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19 March 2023
FAO delivers 36 000 tonnes of USAID-funded TSP fertilizer in time for Yala
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13 March 2023
Japan extends additional US$ 6.6 million support to Sri Lanka for emergency food and nutrition assistance
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10 March 2023
Sri Lanka adopts first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security
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11 May 2021
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19 December 2019
A timeline of the United Nations in Sri Lanka
Check out footprint of Sri Lanka in the United Nations.
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19 December 2019
Peacebuilding Fund in Sri Lanka
As part of the UN’s commitment to support the peacebuilding process, the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) began extending support to Sri Lanka in 2015. Check out how the UN is currently providing fast, flexible and relevant funding to over 20 countries.
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14 December 2021
Sri Lanka’s Path to Recovery: Restoring Human Capital in a Post-Pandemic World
Highlights
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on human capital worldwide and has reversed valuable gains made over the past decade.
Recovery efforts require a renewed commitment and investment in human capital which focuses on establishing robust and resilient systems to reduce exposure and vulnerability to shocks.
Sri Lanka could benefit by bringing together key sectors and stakeholders for comprehensive solutions that can help restore and accelerate human capital.
Abirami is a domestic aide. Daily wage earners like her have been hit hard by the pandemic. Abirami has been out of work since April 2020, barring a few odd jobs that came her way. Her husband Kumar used to operate a food cart, but that too ended abruptly during lockdown. Unable to make ends meet, the couple was compelled to sell the cart, the only asset they had in their name. They now survive on a few thousand rupees a month and have no stable income to rely on.
Insecurity is a familiar feeling for Abirami. As an informal sector worker, she has no employment benefits, or social security. She lives day to day, using her meagre income to cover their daily needs. She does not have the luxury of planning for her future. That is a challenge for another day.
Abirami’s priority is to educate her two sons. A school dropout herself, she is determined that her boys do not have the same fate. Despite her best efforts, she may be unable to give them the future she hopes for. Though Sri Lanka provides free education, disparities in the quality of education often result in unequal employment opportunities, making it harder for children from poorer households to climb out of poverty.
Abirami is also responsible for her elderly mother who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Though she receives free treatment from public hospitals, Abirami is left with many additional costs associated with her care. For a family that survives on a daily income, this cost is overwhelming.
With so much on her plate, Abirami has never had room for her own dreams. “I always wanted to become a beautician,” she says, sounding almost guilty to admit that she once had aspirations for herself.
Sadly, Abirami’s story is not uncommon. It is a story of lost potential, which speaks volumes about the power of investing in human capital. She leaves us with four key takeaways on how best to understand and approach human capital challenges.
Human capital challenges emerge throughout the lifecycle. From raising healthy, educated children, and providing jobs for adults, to supporting social security and healthcare for the elderly, human capital challenges occur at all stages of life. They often have a compounding effect, with challenges from each stage building upon the next. Abirami’s inability to complete schooling hindered her job prospects and quality of life and, in turn, affected her children. Failure to address challenges throughout the lifecycle can trap people in vulnerable positions and perpetuate the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
Human capital challenges require integrated and holistic approaches: Isolated interventions can only go so far in creating sustainable and meaningful change. Human capital challenges require integrated and holistic interventions, based on strong collaborations across key sectors. Additionally, human capital challenges are exacerbated by lack of access to and poor quality of basic services, including water, electricity, and transport. Sri Lanka could benefit from developing a human capital program that brings together key sectors and stakeholders for the implementation of comprehensive solutions that can help restore and accelerate human capital.
The pandemic has reversed valuable human capital gains: For Abirami and others like her the pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges. In Sri Lanka, around 500,000 people have fallen below the poverty line. Jobs have been lost, particularly among women, many of whom will never return to work. The implications of prolonged school closures will be more serious for children who couldn’t access online education, and the ‘silent learning crisis’ will impact future productivity and growth. The pandemic has shown us that robust and resilient systems are needed to reduce exposure and vulnerability to shocks. Adapting and preparing for emerging challenges is also important. For Sri Lanka, the rapidly ageing population and the rising non-communicable disease burden pose a significant threat to human capital, and failing to prepare for these challenges could be disastrous.
Investing in human capital today can save money in the future: Sri Lanka has achieved good results in human capital development with relatively low investment. This remarkable progress demonstrates the country’s potential, and provides a glimpse of what can be achieved with more efficient investment. Human capital challenges reveal inequalities along gender, geography, and income, which allow people like Abirami to fall through the cracks. Investing now can help foster productive citizens who contribute to the national economy, reducing the cost and burden on the system. For instance, in Sri Lanka, only 32 percent of women participate in the labor force as compared to 75 percent of men, and the IMF estimates overall income gains of about 16 percent in 2040 if this gender gap is closed in 50 years.
Looking ahead, Sri Lanka must prepare for the challenge of rebuilding lives and reshaping futures. At this crucial juncture, a renewed focus and commitment to human capital development could support a smooth and resilient recovery.
For Abirami, the road to recovery is long and arduous, but with a little help, her sons could have a very different story.
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20 March 2023
FAO delivers 36 000 tonnes of USAID-funded TSP fertilizer in time for Yala
With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Sri Lanka delivered 36 000 tonnes of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) fertilizer to the Ministry of Agriculture today for immediate distribution to all paddy farmers across the country. This is the first shipment of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) fertilizer to arrive in Sri Lanka since 2021 and will provide essential nutrients to paddy crops cultivated by over one million paddy farmers in the upcoming Yala cultivation season (April – August 2023) and beyond.
Paddy farmers across the island will receive TSP fertilizer at no cost. The amount received is calculated based on the extent cultivated by each farmer and the TSP requirement in their respective agriculture zone. The distribution will commence this week, through the Department of Agrarian Development of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, expressed appreciation on behalf of the nation. “We are thankful for the support extended by FAO and USAID to help Sri Lankan farmers receive vital inputs for their cultivation. We are confident with such assistance, our farmers will successfully rise to the challenge facing them,” he said.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E. Julie Chung speaking at the handover event said, “This shipment brings the total of USAID-supported TSP and urea fertilizer to over 45 000 tonnes during a time farmers are trying hard to maximize rice production and meet the country’s food needs. We want to help fulfil their hopes. For 75 years, the people of America have stood by the people of Sri Lanka through progress and crisis, demonstrating our goodwill and commitment.”
Meanwhile, speaking at the handover Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera expressed his gratitude to the people of America and FAO for providing timely support to reinvigorate the local agricultural sector. “Through this support, we are certain the yield of the upcoming harvesting seasons will improve steadily. Our eventual aim is to minimize dependency on rice imports and further empower Sri Lankan paddy farmers,” Minister Amaraweera added.
“Fertilizer will help local farmers boost their production so that the country is food secure. Most importantly, this also can jump-start market-driven agricultural production and potentially lead to Sri Lanka becoming a food exporter”, said USAID Mission Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Gabriel Grau.
FAO Representative to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Vimlendra Sharan, thanked USAID and the government for the partnership that made it possible to provide much needed inputs to support Sri Lankan farmers. "The effort is significant in that we have been able to procure essential TSP fertilizer for all paddy farmers across Sri Lanka. This paves the way for a better harvest and better livelihoods, while strengthening food security for all," he added.
Together with its partners, FAO in Sri Lanka is looking forward to further strengthening the agriculture sector by providing the technology and capacity building required to increase productivity, fertilizer use efficiency, and ensure sustainability of the ecosystem while protecting the environment.
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13 March 2023
Japan extends additional US$ 6.6 million support to Sri Lanka for emergency food and nutrition assistance
Through this funding, WFP will provide families with food baskets comprising rice, pulses and cooking oil, to meet half their monthly food needs for a period of two months. The donation will also be used to procure maize and soybean for the production of Thriposha, a fortified food product, for a period of four months, which will be supplied to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and young children at risk of malnutrition.
H.E. Mizukoshi Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka said, “We are pleased to announce that the Government of Japan has decided to provide additional humanitarian support to Sri Lanka in this critical moment. Food aid through WFP by the Government of Japan has reached a total of USD10 million since the economic crisis began last year. This support is being used to provide essential food and nutrition to communities across the nation.”
WFP’s latest surveys indicate that food insecurity is still at a concerningly high level. Seven in every 10 households are adopting negative coping strategies such as cutting back on nutritious food like protein and dairy or skipping meals altogether.
“Our biggest concern is for the women and children who are among those affected by the impacts of the economic crisis,“ said Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, Representative and Country Director of WFP Sri Lanka. “We are grateful for the continuous support from the Government of Japan which enables us to scale up our efforts so that vulnerable communities receive the food and nutrition they need.”
Japan has been a long-standing donor to the Government of Sri Lanka and WFP for over a decade, providing critical assistance in emergencies, while supporting longer-term recovery and development efforts to strengthen food and nutrition security in the country. Japan’s latest funding is an extension of its support to the people of Sri Lanka to help safeguard communities affected by the economic crisis.
WFP has reached over two million people since commencing its emergency operation in June last year and is moving closer to its target of reaching 3.4 million people with food and nutrition assistance.
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10 March 2023
Sri Lanka adopts first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security
Colombo — Sri Lanka has adopted its first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), for the period 2023 – 2027 with the support of the Government of Japan and UN Women. The Plan adds to the country’s legal and policy frameworks to protect and empower women in line with international commitments set out in the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1325 (2000). It also aims to strengthen coordination between stakeholders of the women, peace and security agenda, which is vital to sustainable peace and development in Sri Lanka.
The plan was approved by Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers on 27 February 2023 and ceremoniously launched on 8th March 2023, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
The newly adopted National Action Plan was developed through a consultative process with input from provincial and district level public sector officials, civil society, community-based organizations, women leaders and others with direct and diverse experiences of conflict and crises. It was developed with technical support from UN Women as part of a joint partnership between the Government of Japan and the Government of Sri Lanka. In 2018, the Government of Japan signed a partnership agreement with Sri Lanka under the G7 WPS framework.
Speaking on this, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that while the “status of women in the Asian region is not satisfactory, Sri Lankan women are ahead compared to other countries in the region, and efforts will be made to further expand their rights”. He emphasized that the 'National Policy on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment' and the 'National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security' will aid in achieving this goal, and the progress made so far was revealed on International Women's Day. “Sri Lanka will host a meeting of leading women activists from SAARC countries this year to advocate for the inclusion of women's rights within the organization's framework. Sri Lanka is committed to working towards achieving gender equality and women's empowerment in all areas and will take a leadership role in championing the rights of women in the Asian region”.
Highlighting the importance of the National Action Plan, Hon. Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasinghe, State Minister of Women and Child Affairs said: “With the adoption of this action plan, Sri Lanka is equipped for the first time with a policy framework to implement the women, peace and security agenda, which calls for greater participation and representation of women in governance and peacebuilding processes.”
The National Action Plan further aims to provide targeted support for women who have been and continue to be, directly harmed by conflict, violence and climate insecurity.
In addition, it aims to strengthen the security of marginalized women and girls, and the economic empowerment of women through access to equal opportunities and resources.
Commenting on Sri Lanka’s progress, H.E. MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, stated: “The Government of Japan welcomes the timely adoption of this National Action Plan, which will help Sri Lanka’s commitments to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through our longstanding partnership with UN Women and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, Japan is committed to supporting the furtherance of the women, peace and security agenda in Sri Lanka.”
Prashani Dias, Head of Office a.i. at UN Women Sri Lanka, said: “To help the implementation of this important policy framework, UN Women, with support from the Government of Japan, has provided training on women, peace and security to public-sector officials. Through these programmes, work plans have been jointly developed at the district level to address issues that affect the well-being of women and girls during times of crisis.”
Apart from these efforts, UN Women has strengthened women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship trainings, recognizing that women’s access to employment plays a key role in ensuring their security, and provided women leaders including youth, with skills to promote social cohesion in their communities.
The adoption of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security marks significant progress in furthering gender-responsive conflict and crisis response, while also strengthening the role of women in peacebuilding and conflict-preventative leadership.
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07 March 2023
Bridging the Digital Gender Gap in Sri Lanka: Challenges and Opportunities for Women in STEM
This year, the United Nations observes International Women’s Day by celebrating the women and girls leading innovation on transformative technology and digital education. Under the theme ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’, the United Nations aims to generate a discussion on how to make digital spaces and tools more accessible for women and girls.
As one of the transformative forces currently shaping society, digitalization has the potential to generate extraordinary advances for the socio-economic development of women and girls. However, it also poses the risk of perpetuating existing gender disparities. Despite recent improvements, global studies suggest that there is a persisting gender gap in the technology and innovation sectors across many countries, as women and girls are continuously underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) – holding only 2 in every 10 jobs within several of these industries.
In Sri Lanka, women have been predominantly engaged in informal employment and, are as a cohort, overrepresented in elementary and clerical occupations compared to men. The COVID-19 pandemic served as one example of how accelerated digitalization of jobs and increasingly common home-based working arrangements disproportionately affect women. Prior to the pandemic, the International Labor Organization (ILO) highlighted poor technological knowledge as a barrier to women’s ability to work from home, thus revealing the consequences that may arise when women and girls are left behind in an era of rapid digitalization.
Women that do have access to digital spaces are able to work remotely and flexibly, and are therefore better positioned to circumvent mobility and cultural barriers, enter the workforce and generate an income. However, digital spaces can also expose women and girls to online harassment and abuse. In fact, violence facilitated by digital technologies tends to disproportionately target women, who suffer serious consequences as a result.
The Sri Lankan women blazing trails in technology, innovation and engineering
Amira Ghaffoor, CEO of Northwood Consulting, and recipient of the award ‘Emerging Women Tech Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2021, highlights the specific challenges that women face in the technology sector in Sri Lanka. ‘Being a woman in this industry poses its own share of roadblocks. Although the corporate culture of Sri Lanka is not overtly biased, covert biases can lead to a challenging work environment. These biases often show up in the form of less confidence in women-led startups’, explains Ms. Ghaffoor.
Being a woman in this industry poses its own share of roadblocks. Although the corporate culture of Sri Lanka is not overtly biased, covert biases can lead to a challenging working environment. These biases often show up in the form of less confidence in women-led startups - Amira Ghaffoor, CEO of Northwood Consulting
According to Zahra Marzook, Electrical Engineer the Ceylon Electricity Board, women engineers tend to face similar challenges in the workplace. ‘I have a clear memory of another engineer at the power plant telling me that "there is no work for women here”. Upon my return to work after maternity leave, I faced hesitancy from managers to assign me work I had previously done. There was a widespread belief that fieldwork was unsuitable for women or that we were not capable of it, resulting in the allocation of more office work to female employees. Initially, there was a clear bias towards male employees when it came to allocating instruments or assigning staff. Male employees were often given priority over female employees’, describes Ms. Marzook.
In January 2020, Ms. Marzook was awarded the IET Young Woman Engineer Award, an achievement she describes as a ‘defining moment’ in her career as an engineer. ‘It not only validated my hard work and accomplishments but also inspired me to be an advocate for gender equality and diversity in the field. The recognition served as a powerful message to other women in the industry that they too can achieve great things with their skills and knowledge’, says Ms. Marzook.
‘As a result of winning the award, I found myself in a unique position to share my experiences and knowledge with other women in the industry, and I took this responsibility seriously. I made a conscious effort to speak up more, participate in events and activities related to promoting STEM subjects, and mentor young women aspiring to pursue careers in engineering. In addition to the personal impact it had on me, the award had a ripple effect in my community. I received numerous messages from women who felt inspired by my achievement and felt empowered to pursue their passions in engineering or other fields. It was a clear message that with dedication and hard work, anyone can achieve their goals, regardless of gender or any other factors’, Ms. Marzook continues.
Addressing the gender gap in STEM in Sri Lanka
Closing the gender gap in STEM requires targeted and continued efforts to combat harmful gender norms and stereotypes in institutions, operational frameworks of STEM fields, and society at large. Together with the EU in Sri Lanka, UN Women is working to create spaces for discussion on the existing challenges and opportunities to prepare students of all genders with the necessary soft skills to enter STEM fields, and works to challenge existing biases on the part of employers so that women in STEM have equal opportunities.
The United Nations in Sri Lanka has also contributed towards women and girls’ technological education through investment in skills development and lifelong learning. For instance, UNDP’s Memorandum of Understanding with Sri Lanka’s Vocational Training Authority has paved the way for the United Nations to provide learners and educators with digital skills and other opportunities to develop future-fit competences at an early age.
In 2014, UNDP also spearheaded Citra Social Innovation Lab, aimed at investing in innovative, agile and holistic solutions to development issues. As the Gender and Experimentation Lead at Citra, Deshani Senanayake ensures that gender equity is incorporated into all of the initiatives undertaken by the Lab and develops prototypes that are gender sensitive and inclusive.
‘Citra works towards building technical skills and capacities of young girls and women through various initiatives, as well as increase their exposure to the non-traditional sectors of tech and innovation. We focus primarily on young girls through the comprehensive HackaDev programme, which has its own Academy imparting ICT skills, along with other interventions which aim to equip young girls with capacities required to work in the spaces of innovation and entrepreneurship. The programme, through its various components, also works to connect young girls with mentors from within innovation and tech industries to expose them to opportunities and share experiences and valuable learnings’, explains Deshani Senanayake.
Recognizing the vital role of a strong and future-fit public sector in Sri Lanka, Citra also works with women government officers to build tech and innovation capacities through an initiative titled the NextGenGov Fellowship programme. ‘This experiential learning programme builds the capacities of government officers in the areas of innovation, human-centred design, design thinking, digital transformation, amongst others. Further, throughout the programme, we also bring together senior government officials, with a special focus on senior female officers, to share their experiences and encourage young female officers to experiment and innovate within their own offices and roles’, says Ms. Senanayake.
Advancing technological knowledge among women in agriculture
The agricultural sector is another area in which advancement of technological knowledge among women has had a transformative impact. 47-year-old Nishanthi Sri Nassanka is one of 21,000 farmers trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for better production and a better environment, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Based in the small town of Adhikarigama in the Kandy district, Ms. Sri Nissanka has been farming for close to 19 years, using traditional farming practices for vegetables such as green chili, bitter gourd, and long beans, and relying on only one season a year for a sufficient yield.
As a participant in the training, Ms. Sri Nassanka was able to invest in a complete agriculture training package and utilized sustainable agriculture practices to reduce her operational costs, cultivate three to four times a year instead of just once, and increase her annual yield. ‘There are many ways that FAO has helped’, she relates. The training delivered technical knowledge including contemporary farming methods, such as the correct use of polythene and fertilizer by way of an efficient delivery system. ‘Because of this, I have a bigger yield, and less of the crop gets destroyed by pests and diseases.’ This practice is also more environmentally friendly, as it mitigates the erosion of soil.
Ms. Sri Nassanka quickly adapted to the efficient use of water and irrigation techniques that were implemented by FAO, which were major obstacles in her previous farming methods. She notes that the land is now easier to manage, and that she is able to produce more, and directly sell to vendors over the course of the year, ensuring a profitable return. ‘I am satisfied that I can produce my own food during these shortages. Thanks to these practices I am not as dependent on fertilizer as I used to be, which was a relief during this time. My family is also happy to help me on the field when I need the extra help,’ she says, beaming with pride over being able to pass on these sustainable practices to the next generation.
‘I am very happy that my children can see us being independent’, she says. As both the production and distribution processes have become increasingly streamlined through digitalization, Ms. Sri Nassanka notes that there are many indirect benefits, such as being introduced to online banking services and communication applications such as WhatsApp, which have enhanced her business. Going forward, Ms. Sri Nassanka hopes to expand her farming activities in other areas. “Being self-sufficient is the only way we can come out of this crisis together,’ she asserts.
I am very happy that my children can see us being independent. Being self-sufficient is the only way we can come out of this crisis together - Nishanthi Sri Nassanka, one of 21,000 farmers trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
Unlocking untapped potential by empowering women in technology
As UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2022 Report indicates, low- and middle-income countries have omitted USD 1 trillion in the last decade alone by women’s limited access to digital tools and spaces. As such, bringing women and other marginalized groups into technology and innovation allows for untapped potential across a wide variety of sectors to be unlocked. This also poses great potential for innovation that meets the specific needs of these groups and that effectively promotes gender equality.
In light of International Women’s Day, the United Nations is bringing together Member States, UN entities and ECOSOC-accredited NGOs from all regions of the world for the sixty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) to discuss innovation and technological change as a means to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. CSW67 provides an opportunity to collectively address challenges and opportunities that arise as part of rapid digitalization and transformative technology shaping socio-economic development and prospects of achieving the 2023 Agenda.
Looking to the future, Deshani Senanayake identifies key areas of improvement for achieving gender equity in these sectors in Sri Lanka. ‘I believe Sri Lanka is making progress in working towards gender equity within the sectors of innovation and tech, especially within the private sector and the ICT industry. There is priority and focus provided within these sectors to build capacities and increase opportunities for young women. However, there is still a gap within the larger context of Sri Lanka due to the prevailing issues of limited accessibility, both to skill enhancement and opportunities to enter the innovation and tech spaces, as well as limited exposure to the work already taking place in the country within these areas. Additionally, the cultural and social norms at play work to hinder young girls and women from entering these spaces, and instead keep them in more traditionally female-dominated sectors’, says Deshani Senanayake.
There is still a gender gap in Sri Lanka due to limited accessibility to skill enhancement and opportunities to enter the innovation and tech spaces, as well as limited exposure to the work already taking place in the country within these sectors - Deshani Senanayake, Gender and Experimentation Lead at Citra Social Innovation Lab
For young tech entrepreneurs starting out in their professional career, Amira Ghaffoor encourages them to remain confident, disciplined and focused on their goals. ‘Not every start is going to work, but every startup is worth a try. If you have confidence that the product or service you are offering can scale, go ahead and do it’, says Ms. Ghaffoor.
‘Create a disciplined life for yourself and remember that discipline is the foremost thing that will take you anywhere. Build a team that is as passionate as you and look for the right attitude when hiring others. Stay focused, and don’t be swayed by what you see on social media. Be open-minded and open to criticism. Don’t try to perfect everything you are doing. Instead, try to sell it and improve on it as you go’, Ms. Ghaffoor advises.
As a female engineer, you bring unique perspectives and insights to the field. It is important to recognize your worth and value you bring and use your skills to contribute to society and the world - Zahra Marzook, Electrical Engineer the Ceylon Electricity Board and recipient of the 2020 IET Young Woman Engineer Award
Zahra Marzook offers similar advice to young women engineers, whom she encourages to ‘keep learning’, ‘build good relationships’, ‘give back to society, and ‘know your worth’. ‘As a female engineer, you bring unique perspectives and insights to the field. It is important to recognize your worth and value you bring and use your skills to contribute to society and the world’, says Ms. Marzook.
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13 February 2023
Treading towards a secure future by threading needles and trading produce
Athuraheem Habeeba, 47, living in Maliyakadu in the Ampara District in Sri Lanka, has been trying her hand at different micro-businesses since her husband passed. Her determination to be self-reliant and support her mother and siblings led to her selling fabrics sourced from Colombo. She sews for custom orders, supplies mobile reload cards, and hand-carves ornamental designs on wooden furniture. Despite her many ventures, she aspires to run her own textile and clothing store as a tribute to her late husband, who encouraged her passion for dressmaking.
“My husband wanted us to own a textile store in the Ampara town, fully stocked with fabrics, buttons, tassels, and all the trimmings anyone would need,” she muses.
Habeeba was one of the many recipients of a series of 10-day entrepreneurship trainings conducted in 2021 by UN Women and local social enterprise Chrysalis in the districts of Ampara, Monaragala, Vavuniya, and Colombo. Organized to enhance the economic opportunities for women, these programmes delivered training on business development and entrepreneurship with a focus on product ideation, marketing, and financial literacy, and subsequently offered financial assistance and in-kind grants to participants who presented feasible business plans to expand or start their enterprises.
This training has brought Habeeba one step closer to fulfilling her aspirations. Habeeba says that besides training her on how to run a business, the training programme, which began in February 2021, offered her knowledge on keeping accounts, which is pivotal for operating a profitable business, and taught her how to repair sewing machines. In addition, Habeeba and many like her were provided with sewing lessons and insight on where to source fabrics from wholesalers.
Upon completing her training, Habeeba received an overlock sewing machine with which she now sews t-shirts, abayas, and dresses to supply to clothing stores in her town. Although she now has an assistant, she looks forward to expanding her business and eventually owning her store.
Aysha Azarudeen, 42, also a widow and a mother of two, lives in Slave Island, a suburb in Colombo-2. Since receiving a brand-new industrial sewing machine after completing the same training programme, she says she has increased her output by almost four times.
She joined the training programme in November 2021 through the local Vanitha Women’s Association, and is convinced that micro-entrepreneurs will have higher chances of success if they are exposed to training on financial literacy and business management. As someone who barely left the home while her husband was alive, Aysha says that the training programme provided her with in-depth knowledge on how to run a business and price her apparel accurately based on the accessories she attaches to them. She also learned to include the cost of machinery wear and tear in the prices of the clothes she produces, which she then sets aside for future asset purchases.
After completing the training programme, Aysha, who had only been sewing clothes to order, registered her own company and began making ready-made clothes to supply to dress shops around her neighbourhood. She is also thankful that she can run her business from home while taking care of her children and her mother, who is unwell.
In Monaragala, W.G Shiromi, 42, with an ever-present measuring tape around her neck and three children always ready to help with threading needles, says she looks forward to expanding her sewing business with four tailors. With five years of experience working at a garment factory, Shiromi already knew her way around sewing machines. What she gained from the entrepreneurship training that began in 2022 was business acumen. She learned how to manage her business accounts, make business plans, how to attract and retain clients, pricing strategies, and also ways to differentiate her business offering from competitors.
With her new-found knowledge, and support from her husband who is a sample manager at a garment factory, Shiromi is determined to accept more orders from Colombo in the next year to bolster the financial stability of her family. The new sewing machine she received at the end of the training has also improved the turnaround times of the orders and lessened the labour intensity of her work.
In Puliyankulam, a town in Vavuniya District, Mugunthan Jeyavinoja, 31, received a water pump and supplementary pipes after she completed her training. She uses it to water the crops in the greenhouse she set up. The new equipment reduces her energy cost and enables her to maintain the garden during dry months. Jeyavinoja says that some of the important aspects she learned from the training sessions were advertising and how to take products to the market. Following her lessons, she has even listed some of her crops online. Among other things, she learned how to maintain accounts to ascertain profits and losses and manage a bank account.
Determined to be self-reliant and lift her family from the clutches of poverty, Jeyavinoja also operates a grocery shop, and has started a micro business in producing, packeting and selling spices such as chili powder. None of these is without challenges, and although currently there is much debt to be repaid, Jeyavinoja is resolute about turning things around and even starting a snack production venture.
Despite the resolve of these women micro-entrepreneurs, the struggle continues. The current economic crisis in Sri Lanka, which has caused a surge in the prices of raw material and energy, and a shrinkage in the purses of regular customers, mean that they have to double and triple their efforts to operate profitably. Even so, their stories are inspirational to anyone attempting to start a new business.
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Press Release
09 January 2023
Beware of Fraudsters Using United Nations Name and Emblem to Solicit Personal Information
The public should be aware that:
The United Nations does not request information from individuals concerning their bank accounts or other private information.
The United Nations does not offer prizes, awards, funds, certificates, or scholarships through social media apps, e-mail, mail, fax or phone calls, unless such offers have been officially authorized. In this case, they would be communicated only through official channels.
The United Nations does not conduct lotteries.
The United Nations strongly recommends that recipients of such solicitations exercise extreme caution, and that they do not respond to requests for the transfer of funds or the provision of private information. Financial loss and identity theft could result from the transfer of money or the provision of personal information to those issuing such fraudulent correspondence. Targets and/or victims of deceptive solicitations may wish to consider reporting them to their national law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.
Anyone with doubts about the authenticity of a website, social media page, direct message, e-mail, letter or telephone communication purportedly from, for, or on behalf of the United Nations Sri Lanka or its officials, is encouraged to send an e-mail to rcs-unsrilanka@un.org.
For additional information, please visit www.un.org/en/aboutun/fraudalert.
For additional information, please visit www.un.org/en/aboutun/fraudalert.
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Press Release
08 November 2022
UN ramps up its urgent humanitarian appeal to bring life-saving assistance to 3.4 million Sri Lankans
Since June, the HNP has been responding to the Government's request for UN-backed multi-sector support for Sri Lanka's debt and food and medicine shortages. Governments and donor agencies have helped the humanitarian community reach over 1 million of the country's most vulnerable people with cash, food, school meals, medicine, protection, and livelihood support. The HNP—aligned with appeals from other UN agencies—has raised US $79 million for Sri Lanka thanks to landmark support from the U.S and USAID, Australia, Japan including JICA, the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), as well as Canada, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Italy, EU, Switzerland, France, and with additional support from the UK, Germany, Thailand, Sweden, Georgia, Latter Day Saint Charities and private individuals and organizations including Brandix Apparels Ltd, Hemas Holdings PLC, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC, Daraz (Alibaba Group), Amana Bank PLC and the Citi Foundation. The HNP's revision extends the plan through 2022 and requires US $70 million in additional funds to reach a total of US $149.7 million.
"We are immensely appreciative of the solidarity the international community has shown with the people of Sri Lanka, including through their generous contributions to the HNP. This solidarity must be sustained if we are to insulate the most at-risk people from the impacts of the ongoing crisis," said UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy.
In response to the humanitarian community’s updated estimates on the number of people in need across all 25 of Sri Lanka’s districts, the extended appeal will improve nutrition for children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers; secure safe drinking water; and protect vulnerable farming and fishing households. Ms. Singer-Hamdy stressed the importance of strengthening local food production and delivery.
"At this point, safeguarding livelihoods is safeguarding lives in Sri Lanka," she said.
Food insecurity in Sri Lanka has increased dramatically due to two consecutive seasons of poor harvests, foreign exchange shortages, and reduced household purchasing power. With a poor harvest season forecast for 2023 and food inflation of 85.6 per cent in October 2022, many Sri Lankans are struggling. Twenty-eight per cent of the population—or 6.3 million people—face moderate-to-severe acute food insecurity. According to the World Bank's 2022 Development Update, the poverty rate rose from 13.1 percent to 25.6 percent between 2021 and 2022.
The revised HNP complements existing emergency operations carried out by the UN and humanitarian partners. Among its targets are immediate food assistance for 2.4 million vulnerable and food-insecure people; provision of support and fertilizers for 1.5 million farmers and fishers to revive food systems that have been severely disrupted.
The appeal also seeks to provide nutrition support for 2.1 million people, including pregnant women and schoolchildren; safe drinking water for over 900,000 people; and essential medicines and healthcare, including sexual and reproductive healthcare, for 867,000 people. It will enable protection services to continue for vulnerable women and children at risk of violence.
Sri Lanka Multi-Dimensional Crisis - Humanitarian Needs and Priorities, June - Dec 2022 (Revised 31 October 2022)
Media Contacts:
Sri Lanka:
Joseph Hincks, Public Information Officer, Office of the Resident Coordinator | joseph.hincks@un.org | +94717792517; Dilshani Dias, Communications, FAO Sri Lanka | dilshani.dias@fao.org | +94 77 015 2424; Bismarck Swangin, Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, UNICEF | bswangin@unicef.org | +94 777 236 548; Tanya Jansz | Communications Officer, WFP | tanya.jansz@wfp.org | +94769102462; Madusha Dissanayake | Assistant Representative, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) | mdissanayake@unfpa.org | +94 112 580 840
In Bangkok:
Pierre Peron, Regional Public Information Officer, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs | peronp@un.org | +66 614-200-390 David Swanson, UN Regional Public Communications Officer, Department of Global Communications | swanson@un.org | +66 6 5982-5682
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Press Release
30 August 2022
Statement by the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 2022
The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, marked globally, highlights the need to prevent enforced disappearances and to combat impunity for this heinous crime. Today, we also remember the many families and communities suffering, not knowing the fate of their loved ones.
I have met with many families of the missing from across Sri Lanka. For them, the uncertainty as to the fate of a loved one continues to be a painful reality that is raw and fresh. They relentlessly ask for answers to the whereabouts of their loved ones. Without answers, they suffer every day, wavering between hope and despair. In their search for truth and justice, they too have often been victimised.
By signing the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) in 2015, Sri Lanka took a first step in that direction, recognising the right of families to know the truth regarding the circumstances of the enforced disappearance, the progress and results of the investigation, and the fate of the disappeared person. The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) was another step in the right direction, and the ‘List of Complaints and Information Regarding Missing and Disappeared Persons’ received and published by the OMP offered a useful baseline against which to measure progress in clarifying cases. More needs to be done to win the confidence of the families of victims and provide credible processes for addressing their grievances in accordance with international standards.
The United Nations stands in solidarity with the victims and families of victims of enforced disappearances, and we continue to encourage authorities to take steps to urgently determine the fate or whereabouts of victims, provide reparations, and bring perpetrators to justice.
Hanaa Singer-Hamdy
Resident Coordinator
United Nations in Sri Lanka
Resident Coordinator
United Nations in Sri Lanka
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Press Release
17 August 2022
UN Sri Lanka and Government sign Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Sri Lanka
The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027 was launched today by the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations in Sri Lanka.
The UNSDCF is the Framework that guides the work of all the UN Agencies in Sri Lanka and articulates the collective vision and contribution of the United Nations to support Sri Lanka to accelerate actions towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Cooperation Framework gives primacy to accelerating actions to ensure a rapid recovery from the economic crisis along with the impact of COVID-19, prioritising support to revitalise the economy and economic activities, social services, decent employment, social cohesion, and health and well-being for all people in Sri Lanka.
The UNSDCF was co-signed by the Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka H.E. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy on behalf of the United Nations. Heads of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in Sri Lanka also signed the Cooperation Framework. The signing ceremony hosted at the Ministry of Finance was also attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ms. Aruni Wijewardane and the Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Development Coordination Office, David McLachlan-Karr.
Speaking at the event, Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana noted that “the current global challenges demonstrate the continued importance for multilateral solutions that bring together the international community around shared priorities. This Cooperation Framework with the United Nations in Sri Lanka will be key as we pursue sustainable and inclusive development for the people of Sri Lanka.”
Elaborating further the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka H.E. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said, “this Cooperation Framework is mutually owned and anchored in national development priorities, the 2030 Agenda and the principles of the UN Charter. The UNSDCF is structured around four interrelated and mutually reinforcing Strategic Priorities where the UN system will concentrate its expertise to support Sri Lanka to make transformational and accelerated progress. These Strategic Priorities cover Inclusive and Equitable Human Development and Well-being; Resilient and Green Recovery and Growth for Shared Prosperity and Environmental Sustainability; Social Cohesion and Inclusive Governance & Justice; and Gender Equality. Of course, our work will be underpinned by a crosscutting commitment to support rapid recovery from the economic crisis and the impact of COVID-19”. She further noted that programmes by the UN System will be anchored in the principles of human rights and non-discrimination and ensuring that “no one is left behind”.
"The 2023 - 2027 Development Cooperation Framework reflects Sri Lanka's national development priorities while working in partnership with the UN Country Team towards the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is being concluded at a very significant moment in Sri Lanka when transformational changes are being operationalized in the economic and social fronts. The Framework is also an important shift for the UN system in enhanced national level coordination in the delivery of its development activities," Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Aruni Wijewardane said.
The UNSDCF will be funded through core budget allocations of an estimated USD 60 Million, in addition to approx. USD 325 Million through other resources – spread across the five-year period of implementation.
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Press Release
06 August 2022
Letter from the Secretary-General to President Wickremesinghe
In the letter signed August 3, the Secretary-General noted that President Wickremesinghe's leadership would be critical in bringing stability and ensuring an environment conducive to ushering Sri Lanka out of the current challenges it is facing.
The letter also encourages dialogue among all stakeholders, including consultation with the public, as well as respect for rule of law and fundamental human rights principles.
A copy of the letter can be downloaded below.
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