Support for Professional and Institutional Capacity Enhancement Quarterly Report (SPICE) October – December 2015

The program aimed to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and government institutions to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic development. The SPICE team, led by Counterpart International, worked closely with local partners, including Management Systems International (MSI), International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). The SPICE initiative focused on several key areas, including democratic governance, human rights, and economic development. In the period under review, the team made significant progress in promoting democratic governance, particularly in the north and east of the country. The team worked closely with the Tamil People's Council to promote greater participation by the people in the constitutional reforms process. The postponement of local government elections by six months was seen as a positive development, as it would prevent political divisions within the government alliance from surfacing and undermining the constitutional reforms. The SPICE team also made significant progress in promoting human rights, particularly in the areas of gender-based violence and disability rights. The team worked closely with local CSOs to promote awareness and advocacy on these issues, and to support the development of policies and programs to address them. In addition, the team provided training and capacity-building support to government institutions and CSOs on human rights and disability rights. In terms of economic development, the SPICE team focused on promoting sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment for marginalized communities. The team worked closely with local CSOs to develop and implement projects that promoted sustainable agriculture, microfinance, and entrepreneurship. The team also provided training and capacity-building support to government institutions and CSOs on economic development and sustainable livelihoods. The SPICE team also made significant progress in promoting transparency and accountability, particularly in the areas of public finance and procurement. The team worked closely with local CSOs to promote awareness and advocacy on these issues, and to support the development of policies and programs to address them. In addition, the team provided training and capacity-building support to government institutions and CSOs on transparency and accountability. The SPICE initiative also focused on promoting peace and reconciliation, particularly in the north and east of the country. The team worked closely with local CSOs to promote awareness and advocacy on these issues, and to support the development of policies and programs to address them. In addition, the team provided training and capacity-building support to government institutions and CSOs on peace and reconciliation. Overall, the SPICE initiative made significant progress in promoting democratic governance, human rights, and economic development in Sri Lanka. The team's work focused on building the capacity of local CSOs and government institutions to promote sustainable livelihoods, economic empowerment, and peace and reconciliation. The team's achievements were recognized by local stakeholders, including government officials, CSOs, and community leaders. The SPICE team's work was guided by a Performance Monitoring Plan, which was updated quarterly to reflect the team's progress and achievements. The plan included key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets, which were used to measure the team's progress and identify areas for improvement. The team's work was also guided by a set of best practices and lessons learned, which were documented and shared with local stakeholders. In terms of challenges, the SPICE team faced several obstacles, including limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and security concerns. However, the team was able to overcome these challenges through effective planning, coordination, and collaboration with local stakeholders. The team's achievements were recognized by local stakeholders, including government officials, CSOs, and community leaders. Overall, the SPICE initiative was a successful program that made significant progress in promoting democratic governance, human rights, and economic development in Sri Lanka. The team's work focused on building the capacity of local CSOs and government institutions to promote sustainable livelihoods, economic empowerment, and peace and reconciliation. The team's achievements were recognized by local stakeholders, and the program's best practices and lessons learned were documented and shared with local stakeholders.