The modification stipulated that Tetra Tech ARD award grants to the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, the American University, Women in Need, and the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce. Option year funds increased the total budget to $13,920,762, and the contract end date was extended until February 28, 2013. Activities this quarter were focused on the development and start-up of follow-up and new grants. Awards to eight of nine regional partners based in the East and Polonnaruwa were made for programs that build on and expand activities implemented with Annual Program Statement grants completed late last year. The grants, valued at Rs. 14,875,425, include three Social Equity (SE) grants and five Community Empowerment and Transformation (CEaT) grants. Also under development this quarter were follow-up grants to three partners. The Local Governance team worked with regional and national officials to develop a technical assistance and training program for the Northern Province. After surveying all local authorities in the province, the team developed a plan based on the SuRG Eastern Province LG program and identified the 17 priority LAs, based on need, with which to implement the program. The LG team also finalized program development for a new grant to a national partner that is expected to be awarded and initiated early next quarter. Highlights for the quarter include SuRG awarding eight follow-up grants valued at Rs. 14,875,425 to partners from the East and Polonnaruwa to build on and continue SuRG-funded activities completed last year. Finance Standing Committees in four SuRG partner LAs met to discuss their 2012 budget, identifying new income sources, making projections on funds coming to the PS, and discussing various forms of community contributions for planned activities of the PS. A SuRG partner conducted three inter-faith forums, two advanced forums, and two beginners forums on topics including social transformation, co-existence, and comparing religious psychology, with a total of 205 persons participating in the events held in Ampara, Monragala, and Polonnaruwa. A partner also conducted CBO capacity building workshops and trainings in the Batticaloa district for a total of 315 participants.