ILO extends short-term income generation support to the most vulnerable to navigate ongoing economic challenges

The ILO is supporting 3,725 vulnerable women and men in the Mannar, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, and Mullaitivu districts to earn an income as well as sustain their livelihood through several short-term relief mechanisms. These include temporary employment in infrastructure developments related to improving irrigation for farming, clearing farm access paths, and renovating fisheries landing sites, alongside providing agriculture inputs ranging from subsidised seeds to equipment, financial assistance towards labour and land preparation, as well as strengthening market access via private sector.

As Sri Lanka experiences its worst economic crisis, close to 30% of its population are facing food insecurity, while the rising poverty rate continues to push more families below the poverty line. “People with existing vulnerabilities are among the most impacted in any crisis. The present situation has meant that vulnerable and marginalized groups in the Northern Province; a region already burdened with higher than national average unemployment and poverty, are forced to grapple with further exacerbated challenges in carrying on their day-to-day lives. Especially for those engaged in the agriculture and fisheries sector, their livelihoods have been severely disrupted from all fronts,” says Dr. Thomas Kring, Chief Technical Advisor, ILO Sri Lanka.

The interventions: a part of ILO’s Local Empowerment through Economic Development and Reconciliation (LEED+) Project are being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Agrarian Development, Department of Agriculture, District Secretariats, and Cooperatives. Murugesapillai Muralitharan, General Manger, Vinayagapuram Farmers’ Coop remarks about its gains, “With reduced farming activities, farmers, farmhands, daily wage earners, we’ve all lost our income. From the earnings through this initiative, individuals are able to manage household expenses, send their children to school, take care of medical needs, start a home garden, and purchase seeds as well as other requirements to continue farming. The maintenance work we have completed in this area will benefit our fields for the next 4 to 5 years, collectively working on these has also created a strong sense of community and ownership.”

From the earnings through this initiative, individuals are able to manage household, education, and medical expenses. The maintenance work we have completed will benefit our fields for the next 4 to 5 years, collectively working on these has also created a strong sense of community and ownership", said Murugesapillai Muralitharan, General Manager of Vinayagapuram Farmers' Coop.

Through the infrastructure development intervention two-small scale tanks were repaired, in addition to irrigation channels being deepened and cleared. Accessibility of farm paths was improved for 2028 acres of paddy field, furthermore, 4 fisheries landing sites and over 40Kms of sea access pathways were also cleared.

“The impact of this cash-for-work based approach by ILO is manyfold – due to the restricted government spending in 2022, the routine maintenance undertaken by the Department was stalled. The intervention provided a direct means of income for the most in need, including persons with disabilities and women heads of households, and simultaneously created a mechanism to complete these necessary infrastructure developments. This, in turn ensures that farmers can continue their agriculture activities in the next season,” commented Rajaratnam Paraniharan, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Agrarian Development.

Amir Logadevi, Treasurer, Anbupuram Fishermen’s Coop highlights that the livelihoods of women engaged in dry fish production, repairing nets, and employed in seafood processing factories, rely on fisheries. “When the boats don’t go out to sea, us women have no way to earn a living. Many are already resorting to negative coping strategies; borrowing money at high interest rates, selling assets, resorting to one-meal a day, and engaging in hazardous work, just to meet basic needs. Through this initiative they were able to alleviate hardships to some extent.”

Expanding the scope of assistance, LEED+ will roll-out support for 1000 youth to get recognition for prior learning (RPL), strengthening their employability as well as support 600 Maize and Ground Nut farmers as part of its continuing response to the economic crisis.

Supported by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Government of Norway, the LEED+ project is part of the ILO’s global Jobs for Peace and Resilience programme.