The Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) provides UN-Habitat with USD 5.5 million to ‘Strengthening Socioeconomic Resilience of Communities Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka’

28 September 2022, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) ceremoniously signed the Grant Arrangement for the project titled, ‘Strengthening Socioeconomic Resilience of Communities Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka’ worth United State Dollars (USD) 5.5 million directly supporting a total of 60,218 people in Nuwara Eliya District and 4,757 people in Badulla District,

The Project intends to increase access to sustainable, safe water and adequate sanitation for poor and vulnerable communities; reduce the prevalence of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)-related diseases through the promotion of personal hygiene, environmental practices and provision of infrastructure; improve the water and sanitation services at primary health care facilities; improve agricultural practices and extension services to enhance productivity for upliftment of rural and estate communities; and reduce post-harvest losses, increase food security and household income. The Project will be implemented in five (5) Divisional Secretariat (DS) divisions, namely Nuwara Eliya, Walapane, Hanguranketha, Kothmale and Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya District and six (6) Divisional Secretariat divisions, namely, Mahiyanganaya, Rideemaliyadda, Haldummulla, Badulla, Bandarawela and Welimada Badulla District.

Ms. Kim Myung Jin, the KOICA Country Director for Sri Lanka said, “we expect to see great results from this project with UN Habitat’s experience in these areas and look forward to the next step of launching this project and a swift implementation throughout the years to come.”

The Project which covers the period, September 2022 to June 2025 is implemented by UN-Habitat in coordination with the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, District Secretariats of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, Divisional Secretariats, Department of Agrarian Development, Local Authorities, Regional Directorate of Health Services and Estate Workers Housing Cooperative Societies (EWHCS).

Mr. Laxman Perera, Human Settlements Officer, UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and Officer-in-Charge, UN-Habitat Sri Lanka stated that “It is important to note that the outcomes of the Project will directly contribute to national policies and strategies as well as achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals”.

In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2019, Government of Korea through KOICA provided emergency support and special assistance to marglinalised estate and rural communities in Nuwara Eliya District in Sri Lanka to minimise health hazards of COVID-19.