1. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Up – Scaling Community Governance Approach in Sri Lanka Experience in Galle District By Janaka Hemathilaka Regional Manager - Practical Action

2. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Outline Community Governance Historical background of Community Governance and Approach towards community participation Practical Action’s Experience on Community Governance Key Steps of the Implementation Process Challenges Further Recommendations

3. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Community Governance Advanced version of good governance It talks about decentralized, local level decision making as well Placing communities in the center of governance/decision making process Involving communities in the entire governance process Needs identification Prioritizing Planning Implementation Monitoring Evaluation

4. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Historical Background and Approach towards Community Participation There were different community governance systems for agriculture, irrigation and even for social structure (Wel Sabha,Variga Sabha, Daayaka Sabha etc,). The Gam Sabhas - agriculture-oriented approach and not directed by the center. British abolished the Gam Sabhas in 1818 withdrawing the self-government element

5. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Historical Background and Approach towards Community Participation Cont…, The initial process - Extension approach. Secondly - ‘Community Development approach’ Rural Institutional Approach Institutional Reform Approach Target Group Approach Area Development Approach Community participation through devolving the powers to local level. (1980)

6. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Practical Action’s Experience in Community Governance 12 years of experience on community governance the region (Urban and Rural) Up scaling project ‘CGIS’ was started in 2009 Objective - To build the capacities of local governance systems to mainstream the participation of poor and vulnerable men and women in consultative decision making processes. This paper focuses on the CGIS project’s experience in Galle District of Sri Lanka,

7. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Key steps of the implementation process The project has pilot tested on integrated planning process in two LGs in Galle district It has proved that participatory planning process is the key entry point to practice community governance. Initiated mainstreaming participatory planning process in LGs with political & government authorities

8. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Key steps of the implementation process Cont.. The process led by CLG office-SP and strategies & process methodologies were developed by them Preliminary capacity building and awareness on participatory planning process and methodology Training on developing participatory plan (chairman, secretary, one elected member CDO from each 20 LGs)

9. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Key steps of the implementation process Cont.. The participatory planning process and modalities were decided by LGs on their own A facilitation role was played by CLG office. Draft plans of LGAs were revisited and inputs provided to finalize These plans were supplemented with a financial plan for each priority The four year integrated participatory development plans compiled within 8 months

10. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Key steps of the implementation process cont.. A provincial level committee was established to monitor the progress of this process The process is being replicated in Hambanthota & Matara districts

11. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Challenges Community empowerment Vs LG based integrated planning process (process as an entry point for community governance) Capacity gap with all stakeholders How to continue community mobilization? Dependency on political will and leadership New social trends

12. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Challenges contd.. Space for marginalized groups further reduces in up-scaling. How to tackle it? Collaboration between LGs and DSs

13. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Recommendations Move forward to mandatory participatory planning process Use “Community Governance” as a performance appraisal criterion for LGs/DSs Going beyond “Participatory Planning” – Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation

14. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net Recommendations contd.. Capacity building of governance structures – especially community structures

15. www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.net THANK YOU