Swiss Talk

Swiss Talk
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
Swiss Cooperation Office Sri Lanka
Newsletter of SDC Sri Lanka Issue 7, October 2011
Greetings from SDC Sri Lanka!
In our post-conflict reconstruction efforts together with our partners, emphasis is put on holistic rehabilitation
and protection measures that enhance the sustainable recovery of entire communities. This is achieved by
supporting a spectre of flanking measures, one of which is presented herein; a small business start up
initiated by one of the project’s beneficiaries, Mr. Theivarasa, who produces door and window frames out of
cement as a durable and low cost option for all families rebuilding their houses. It is as much about the
reconstruction of life perspectives as it is about the reconstruction of houses.
Natural disasters and armed conflicts leave countless people in need of aid every year. I would therefore like
to draw your attention to the SPHERE Project that aims at improving the effectiveness and accountability of
disaster responses. To this end, SDC funded the re-printing of the 2011 edition of the Sphere Handbook in Sri
Lanka and the translation of the 2011 edition into Sinhala and Tamil.
I hope you enjoy this issue of the SDC Sri Lanka newsletter and I invite you to visit us on www.swisscoop.lk
for further reaching information on our programme.
Philipp Beutler
Country Director
CASH for reconstruction programme in the northern districts
A house being reconstructed in Pallai
Confirming Switzerland’s commitment to provide support to
the returning population in the former conflict zone, in early
2011, SDC launched two new housing projects together with
partner agencies to support the rehabilitation of returnees in
the North. The owner-driven house reconstruction
programme has been expanded in an extraordinary donor
partnership with the European Commission, AusAID and
SDC. The programme is jointly implemented by
UNHABITAT and SDC, under which 4’500 houses are
planned to be reconstructed or rehabilitated in the
Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts.
SDC together with the INGO Swiss Labour Assistance (SAH) are jointly implementing a housing programme in
Pachchilaipallai in the Jaffna district, funded by Swiss Solidarity. While SDC coordinates 197 permanent
houses in an owner driven approach in Thabakaman, SAH provides livelihood support for 900 families.
In addition to the 300 houses completed in Maravanpulo earlier this year, SDC has further extended the
project with the construction of an additional 100 houses in the same village. In its attempts to work with a
comprehensive approach SDC joins with other partner organizations to ensure a holistic rehabilitation that
guarantees sustainability of entire communities. Thus, SDC directly supports these areas with flanking
measures such as vocational training activities, small enterprise development projects (block yards, doors and
window frame factory) and CBO-based reconstruction of small public infrastructure (e.g. common wells, water
pond rehabilitation, community halls, market place). Livelihood support measures and the reconstruction of
schools are also part of SDC’s holistic approach.

SDC supports re-printing of 2011 edition of the Sphere Handbook
As one of the interventions under the humanitarian small action grants programme, SDC supported the
Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) for the re-printing of the 2011 edition of the Sphere Handbook,
Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response and the translation of the 2011
edition to Sinhala and Tamil. The 2011 edition of the Sphere Handbook was launched in Colombo on the 24 th
of August 2011.
The Sphere Project is an initiative to determine
and promote standards by which the global
community responds to the plight of people
affected by disasters. The project is aimed to
ensure local aid workers and officials have
access to this knowledge in Sinhala/Tamil and
adhere to standards in response.
The 2011 edition of the Sphere Handbook is the
product of broad inter-agency collaboration. The
Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards
reflect the determination of agencies to improve
both the effectiveness of their assistance and
From left to right: Philipp Beutler (Country Director SDC), Jeevan
Thiagarajah (Executive Director – CHA), Basil Rajapaksa, Minister
of Economic Development, Firzan Hashim (Deputy Executive
Director of CHA)
their accountability to their stakeholders, contributing to a practical framework for accountability. With this
Handbook, Sphere is working for a world in which the right of all people affected by disasters to re-establish
their lives and livelihoods is recognized and acted upon in ways that respect their voice and promote their
dignity and security.
The 2011 edition of the Sphere Handbook is now available in all three languages at CHA. Please contact
Lalith at CHA on 0114 626 100 ext: 135 or infoanalyst@cha.lk for further information.
Promoting a holistic approach: creating sustainable livelihoods
Forty four year old Mr. Kaliyuhavarathan Theivarasa
is a beneficiary of SDC’s Cash-for-Housing
Programme in the Kaithady Navatkuli village of
Jaffna. Displaced over ten times since 1995 due to
the conflict, he has been drifting around the Northern
Province until he was recently resettled back in
Kaithady Navatkuli. Mr. Theivarasa was struggling to
support his family of six from the income he earned
running a small cycle repair shop; expenses were
high, especially with three of his daughters still in
school.
The cement window frames in the curing process
Mr. Theivarasa was selected as a beneficiary of the Cash-for-Housing Programme implemented by SDC
Jaffna and received a cash grant to re-build a house for his family. While in the process of constructing his
house, SDC encouraged and supported him to adopt the innovative idea of making his door and window
frames with cement, as a durable and low cost option which could also be promoted among other families rebuilding
their houses in the area. Within one month, he produced twelve window frames and eleven door
frames and has already received orders for frames from seven households. He hopes to continue making
frames as the orders increase and is confident of making a good profit from this business.
Similarly SDC has introduced these moulds to other project villages and many masons are now engaged in
producing concrete frames successfully.
Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC)
SDC Field Office – Jaffna
138/4 &5, Kynsey Road 18/10 Wyman Road, Jaffna
Colombo 8, Sri Lanka Phone: +94 21 222 4740
Phone +94 11 268 83 47, Fax +94 11 268 83 48 Fax : + 94 21 222 6280
Email: colombo@sdc.net
Email : jaffna@sdc.net
Website: www.swisscoop.lk