Strengthen, networking and scale up the cohesive forum – Funded by USAID SCORE (02nd Project)

Name of Project: Strengthen, networking and scale up the cohesive forum
Name of Programme: Strengthen, networking and scale up the cohesive forum SCORE-FY22-074
Source of Fund: SCORE | USAID
Districts: Anuradhapura, Vavuniya & Trincomalee
DS Division: Anuradhapura- Padaviya, Vavuniya- Vavuniya South & Vengalacheddikulam, Trincomalee- Seruwila & Mutur
Main Activity: Promote a cohesive Sri Lankan identity
Proposed Start Date: 01st November 2023
Proposed End Date: 30th April 2024 (06 Months Project)

Direct Beneficiaries– 30 key representatives from three District Cohesive forums and 120 Youths from three districts.
Indirect Beneficiaries– It is expected that many community members of the target GNDs will indirectly involve and get benefited from the multiple activities proposed through this grant which can be expected up to 10 x 200 = 2000

Overview
  • The Coexistence society and cohesive forum ensure the inclusion, participation and engagement of youth, women and other marginalized individuals or groups in the activities to addressing community issues.
  • SCORE believes that a meaningful impact on social cohesion and reconciliation is best achieved by using a locally led approach and address various community issues and grievances through interventions proposed by target coexistence societies themselves and implemented with the collaboration of local civil society organizations, state and non-state actors PALM has established GND level Co-Existence Societies (CES), divisional and district-based cohesive forums with the support of the relevant government officers and community-based platforms in each three districts. Forum members are motivated to organize outreach activities and initiate dialogues within the respective districts to expand the forum constituencies and to broaden the knowledge on Coexistence and reconciliation. To successfully fulfil this role of the cohesive forums, civil society organizations, and government organizations working at the national and sub-national levels need to understand how broad definitions of social cohesion apply to the context in Sri Lanka, mainly what are the respective roles of civil society organizations, government organizations in promoting social cohesion and reconciliation through this forum. The cohesive forum is linked with the Network of Community Platforms specially coexistence societies and the overall structure of government departments. The main strategies are to strengthen already existing community forums to create awareness, influence duty bearers, and advocate for the transparency of existing safety nets and strengthen civil society to take rightsbased action. These developments provide an important opportunity for promoting citizen rights focusing on good governance, anti-corruption policies etc., in addition to enhancing social cohesion and contributing to improved relations between civil society organizations and state institutions. SCORE has supported CES in the targeted GNDs in the districts of Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Trincomalee and they are extending their community services with the significant impact. The district level cohesive forums in these districts are established however, they require further support to strengthen the forums to provide effective community service. Clustering and expanding their networks to various like-minded institutions will further enhance their potential and ability to sustain community-led mechanisms especially in terms of fostering social cohesion and reconciliation actions.

The photo highlights hand over the project planning and execution documents of SCORE to the kachchry of Anuradhapura to Mr Nayanantha the director of planning and Mr Sumith the NGO coordinator of Anuradhapura

The photo highlights ideas negation for Youth sports tournaments at Aalinnagar and community leaders has agreed to conduct, Rope pulling game, Tug of War

The photo highlights that selection of district cohesive community for Anuradhapura district today with participation of multicultural leaders and youth and community leaders.

The photo highlights that capturing success of small group activities of Youth on Youth career guidance program at Vavuniya

The photo highlights that conduction of Youth on Youth career guidance program at Anuradhapura

The photos highlight the meeting with NGO coordinator Mr. Athanayaka, and he appreciated the SCORE project. He has said that the government agent also has appreciated the SCORE project