International Development Grant
Equipping Communities to Better Resist Violent Conflict in Sri Lanka and Myanmar
Project Number: CA-3-D003985001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $825,000.00
Start Date: November 20, 2016
End Date: March 15, 2019
Duration: 2.3 years
Project Description
This project aims to equip community and national level actors to develop appropriate mechanisms and education interventions to strengthen community resilience reduce tensions connected to religious differences and promote a greater spirit of unity and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. This is done through research capacity building activities and the development of a regional module on mitigation strategies. Targeted communities include Colombo Ampara Galle Mannar and Jaffna. This project includes a component to expand this approach to Myanmar and lay the foundation for sharing good practices more broadly in the region in the future.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved mitigation strategies for addressing interreligious conflict in targeted communities in Sri Lanka (Colombo Ampara Galle Mannar and Jaffna); (2) strengthened capacity of community leaders and educators to conduct human rights education activities that include a gender perspective in targeted communities in Sri Lanka; and (3) increased capacity of community leaders and civil society organisations in Myanmar to promote religious harmony and reduce potential for conflict.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of March 2019 include: (1) increase in religious harmony inclusion and respect for human rights in Sri Lanka and Burma which contributed to reduced interreligious conflict through training groups engaging children through Sunday School (Play it Fair; a toolkit for children) engaging community/religious leaders teachers women and youth; (2) 91% of the project’s participants (of which 41 were women) responded to the end-of-project survey report which helps in taking actions that promote the ultimate outcome in the targeted countries; and (3) the following three publications were established: The Chronic and the Entrenched: Ethno-Religious Violence in Sri Lanka; Freedom of Religion the Role of State and Interreligious Relations in Myanmar; and the Conflict mitigation using a human rights-based approach.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Equitas - International Centre for Human Rights Education
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Foreign Affairs and Trade Gs&Cs