30 July 2024, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

UN-Habitat Sri Lanka held the Inaugural Stakeholder Meeting of the “Enhancing Interregional Knowledge Exchange and Capacities of National Governments in Lao PDR, Madagascar, South Africa, and Sri Lanka on Financing for Urban Sustainable, Net-Zero, Climate Resilient and Nature Positive Development for the Most Vulnerable Urban Communities.” Project under the RISE-UP Global Flagship Project of UN-Habitat at the Colombo Municipal Council on 30^th July 2024. The inaugural meeting was attended by 34 key stakeholders representing National, Provincial and Local Governments, Government Agencies, NGOs, professional and research institutions.

Meeting convened by Commissioner of the Colombo Municipal Council, Mrs. J.M. Badhranie Jayawardhana

The RISE-UP project aims to enhance interregional knowledge exchange and strengthen capacities of national and local governments in participating countries to improve access to climate finance. The expected outcomes of the project include strengthening capacities of national and local governments to understand multi-layered risks and vulnerabilities (i.e. climate change, biodiversity & urban) and developing appropriate responses as well as strengthening their capacities to develop climate action project proposals to support the most vulnerable urban communities. In Sri Lanka, the project is being implemented in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the Wattala-Mabole Urban Council (WMUC).

This inaugural meeting was convened by Mrs. J.M Badhranie Jayawardhana, the Commissioner of the Colombo Municipal Council. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Jayawardhana thanked all stakeholders for their support towards the project as well as UN-Habitat for facilitating the project.

Introducing the project, Ms. Aziza Usoof, Monitoring and Reporting Manager of UN-Habitat Sri Lanka and Hub-Coordinator for the RISE-UP Project emphasized the importance of the Multilayered Vulnerability Assessment (MVA) on urbanization, climate change impacts and biodiversity degradation in vulnerable low-income communities in the target cities. She highlighted the need for enhancing capacity of local governments to prepare proposals and access financing for priority projects.

Ms. Isuru Prabha, GIS Consultant for the RISE-UP Project presented the stakeholder analysis for the project and the proposed Steering Committee.  Following a Question & Answer session, organizations such as Road Development Authority, Provincial Road Development Authority and National Aquatic Resources Research and development Agency were also proposed to be added to the list of project stakeholders.

The final session focused on the selection of target communities in the CMC and WMUC areas and the criteria for selection. This session elaborated on the risk analysis of communities against urbanization impacts, climate change vulnerabilities and biodiversity degradation and obtained inputs from the forum on resettlement plans that may affect the selection process. This session was followed by a discussion and pledging of support by the participants in the areas within the purview of their respective organizations.

The meeting concluded with closing remarks from Mr. P.A.S.S Sandaruwan, the Secretary of the Wattala-Mabole Urban Council. He stressed how low-income settlements in the urban areas are adversely affected and that wetlands and paddy fields are now subject to unregulated development for which collective action is urgently needed. He concluded by requesting everyone’s support in making the project a success.

Among those who participated at the meeting were representatives of the Colombo Municipal Council, Wattala Mabole Urban Council, Office of the Assistant Commissioner for Local Governments, Ministry of Environment- Biodiversity Division, Sri Lanka Railways, Central Environment Authority, National Housing Development Authority, National Building Research Organization, Urban Settlements Development Authority, Department of Irrigation, Department of Meteorology, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management, Railway Department, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Institute of Town Planners Sri Lanka, Sevanatha Urban Resource Centre and the Urban Fishing Cat Conservation Project.