Sri Lanka is experiencing an acute economic crisis brought on by structural problems such as an over-reliance on remittances and tourism receipts and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, prices for essential food items, medicine and non-food items have skyrocketed. The knock-on effects of the economic crisis have created a socioeconomic crisis with increasing economic, health, social, and protection risks impacting the well-being of the people.

The sectors where women are predominantly employed have been directly affected – the apparel, tea/rubber plantations, the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, and the informal economy etc., The majority of women are in precarious jobs or not in waged work, pushing them further into poverty.

When food within the family gets scarce, women are also usually the ones who start skipping meals first at the expense of their well-being.

Expected Results

ER 1: The immediate food needs for 2,128 most vulnerable households highly affected by the current economic crisis, in line with humanitarian standard/SPHERE standard are met.

ER 2: 7,122 selected households have received home gardening kits, have started their own agricultural production to meet their basic food needs.

Main Activities

• Distribution of Dry Ration Packs: The content of the dry ration pack will be decided based on the guidance of health sector officials to ensure nutrition value.
• Distribution of home gardening packs: The home gardening pack will consist of suitable seeds and plants, fertilizer, and necessary gardening tools (the pack’s content will be decided based on the condition of the area). Fast-maturing vegetable seeds and crop seeds will ensure that the harvesting of vegetables can start within one month of planting.

Participants

About 2,128 households in Northern province and Plantation communities in Central and Uva provinces will receive in-kind dry rations to relief their immediate food and nutrition needs.

Moreover, 7,122 households will receive home gardening packs to start home gardening and fulfill at least their basic food requirements.

Pregnant mothers and families with children below age 5 will be given priority in the distribution of dry ration packs, while female headed households, families with special needs family members, and families with more than 5 members will be considered in the distribution of home gardening packs.