Sri Lanka: Emergency aid during the economic crisis in Sri Lanka – LKA902

Sri Lanka is experiencing an acute economic crisis brought on by structural problems such as an over-reliance on remittances and tourism receipts and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, prices for essential food items, medicine and non-food items have skyrocketed. The knock-on effects of the economic crisis have created a socioeconomic crisis with increasing economic, health, social, and protection risks impacting the well-being of the people.

The sectors where women are predominantly employed have been directly affected – the apparel, tea/rubber plantations, the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, and the informal economy etc., The majority of women are in precarious jobs or not in waged work, pushing them further into poverty.

When food within the family gets scarce, women are also usually the ones who start skipping meals first at the expense of their well-being.

Overall Objective

To support vulnerable communities in Northern, Eastern, Central, Uva, and Western provinces of Sri Lanka who are affected by the economic crisis, food insecurity, and malnutrition to cope with the immediate gaps in household needs and make them more resilient to future shocks.

Specific Objective

• Respond to the immediate food needs for 2,128 most vulnerable households (Avg 9,500 population) highly affected by the current economic crisis, in line with humanitarian standard/SPHERE standard.
• Improve agricultural production by the provision of home gardening kits for 7,122 selected households as an intermediate solution for the upcoming food crisis in the country.

Expected Results

ER 1: The immediate food needs for 2,128 most vulnerable households highly affected by the current economic crisis, in line with humanitarian standard/SPHERE standard are met.

ER 2: 7,122 selected households have received home gardening kits, have started their own agricultural production to meet their basic food needs.

Main Activities

• Distribution of Dry Ration Packs: The content of the dry ration pack will be decided based on the guidance of health sector officials to ensure nutrition value.
• Distribution of Home gardening packs: The home gardening pack will consist of suitable seeds and plants, fertilizer, and necessary gardening tools (the pack’s content will be decided based on the condition of the area). Fast-maturing vegetable seeds and crop seeds will ensure that the harvesting of vegetables can start within one month of planting.

Location

Northern, Eastern, Central, Uva, and Western provinces of Sri Lanka

Beneficiaries

About 2,128 households in Northern province and Plantation communities in Central and Uva provinces will receive in-kind dry rations to relief their immediate food and nutrition needs.

Moreover, 7,122 households will receive home gardening packs to start home gardening and fulfil at least their basic food requirements.

Pregnant mothers and the families with children below age 5 will be given priority in distribution of dry ration packs while female headed households, families with special need people, families with more than 5 members will be considered in distribution of home gardening packs.

Duration

01.06.2022 – 31.01.2023

Total Budget

€ 148,868.60

Donors

CARE Austria