The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka with support from the Government of Canada, last week hosted a ‘Knowledge and Experience Sharing’ event today to showcase the achievements of the 15-month ‘Capacity building for post-shelter economic empowerment of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) victims-survivors’ programme. This pioneering initiative forms a key part of the ‘Ensuring Justice for Victim-Survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Sri Lanka’ project implemented together with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Sri Lanka.

The event saw high-level participation from Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs; Kiril Iordanov, Head of Cooperation, High Commission of Canada; Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP; senior government officials, along with civil society partners, SGBV shelter managers, independent consultants, and survivors themselves. Attendees engaged in knowledge sharing sessions, policy discussions, and a vibrant Pop-up Marketplace featuring products made by programme beneficiaries.

Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, remarked, “Economic resilience offers and escape route and a permanent deterrent against re-victimisation. When a women achieves a sustainable livelihood and controls her own income, she secures; Independence, Resilience, Dignity and Re-integration”

Kiril Iordanov, Head of Cooperation at the High Commission of Canada, added, “While justice is essential, it is not sufficient. Survivors of SGBV need more than legal redress – they need pathways to rebuild their lives with dignity, autonomy, and hope. This is where economic empowerment becomes transformative.”

Over its 15-month course, the initiative targets current and recently exited shelter home survivors across the Northern, North Central, Central, and Western Provinces of Sri Lanka. Survivors receive tailored training, mentorship, and business development support, while shelter staff benefit from capacity building in order to support current and future victim survivors who engage in entrepreneurial activities. A robust monitoring and evaluation framework ensures the sustainability and impact of the programme.

Commenting on UNDP’s technical leadership on the area, Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka stated, “Our pilot initiative in partnership with CSOs clearly highlights the importance of integrating livelihood skills, financial literacy and access to finance in the overall support framework for the victim survivors of SGVB. In order to provide such an end-to-end programme, the government, civil society, and international partners must come together. We must move beyond crisis response and work towards building sustainable pathways through economic empowerment.”

The objectives of the programme centre on enhancing economic resilience and empowerment for SGBV survivors, reducing the risk of re-victimisation, and supporting reintegration into society. By strengthening shelters and providing comprehensive support, the programme aims to create pathways to sustainable livelihoods and economic independence for those affected by sexual and gender-based violence.