Acted has been active in Sri Lanka since 2005 and has been working across all provinces, including Western, Northern, Central, Eastern, Uva, North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Southern. Our approach, guided by the 3ZERO strategy—Zero Carbon, Zero Exclusion, and Zero Poverty—addresses many critical areas. We focus on economic development through inclusive and sustainable private sector growth, with a strong emphasis on poverty alleviation and reducing social exclusion. Our initiatives aims to support vulnerable populations along with bolstering civil society to enhance governance, manage natural resources to protect biodiversity, and build disaster resilience. Acted's holistic approach ensures a comprehensive response to the diverse needs of Sri Lankan communities, promoting sustainable and equitable development.
Sri Lanka is grappling with a severe economic crisis, with 25.9% of the population living in poverty as of 2023, exacerbated by declining tourism and severely depleted foreign exchange reserves. At the same time, the country faces significant environmental challenges, including extreme weather events and climate change, which threaten its biodiversity and agriculture. Acted’s response addresses these intertwined issues through a comprehensive 2023-2025 strategy focused on several core areas.
Acted works to strengthen local leadership and civil society, aiming to restore confidence and support grassroots organizations and citizen-led initiatives. We also focus on enhancing the competitiveness of MSMEs, particularly women-led businesses, by promoting circular economy strategies for sustainable and inclusive economic recovery. Additionally, our efforts include science-based conservation and community-led resource management, highlighted by the 3ZERO House, which integrates global best practices with local knowledge. Lastly, Acted supports disaster preparedness and climate adaptation, especially for marginalized communities disproportionately affected by climate change. Through these interconnected approaches, Acted seeks to foster sustainable development and effectively address Sri Lanka’s multifaceted crises.
In Sri Lanka, Acted is strategically positioned to tackle key issues through its 3ZERO programmatic wheel and triple mandate. We address Zero Poverty through humanitarian actions like COVID-19 response and anticipatory action for monsoon risks, while also enhancing access to basic services by building local authorities‘ capacity. Our support for inclusive economic opportunities includes working with MSMEs on business plans, networking, and financial access through initiatives like GOCA and ECAT. For Zero Carbon, we promote circular economy practices within the plastic value chain and encourage citizen-driven climate action by building local community capacity. To achieve Zero Exclusion, we focus on strengthening institutions and civil society through capacity-building and dialogues with civil society and religious leaders, particularly supporting vulnerable groups such as indigenous communities and activists. Acted’s comprehensive approach aims to foster a more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive environment in Sri Lanka.
Acted’s initiatives in Sri Lanka integrate seamlessly with our 3ZERO and flagship programs. We promote Zero Carbon by creating 3ZERO spaces in office areas, hosting innovation challenges, and providing incubation training, with a specific focus on the PLASTICS Project that supports MSMEs in the plastic value chain. Our AGORA platform enhances local resilience by aligning climate-smart disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies with community needs, ensuring that actions are informed by local knowledge. These activities collectively advance our commitment to sustainability and community-focused solutions.