Securing peace and social cohesion
Decades of armed conflict in Sri Lanka came to an end in May 2009. In the current post-conflict situation, Germany has broadened the scope of its development cooperation to focus on securing peace and social cohesion on a sustainable basis. Through the six projects it is currently implementing on behalf of the German Government, GIZ is helping to mitigate sources of discord and is contributing to the peaceful resolution of conflicts. This in turn sustains the ongoing development of the country.

• Education for social cohesion (ESC): ESC evolved from two earlier projects, one promoting social cohesion and another providing psychosocial counselling in schools of the coastal region following the 2004 tsunami. GIZ's partner, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Education, has established a special division for peace education and has also introduced a strategy for encouraging social cohesion through its curricula and teacher training courses. Recently, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, a new trauma counselling component was added to the ESC project.
• Facilitating initiatives for social cohesion and transformation (FLICT): This project encourages social integration at national and local levels, in cooperation with Sri Lankan Government institutions. It promotes mechanisms that strengthen the political and social participation of disadvantaged population groups, and supports a countrywide dialogue on social integration and transformation.
• Performance improvement project (PIP): As well as providing training measures for technical and managerial staff in public service, this project - run in cooperation with the British Council - helps to familiarise civil servants in the two provinces with issues related to social cohesion. The project also works in the field of community development, with special support provided for women in rural areas. Furthermore, it is assisting numerous local authorities in establishing citizen-friendly committees.
• Promotion of the microfinance sector (PROMIS): In partnership with the Ministry of Finance, this project supports micro-financial and other institutions. It is helping to increase professionalism within the microfinance sector and expand the regional availability of appropriate (financial) services. In particular it offers training measures for marginalised groups, preparing them to make best use of (micro)financial services, for example by launching small businesses. Through the targeted inclusion of disadvantaged groups and people affected by the war, the foundations are being laid for their sustainable economic and social integration.
• Peace-building through vocational training for youth in the east of Sri Lanka (PB-VT): Working with Sri Lanka's Chamber of Construction Industry, the PB-VT project is helping to improve the standard of vocational training for young men and women in the eastern district of Batticaloa. It integrates peace-building concepts into the state-certified training measures provided through the local construction industry, thereby increasing economic opportunities for young people, as well as their social integration and conflict-free involvement in public life.
• Development-oriented emergency and transitional aid (DETA): The reintegration of refugees returning to their homes is made possible by GIZ's development-oriented emergency and transitional aid. The project is working in three districts of Northern Province to support the rehabilitation of the agriculture, fisheries and education sectors. It is also helping to strengthen state structures, enhance peace promotion and conflict transformation, and promote efforts to assist children and youth in overcoming their wartime experiences. These measures are mainly being implemented by the provincial council of Northern Province; they are helping to strengthen central state structures as well as interest groups at the local level.