Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
UNESCO has completed Phase II of its capacity-building programme under the Social Dialogue for Peace and Crisis Prevention in Sri Lanka project, strengthening nearly 70 community forum members in policy literacy, intercultural dialogue, and constructive engagement with local institutions.
The initiative supports Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic recovery, particularly in sectors with a large informal workforce such as agriculture, fisheries, and plantations. It addresses challenges faced by communities—including rising insecurity and unequal participation in decision-making—with special attention to women and other vulnerable groups who often bear a disproportionate burden.
Phase II focused on enhancing participants' understanding of policy processes, enabling them to identify relevant actors and present community concerns effectively to district-level structures. Through practical exercises like actor mapping, issue prioritization, and formulating rights- and needs-based arguments grounded in evidence, community forum members worked to turn local concerns into policy dialogue.
The programme incorporated lessons from earlier phases, emphasizing the importance of follow-up, periodic reflection, and straightforward tools to maintain the visibility of agreed actions. Community members appreciated facilitators for simplifying complex theories to support practical application.
UNESCO delivered these sessions across Badulla, Batticaloa, and Gampaha, reinforcing community forums as key spaces for analysis, dialogue, and engagement to promote peace and crisis prevention during Sri Lanka’s recovery.