What's New
AID in Action
Sherman makes ‘transition’
from Sri Lanka, OTI Program set up to highlight ‘tangible benefits of
peace’
Attempting to increase political will and public support for a negotiated
peace settlement after 20 years of civil war is no small endeavor, but that
is precisely the ongoing mission of the USAID Office of Transitional Initiatives
(OTI) in Sri Lanka. The small-grants program, unique within the Agency and
one of a dozen-odd of its kind in the world, encourages collaboration among
diverse groups to set and address local priorities, and seeks to increase
awareness and understanding on key transition issues. Two years later, as
the program’s Country Representative Justin Sherman headed back to Washington.
Before he left, Sherman looked back on his tenure in a candid interview. [AID
in Action, Jun05]
Tsunami News
New machines cut coir processing time
USAID funding is introducing small businesses to new technology to improve
coir processing, benefiting more than 540 families. Coir is the fibrous husk
of a coconut, which is woven to produce products for domestic use and export.
New equipment will accelerate production by eliminating the six months of
soaking time traditionally needed to soften coconuts. New and wider looms
will help processors produce a larger geo-textile mat for the export market
and traditional products such as mattresses, rugs and twine. In addition,
300 entrepreneurs who lost their businesses in the tsunami received coir spinning
wheels, bicycles, lace drums, and sewing machines.
view more Sri Lanka
Tsunami Updates
view USAID Regional
Tsunami Update (12 Oct 05, pdf)
view USAID Tsunami
Website
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Key Programs
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Democracy
and Governance: The Democracy and Governance
Program supports the peace process through strengthening the capacity of
national stakeholders and civil society organizations in conflict resolution
and peace advocacy. The program also supports decentralized government by
providing training and technical assistance to provincial and local government
to strengthen skills in administration, financial management and service
delivery. Community empowerment is an important feature of the program.
The program also supports decentralized government system in the country
by providing training and technical assistance to local authorities to strengthen
skills in administration, financial management and service delivery. |
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Economic
Growth: The Economic Growth Program
provides technical assistance to the government and private sector,
promotes business education for youth, provides expert advice on monetary
policy and statistical analysis, and explores ways to extend access
to information and communication technologies to rural areas. The
mission is also involved in regional programs involving energy and
the environment. |
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Humanitarian
Assistance:The Humanitarian Assistance
Program focuses on addressing the needs of especially vulnerable
population groups after two decades of armed conflict in Sri Lanka.
These include people living with physical disabilities, children
and young people affected by violence and the social disruption
of the armed conflict, and victims of torture, and people at-risk
or living with HIV/AIDS. |
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Transition
Initiatives: The Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI)
program awards small-grants to mostly community-level organizations
to increase awareness and understanding of key peace-related issues,
as well as to enhance collaboration among diverse groups - ethnic,
political or otherwise - to set and address local priorities. |
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| welcome |
As the 50th anniversary of USAID support and assistance to the people of Sri
Lanka approaches, we are pleased to launch the new mission web site. Since the
tsunami, the USAID has worked to restore normalcy to thousands of people who
lost their loved ones, their homes and livelihoods. Since the day after the
tsunami, recovery and reconstruction from its devastating effects has become
the primary focus of our mission activities.
At the same time, USAID continues its ongoing programs to help the country address
some of the issues impeding development. These programs are providing support
for an enduring peace after many years of the armed conflict, improving democratic
governance, providing humanitarian assistance, and promoting economic growth.
We work with the Government, private sector and civil society. The Mission's new
five year Strategy that began in 2004 has already yielded successes at both the
national and community level.
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| contact us |
USAID/Colombo
Department of State
Washington, DC 20521-6100
Tel: 011+9411.247.2855
Fax: 011+9411.247.2850 |
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