UNDP allocates USD 38mn to support dry zone communities in Sri Lanka

Oct 20, 2016 (LBO) - The United Nations Development Programme announced the commencement of a 38.



1 million dollar project under the Green Climate Fund to improve agriculture-based livelihoods of farmers in the dry zone.





"The project will allow assistance to be provided to 770,000 people in three river basins - Malwatu Oya, Yan Oya and Mi Oya – who are vulnerable to climate change," UNDP said in a statement.

"Around 1.2 million people living in the same areas will indirectly benefit from the project.





" UNDP will work with a number of government institutions and it will be implemented from 2017 to 2024. Further to the grant from the GCF, the Government of Sri Lanka will leverage Government co-financing amounting to US 14 million dollars for this project to address several financial, technical, and institutional barriers related to achieving integrated water management to improve agriculture-based livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Dry Zone. In addition to Sri Lanka’s proposal, the Board approved 8 other proposals.

This is the first time that Sri Lanka has received funding from the Green Climate Fund.