Small grants for CSOs fill gaps in public services in Sri Lanka

To provide a level of public service in consonance with people’s needs, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) must improve their capacity to highlight pressing issues on behalf of their communities. With the support of ACTED and government officials trained through a European Union-funded project, the beneficiary CSOs were trained on and designed Grassroots Development Plans (GDPs) highlighting the main needs of the communities. CSOs then developed proposals to cover the gaps identified in the GDPs. 17 CSOs out of 60 were then selected to receive a small grant from the project and implement the micro-projects described in their proposals. The selected projects include well construction, founding a local clinic, rebuilding a school wall and rehabilitating roads.

ACTED has been providing support and advice to each of the 17 CSOs to make sure they successfully implement their micro-projects. Prior to receiving the grants, CSO staff were trained on audit and compliance to ensure they properly maintain and file documentation in relation to their projects’ implementation. ACTED provides support on a daily basis throughout the implementation of these micro-projects. CSOs will also contribute a portion of the project costs to ensure that they are invested in the project and that their work can continue after ACTED’s project ends.

One of the beneficiary CSOs in northern Sri Lanka, the Kallapadu South Rural Development Society, has come up with an innovative project on garbage cleaning and production of composted fertilizer. The community has limited garbage collection facilities, so the CSO is organising waste collection and selling composted fertilizer to reduce waste production. All types of garbage will be collected, thereby reducing both waste and the health and safety risks associated with improper waste disposal. The organic garbage (kitchen garbage and organic farm waste) will be used to produce organic fertilizer. Through this micro-project, this CSO can expect to earn about $1,400 per month by selling the composted fertilizer.