ILO an implementing organization for EU’s Programme for Support to Reconstruction and Development in selected Districts in North and East Sri Lanka (EU-SDDP)

HE Mr. Bernard Savage, Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Mr. Donglin Li, Country Director for ILO in Sri Lanka and the Maldives inked an agreement on 11 June 2012 for Euro 2 million in support of skills development in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, under the EU-SDDP Programme. The EU-SDDP programme will be jointly implemented by FAO, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP and UNOPS and IFC. The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to poverty reduction in North and East Sri Lanka and to bridge the socio-economic gap with the rest of the country through supporting sustainable regional and local development and good governance in conflict-affected areas. ILO‘s component will focus on support to formal vocational training institutions, community-based skills training, establishment of job information and placement centres and establishment of district VET/enterprise development forums. The four-year project will target the districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, Vavuniya and Mannar.