Tag Archives: #UNDP

ACCESS FOR ALL AT POINT PEDRO PRADESHIYA SABHA

November 7, 2023 Manique

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon has a membership of 680 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first organization to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the ILO, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for jobseekers with disabilities, which was officially launched in the year 1999.

The object of forming the Network is to link the business community and the organizations dealing with disability issues to facilitate mainstreaming its work.

The Capacity Development for Local Governments (CDLG) Project of UNDP Sri Lanka is part of larger efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the local governance system in the country.

These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.

Disability inclusion is one of the key strategic priorities for UNDP Sri Lanka in keeping with the commitment of UNDP globally and the new initiatives of disability inclusion strategy and their commitment to leave no one behind.

A team led by Manique Gunaratne did a disability accessibility audit and a advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Point Pedro Pradeshiya Sabha, and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists at the Point Pedro Pradeshiya Sabha in Jaffna district in Northern Province in April 2022.

UNDP acknowledges the fact that disability is a crosscutting issue which needs a multi-stakeholder intervention including local government authorities.

Local Governments play a vital role in the lives of people with disabilities because of their broad mandate.

Unlike most state government institutions, Local Governments are multi-functional, with extensive responsibilities and activities across property, community, and human service areas and, in addition, have the capacity to make policy level decisions at the local level.

All of these functions and decisions directly or indirectly impact upon the quality of life of the people with disabilities who live, work, and socialize in their local communities.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
WhatsApp: 0094779571918

Accessibility

ACCESS FOR ALL AT AMPARA URBAN COUNCIL

November 2, 2023 Manique

The EFC is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 680 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first Organisation to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the #ilo, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999. It has a membership of 700 plus Companies.

The object of forming the Network is to link the business community and the organizations dealing with disability issues to facilitate mainstreaming its work.

The Capacity Development for Local Governments (CDLG) Project of UNDP Sri Lanka is part of larger efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the local governance system in the country.

These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.

A team led by Manique Gunaratne did a disability accessibility audit and a #advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Ampara Urban Council, and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Urban Council on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists at the Ampara Urban Council in Ampara district in Eastern Province in October 2022.

UNDP acknowledges the fact that disability is a crosscutting issue which needs a multi-stakeholder intervention including local government authorities.

Local Governments play a vital role in the lives of people with disabilities because of their broad mandate.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Board Member: Navajeevana Rehabilitation

Accessibility

DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF TECHNICAL OFFICERS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE IN BADULLA DISTRICT

September 30, 2023 Manique

The Disability Accessibility Training programmes include persons with diverse disabilities, ways in which their physical and emotional well-being are fulfilled and legal aspects of accessibility to the built environment.

The objective of the initiative is to develop the capacity of local #authorities and raise awareness among technical officers, officials in the decision-making process, Engineers, Architects, and Officials in the Planning Divisions. It is expected that this intervention will ensure that people with disabilities can access all public buildings and make use of the facilities inside those buildings as Regulations are intended to be accomplished.

The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities conducted the Badulla 1 training workshop at the Bandarawela Rest House in Badulla district, in Uva Province in October 2022.

The project is a part of the European Union’s STRIDE (Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation, and Inclusive Democratic Engagement) programme focused on strengthening the capacities of local government authorities to be inclusive, responsive, and accountable, and improve service delivery.

Together with the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) Project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), implemented this project on Disability accessibility audit and enhancing the capacity of technical officers in the local government structure.

The EFC is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 680 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first organization to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the #ILO, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999.

The “Disability Accessibility” project implemented by The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre is a part of an initiative supported under the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka with the financial assistance of the European Union (EU).

The importance of this workshop was that all resource persons were persons with disabilities. Manique Gunaratne conducted the session on “Technical specifications on accessibility” and Anil Seneviratne conducted the session on “law and access”. People with physical disabilities, hearing impaired persons and vision impaired persons spoke on the barriers faced by persons with disabilities and possible solutions.

Participants with non-disabilities got the opportunity to experience using a wheelchair, walking with a white cane, walking blind folded, wearing socks and shoes without using hands and communicating in sign language.

These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) have designed a series of awareness programmes to conduct in selected 12 districts to make the technical, senior staff and members of the Local Government Authorities to sensitize on accessibility for Persons with Disabilities.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Country Representative – World Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals’ Association (WDRPA)

Accessibility

ACCESS FOR ALL AT NALLUR PRADESHIYA SABHA

August 13, 2023 Manique

The EFC, with an overall vision statement to promote social harmony through productive employment, is implementing several proactive measures to encourage its members to hire people with disabilities.

The EFC is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 700 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first Organization to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the ILO, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999. It has a membership of 700 plus Companies.

The object of forming the Network is to link the business community and the organizations dealing with disability issues to facilitate mainstreaming its work. The Capacity Development for Local Governments (CDLG) Project of UNDP Sri Lanka is part of larger efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the local governance system in the country.

These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank. Disability inclusion is one of the key strategic priorities for UNDP Sri Lanka in keeping with the commitment of UNDP globally and the new initiatives of disability inclusion strategy and their commitment to leave no one behind.

A disability accessibility audit and the advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha, and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists at the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha in Jaffna district in Northern Province in April 2022.

UNDP acknowledges the fact that disability is a crosscutting issue which needs a multi-stakeholder intervention including local government authorities. Local Governments play a vital role in the lives of people with disabilities because of their broad mandate.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon,
385 J3 Old Kotte Road,
Rajagiriya,
Sri Lanka.

Assistive Devices for Persons with Disabilities, Rights of Persons with Disabilities

WELFARE BENEFITS ASSESSMENT INCLUDES PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

August 13, 2023 Manique

The welfare benefits assessment led by the Welfare Benefits Board, is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank (WB). The Welfare Benefit Board has introduced a system to identify those in financial need amidst the current economic and political crisis. Accordingly, a QR code system has been developed for those that should register as beneficiaries of the welfare subsidy. All those registered will be assessed based on a set of 22 indicators – using a Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) mode (digitized survey). This survey has been translated into local languages and digitized on Kobotoolbox platform using a customised application called Aswesuma.

The Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) provided technical support to improve the survey tool, develop the training material and module and deliver the training required to administer the CAPI survey.

30 master trainers, who will act in the capacity of Trainer of Trainers (TOT) were trained on the questionnaire/survey by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) and on CAPI by the Welfare Benefits Board and CEPA.

Manique Gunaratne was one of the Master Trainers to support an inclusive approach to include persons with disabilities into the scheme. The master trainer pool then trained 330 Statistical Officers (SOs) and 660 Development Officers (DOs), who then trained 14,000 enumerators at each GN division. The role of the master trainers was to ensure that the survey purpose, indicator definitions and navigation and use of the CAPI /Aswesuma platform are transferred to the DCS officers – in both Sinhala and Tamil. These DCS officers acted in the capacity of trouble-shooters and first line of defence for the 14,000 enumerators.
The training sessions were held at the BMICH, at the Department of Census & Statistics and at the CEPA office from October to December 2022.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Committee Member – SPRINT Committee of Family Planning Association

Accessibility

DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF TECHNICAL OFFICERS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE IN ANURADHAPURA DISTRICT

August 8, 2023 Manique

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) have designed a series of awareness programmes to conduct in selected 12 districts to make the technical, senior staff and members of the Local Government Authorities to sensitise on accessibility for Persons with Disabilities. These programmes include persons with diverse disabilities, ways in which their physical and emotional well-being are fulfilled and legal aspects of accessibility to the built environment.

The objective of the initiative is to develop the capacity of local authorities and raise awareness among technical officers, Officials in the decision-making process, Engineers, Architects, and Officials in the Planning Divisions. It is expected that this intervention will ensure that people with disabilities can access all public buildings and make use of the facilities inside those buildings as Regulations are intended to be accomplished.

The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities conducted the Anuradhapura 1 training workshop at the Cooperative Training Resort in Anuradhapura district, in North Central Province in January 2022.

The project is a part of the European Union’s STRIDE (Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation, and Inclusive Democratic Engagement) programme focused on strengthening the capacities of local government authorities to be #inclusive, responsive, and accountable, and improve service delivery.

Together with the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) Project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), implemented this project on #Disability #accessibility audit and enhancing the capacity of technical officers in the local government structure.

The EFC is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 680 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first Organisation to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the ILO, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999.

The “Disability Accessibility” project implemented by The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre is a part of an initiative supported under the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka with the financial assistance of the European Union (#EU).

These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Core Founder – Lanka School on Internet Governance

Accessibility

ACCESS FOR ALL AT MANNAR URBAN COUNCIL

July 22, 2023 Manique

Together with the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) Project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), implemented this project on Disability accessibility #audit and enhancing the capacity of technical officers in the local government structure.

The EFC is the representative employers’ organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 700 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first organization to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the #ilo, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999. It has a membership of 700 plus Companies.

The object of forming the Network is to link the business community and the organizations dealing with disability issues to facilitate mainstreaming its work. The Capacity Development for Local Governments (CDLG) Project of UNDP Sri Lanka is part of larger efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the local governance system in the country.

These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank. Disability inclusion is one of the key strategic priorities for UNDP Sri Lanka in keeping with the commitment of UNDP globally and the new initiatives of disability inclusion strategy and their commitment to leave no one behind.

A disability accessibility audit and advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Mannar Urban Council, and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Urban Council on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists at the Mannar Urban Council in Mannar district in Northern Province in April 2022. UNDP acknowledges the fact that disability is a crosscutting issue which needs a multi-stakeholder intervention including local government authorities.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBhDQ516xwVr86zKLM1HUw

Accessibility

ACCESS FOR ALL AT PALAGALA PRADESHIYA SABHA

July 22, 2023 Manique

A disability accessibility audit and a advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Palagala Pradeshiya Sabha and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists at the Palagala Pradeshiya Sabha in Anuradhapura district in North Central Province in December 2021.

It is part of the European Union’s STRIDE (Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation, and Inclusive Democratic Engagement) programme focused on strengthening the capacities of local government authorities to be inclusive, responsive, and accountable, and improve service delivery.

Together with the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) Project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), implemented this project on Disability accessibility audit and enhancing the capacity of technical officers in the #local #government structure.

The EFC is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 700 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first organization to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the ILO, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999. It has a membership of 700 plus Companies.

The object of forming the Network is to link the business community and the organizations dealing with disability issues to facilitate mainstreaming its work.

The Capacity Development for Local Governments (CDLG) Project of UNDP Sri Lanka is part of larger efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the local governance system in the country. These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Blog: http://efcnetworkondisability.employers.lk/

Accessibility

ACCESS FOR ALL AT VAVUNIYA SOUTH TAMIL PRADESHIYA SABHA

July 8, 2023 Manique

The team led by Ms. Manique Gunaratne of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre did a Disability #Accessibility #Audit to give recommendations to the Vavuniya South Tamil Pradeshiya Sabha in Vavuniya district in Northern Province of Sri Lanka in March 2022. The advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Vavuniya South Tamil Pradeshiya Sabha and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists.

It is part of the European Union’s STRIDE (Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation, and Inclusive Democratic Engagement) programme focused on strengthening the capacities of local government authorities to be inclusive, responsive, and accountable, and improve service delivery.

The EFC is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 700 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first Organisation to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the ILO, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999. It has a membership of 700 plus Companies.

The object of forming the Network is to link the business community and the organizations dealing with disability issues to facilitate mainstreaming its work.

The Capacity Development for Local Governments (CDLG) Project of UNDP Sri Lanka is part of larger efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the local governance system in the country.

These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Board Member Navajeevana Rehabilitation

Accessibility

ACCESS FOR ALL AT POLONNARUWA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

June 25, 2023 Manique

UNDP CDLG is a four-year project (2020-2023) targeting the Eastern, Northern, North-Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka.

A Disability Accessibility Audit and two Advocacy Group discussions were held at the Polonnaruwa Municipal Council in Polonnaruwa district in North Central Province in Sri Lanka in January 2022. The team was led by Ms. Manique Gunaratne of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre. The advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Polonnaruwa Municipal Council and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Municipal Council on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists.

Together with the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) Project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), implemented this project on Disability accessibility audit and enhancing the capacity of technical officers in the local government structure.

The EFC, with an overall vision statement to promote social harmony through productive employment, is implementing several proactive measures to encourage its members to hire people with disabilities. The EFC is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 700 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first organization to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the ILO, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999. It has a membership of 700 plus Companies. The object of forming the Network is to link the business community and the organizations dealing with disability issues to facilitate mainstreaming its work.

**Explaining accessibility recommendations**

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBhDQ516xwVr86zKLM1HUw