The projects and programme of GTZ in Sri Lanka are embedded in an overall strategy towards poverty alleviation. In 2001 the Governments of Sri Lanka and the Federal Republic of Germany agreed on the two Priority Areas namely, Sustainable Economic Development and Conflict Transformation taking into account the requirements of the country and the proposals of the partners. After the tsunami of December 2004 GTZ integrated the emergency aid and reconstruction activities through a comprehensive package into both Priority Areas.
Sustainable Economic Development
The main thrust of this Priority Area is to promote the employment especially in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) thereby contributing significantly in a sustainable manner and towards poverty reduction.
GTZ works together with government and nongovernment Sri Lanka partner institutions in the following area:
- Conducive framework conditions for SME
- Regional economic development
- Vocational and technical training
- Finance system development
The special post tsunami reconstruction funds are geared towards:
- Rehabilitation and modernization of vocational training institutions
- Revival of micro, small and medium enterprises
Poverty Alleviation and Conflict Transformation
Since 2001 the Government of Sri Lanka cooperates with German Development Cooperation institutions in the areas of conflict transformation and peace promotion. Its goal is to overcome violence and create the preconditions for peace. Here GTZ addresses the following issues:
- Crisis preventive reconstruction and food security in the North and East
- Facilitating conflict transformation at political and civil society levels
- Education for social cohesion
For post tsunami reconstruction the following topics are in the forefront:
- Disaster risk management and psycho-social care in schools
- Reconstruction of the social, technical and productive infrastructure
- Advisory services for housing reconstruction
- Capacity building for implementing authorities at local level
