Community governance

Mainstreaming community voices in development planning and interventions is the key objective of this project. This process is expected to enable people to actively participate in planning and implementing development interventions that directly affect them. This project is being implemented in 86 villages of Rasnayakapura in the Kurunegala district of Sri Lanka. The project interventions have been able to form village development committees and strengthened these committees in order to draft their own development plans by working in partnership with local government officials. Implementation of the plans developed by Village development Committees have commenced building bridges, culverts, irrigation tanks, drinking water wells, roads and community buildings.

Significant outcomes

• A forum for community participation in rural development work was established in the Rashayakapura divisional secretarial area in Kurunegala district through the formation and strengthening of the Divisional Level Operational Committee (DLOC). The DLOC is an operational committee comprising of VDC(Village Development Committee) chairpersons and/or nominated officials, and representatives of the Divisional Secretariat, Pradeshiya Sabha and other relevant local government authorities. This committee provides an opportunity for the community to liaise directly with the local authorities and decision-makers in the area, and voice their needs and priorities.
• At present a policy formulation process on "mainstreaming participatory planning in local governance" is underway in collaboration with Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government and Practical Action.