| Programmes |

Main Themes

IWRM
  • Water/Natural Resources Policies / Strategies
  • Water resources development
  • Institutional Development
  • Water Organisations
  • Water Governance
  • Water Law
 Environment
  • Biodiversity / Ecosystems
  • Wetlands
  • Catchment Conservation
  • River Sand Minning
  • Polution Mitigation
  • Watse Water Management
Youth and Gender
  • Gender and Water Dialouges
  • Water Messengers
  • School Sanitation
Climate Change (CC)
  • Climate Change Adaptation
  • Water Related Disasters (Droughts, Floods & Landslides )
  • CC and Drinking Water
  • CC and Rural Livelyhoods
  • New Technology Adoption
  • Climate Smart Agriculture
Other
  • Media
  • Fund Raising & Proposal Development
  • CSR Programmes
  • Public / Private Partnerships

SLWP Programme Focus 2020-2022

While SLWP will continue with the main programme elements from 2018/19 with a much reduced budget under Core. Absence of  WACREP funding has required that some programmes be readjusted as to targets and focus. CCA activities are thus only at maintenance level under Core with additional as available under the joint Cap-Net Lanka/SLWP programme which unfortunately could not be implemented in 2020 due to Covid. It is hoped that the 2020 programme could be implemented in 2021 if the situation improves.

CORE - This year too focus will continue Wetlands as follow up activity to the Bolgoda programme with the University of Colombo and need for examination and involvement in other urban wetlands as well with Colombo declared a Wetland City under Ramsar. Support for RBO/RBM activities including institutional strengthening and resource mapping and Schools Water Messenger IWRM, SDG and health/sanitation programme will be continued in 2021 as well limited by the Covid constraints. A Gender and Water Dialogue focusing on health sanitation is also planned for the implementation during the year. Special Covid supportive programmes for schools especially on RWH systems for school sanitation/ health will be continued. Joint Cap-Net/ SLWP activities include working on young professions programme with the universities including of Jaffna, Ruhuna, South Eastern and NCP. The Covid impact of constraining   organizing of workshops/training programmes especially at ground level for farmers, CBO and agencies will limit to smaller groups with local specialists and or online virtual platforms as suitable. Grouping of staff and participants from distant work places are not encouraged by agencies. Knowledge products and easy availability play vital role in this situation and SLWP will expand its inventory of technical booklets and posters to allow for expanded distribution to offset limited face to face activities. 

Private Sector/Joint Activities.  The rain water harvesting and landslide related activities and health/sanitation activities in the tea landscape schools that were continued over the last few years with sponsorship by corporates such as Unilever and Hatton National Bank did not carry over to 2020 due to Covid and difficult financial situation of these corporates. It is hoped that 2021 situation will be better and SLWP be able to restart the joint programmes with the private sector

SLWP 2021 Programme

While Sri Lanka is assessed with adequate water resources on the basis of per capita availability It suffers several spatial and temporal scarcities on an increasing scale compounded by almost annual such as floods, droughts landslides occur. Continuing droughts in one region with increasing flood/landslide threats in others now in the same year are taking heavy toll on the country and its economic development. In recent times approx. US$375 M needs to be set aside for disaster relief. Poor environmental behavior, deforestation and illicit land clearing and sand mining have worsened the situation. Pollution levels in water ways are high and water treatment costs are escalating. Degradation and encroachments of wetlands are impacting on ecosystem health.

Though an Integrated water policy is in place for over a decade it is not operationalized and a lack of a comprehensive water law creates issues in regulation and enforcement with over 51 laws at present dealing with water. Water is highly charged politically and is assumed to be a free public good making any corrective measures for good water management difficult.

Nevertheless appreciation of need for pollution control and environmental conservation and protection in the face of recurring disasters seemingly due to Climate Change has reawakened interest in proper conservation and management at all levels. Attempts to recast new water policy is underway and draft already submitted for public comment. IWRM is now understood and actively considered in development initiatives and environment clearances are more stringent. Given the limitations of funding and other resource constraints and based on collaborator acceptance of SLWP and increasing LRF opportunities SLWP will continue to undertake the select set of activities from 2018 and continue it during the 3 Year WP period. Activities undertaken are consistent and contribute to the SDG (3, 5, 6, 13, 15, and 17) and already developed NAP and NDC plans of the country. Due to 25% Core Budget cut a curtailed programme for 2020 and a Covid 19 restricted programme was implemented.

In 2021 SLWP inventions and impacts will be affected due to reduced Core budget, absence of CCA funding under WACREP, likely absence or much reduced LRF (CSR) support due to financial crunch felt by Corporates due to Covid. SLWP will need to have flexible approach that allows some switching of activities, rescheduling and responding to emerging needs post Covid that require joint activities with other partners. There is need to maintain organizational momentum with minimum set of carefully scheduled activities as part of continuum under above circumstances. Therefore, similar portfolio as 20 20 will be carried out with activities limited by provision and circumstances especially collaborator interests and post Covid situation. Field activities may be limited by above but SLWP hopes to expand its knowledge products on CCA, Health/sanitation etc. including with posters to expand outreach and realize impact.

GWP Strategy Anchor Areas

  1. Water solutions for SDG

it will focus on RBO activities including catchment conservation, Disaster risk reduction in landslide prone areas and water quality issues. Work on urban wetlands including in Colombo continue work on urban wetlands including Colombo. It will use international water, environment, earth, and wetland days for promotion of positive environmental behavior. SLWP continue its Youth and Gender initiative with special emphasis on the plantation sector on CCA and health/sanitation. Youth Water Professional Forums similar to one in Uva and Jaffna will be arranged in at least one other province and 2 if LRF support is forthcoming. Related CBO and FO activities will continue. School Water Messenger and MHM programmes will also be implemented based on budget provision and priority needs. SDG advocacy on Goal 3, 5, 6 and 13 will be undertaken in collaboration with the relevant agencies linked to above activities. SLWP knowledge products in national languages will be reprinted due to major demand. CSR mobilization where possible for SDG related interventions especially in plantation areas and associated programmes with Cap-Net, Lions etc. LRF Budget projected to around Euro 5000 due to lack of matching funds. Focus on School, CBO activities will be Covid sensitive to meet current needs.

  1. Climate resilience through water

SLWP will implement Joint Private Sector activities for CC impacted areas such as landslide areas and drought prone areas with drinking water difficulties due to extreme weather events based on CSR availability. Promotion of rainwater harvesting for both domestic supplies and livelihood support in agriculture including especially in the Planation sector Use of demonstration projects and technology options for coping with climate change impacts in 2020 in agriculture, plantation sectors. (OC 2.4, 2.5, 3.1)

  1. Transboundary waters.

Budget limitations preclude interventions in in provincial state water related issues after 2022.

Governance

SLWP will continue its regular programme/financial monitoring and governance meetings that have enabled high credibility to be maintained resulting in regular LRF inflow. LRF budget is expected to be reduced to around Euro 5,000/- if pending activities are implemented and matching funds found with Covid under some Control. LRF savings/reserves of SLWP continue to grow based on prudent investment and now top Us$50,000/-or 3 years GWP core annual provision.