Sri Lanka Supporting Regional Governance Program (SuRG); October – December 2012 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. During the quarter from October 1 to December 31, 2012, SuRG continued its work with local partners, including 24 NGOs, two national government ministries, 44 local authorities in the East and Polonnaruwa, the Bar Associations representing all districts in the five districts in the North and all three in the East, and other members of the legal community. SuRG grantees reached out to women, youth, victims of human rights abuse and their families, female heads of household, and ordinary citizens to provide legal advice and support, access services, obtain vital legal documents, help them raise their voices and engage with local authorities and service providers. Grantees also provided livelihoods and psychosocial support, built capacity of local organizations and community members, and strengthened ties across ethnic and religious communities in the East, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Jaffna, Hambantota, and Colombo. Highlights for the quarter include Tamil and Sinhala language classes conducted for 950 women, youth, and community members, language examinations held for 284 LA staff from 28 LAs and one ACLG office and the CLG's office in the Eastern Province, and the establishment of the "Women's Councilor's Network" by women-elected council women at a three-day workshop. SuRG partner organizations provided care packs for families of detainees and continued to work towards building a more inclusive and equitable society in Sri Lanka. The program's focus on social equity, local governance, community empowerment and transformation, and open dialogue has contributed to improved governance and human security in the regions where it operates.