British Council supports integrated rural development through capacity building

With an overall objective to contribute to improved socioeconomic well-being of rural and estate communities in the Uva and Central provinces of Sri Lanka, Care Germany, the British Council in Sri Lanka and Chrysalis are implementing a three-year project titled ‘Enterprise’, which supports integrated rural development.

This project is funded by the European Union and is co-funded by the British Council and Care Germany.

The British Council understands the importance of social enterprise as a platform to achieve fairer, more inclusive and sustainable economies. Drawing from its vast experience in supporting the social enterprise sector in countries globally and regionally, this project aims to enable and empower the business environment of communities in Monaragala, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Matale, especially for women, through sustaining income-generating opportunities.

Moreover, the British Council understands that the most persistent challenges of these vulnerable communities include unemployment in youth and women, skills mismatch, lack of opportunities, access to skills and resources and negative attitudes. Additionally, the need to ensure dignity of labour for these communities through capacity building of skills and knowledge remains fundamental to build stronger rural livelihoods. Towards building capacity for local business development among women and youth, the British Council as a first step is leading a technical training programme on social enterprise and entrepreneurship by drawing on its pool of local and global expertise.

This important initiative titled ‘Business Investment Readiness Programme’ will train four local organisations working in these districts. The training programme will develop a team of trainers in Sri Lanka equipped to carry on supporting social enterprises. Among the focus areas of this ‘training of trainer’s programme’ will include Introduction to Social Enterprise (UK perspective), Developing Social/environmental mission, Action Learning sessions, Value Chain analysis, Impact analysis and Writing evidence-based business plans. The training will be conducted by Social Starters, a UK based Social Enterprise.

British Council Country Director Gill Caldicott said: “The British Council’s approach to international development and social enterprise is rooted in our approach. Through our work in the vulnerable Uva and Central provinces we aim to promote the development of social enterprise as a means of addressing entrenched social and environmental problems, delivering positive change to these communities.”