Northern Province gets Joint Plan of Assistance

The Joint Plan for Assistance (JPA) for Northern Province 2012 was launched yesterday at the Ministry of Economic Development, by the Government together with the United Nations and the broader humanitarian community in the presence of Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa.

 The JPA identifies priority activities and strategies which have been developed in support of the overall national program to assist the people of the Northern Province to recover further and to sustain their livelihoods in coming years.

Minister Rajapaksa instructed the Ministry officials to formulate together with UN Agencies, INGOs and NGOs the ‘Joint Plan for Assistance for Northern Province in 2012’, in order to identify the priority activities that must be undertaken during 2012; and to facilitate international assistance, in order that the people of northern province can recover, rebuild and return to a normal life.

The ultimate aim of such work is to ensure the long-term sustainable development of the Northern Province within the shortest timeframe possible. Agriculture, shelter, livelihood, fishery, water and sanitation, electricity, education, health and nutrition and banking will be the key areas that would be focused on through the initiatives of this joint plan for assistance.

The JPA is the result of this consultative process led by the Ministry of Economic Development  through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on assistance needed during 2012 to help people in the Northern Province to recover and rebuild their lives. Upon the Ministry of Economic Development’s invitation this process was undertaken jointly with the United Nations and its agencies (UN), national and international Non-Governmental Organisations and International Organisations.

The successful experiences gained during last year in jointly providing humanitarian assistance to the people in the north through the 2011 JPA was considered a best practice and initiated the 2012 planning process. The JPA was developed through a consultative process led by the Government through the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security (PTF) and the United Nations, national and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and International Organisations (IOs).

The JPA provides a framework for meeting immediate needs of the resettled communities in the Northern Province while linking humanitarian interventions to longer-term development efforts including the priorities of building houses and shelters, supporting agriculture, food security and livelihood recovery.

Speaking at the JPA launch, PTF Secretary Mr. Divaratne appreciated the contribution made by the broader humanitarian community and the development partners to the Government of Sri Lanka to make significant progress in the North.

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Subinay Nandy noted that “increasingly we are seeing a shift from pure humanitarian response interventions to collaborating with government on longer term development requirements for the same people. This will be the way to go, as we together ensure that we do not leave behind any individuals or groups who need direct assistance.”

The Government, UN and the humanitarian community calls upon donors to support this joint initiative which has been a monumental step forward in providing assistance to those most in need.

Delivering a message from President Mahinda Rajapakse, Minister Rajapakse said that the Government and the Farmers Associations in Sri Lanka will give 500mt of paddy to the World Food Program (WFP) as Government’s contribution to JPA 2012.