JICA Joint Study Project on Participatory Rural Development

Since 1979, Sri Lanka has been implementing the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), in which certain achievements in infrastructure development have been recognized. However, since it lacks a scheme under which residents can take initiative, it is less successful in poverty reduction and the creation of new jobs. Thus, most of the recent IRDP projects adopted participatory approaches. On the other hand, the approach has not yet been established since it is pointed out that it is not appropriate to the social structure, political background and development process. The University of Colombo has contributed to the IRDP through the training of administrative officers engaged in area development and commissioned researches. In order to employ the university's knowledge of rural development projects in the area, the Sri Lankan Government requested Japan a research cooperation with the university as an implementing organization.