World Vision launches CAD 5 Million Project to address climate change impacts in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka

• Nearly 24,000 individuals from 5,640 households affected by climate change in the dry zone of Sri Lanka to be supported.
• The project will focus on and partner with women to increase their involvement in climate-adaptive farming practices.
• Communities will be equipped with climate-smart agriculture techniques to build climate resilience.

World Vision Lanka and World Vision Canada recently launched a CAD 5 million project funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to address the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture communities in the dry zone of Sri Lanka and to build their resilience. 

The project titled ACCESS Sri Lanka is a four-year project (2024-2028) that will directly support nearly 24,000 individuals from 5,640 households in Welikanda (Polonnaruwa district) and Rideemaliyadda (Badulla district) – areas highly vulnerable to drought and with underutilized village irrigation systems in need of rehabilitation.

A comprehensive two-day workshop was conducted with key stakeholders to draft and review the Project Implementation Plan. This event brought together relevant government authorities such as the Department of Agriculture, Mahaweli authority, Department of Irrigation, Climate change Secretariat and representatives from district and divisional secretariats of both project locations, including a distinguished guest from the Canadian High Commission in Sri Lanka representing Global Affairs Canada. 

Shayma Thanuja Kumari Gnanasiri, Women Development Officer of Polonnaruwa District Secretariat said, "Empowering women in climate-adaptive farming practices requires addressing key challenges such as their limited access to technical knowledge, financial constraints, and inadequate market opportunities. By establishing dedicated marketplaces and promoting fair access to resources, we can unlock women's potential in agriculture, driving both community resilience and economic growth. Projects like Mihikatha Lanka are vital to this, as it is giving women the tools to succeed.“

The Access Sri Lanka Project - locally known as “මිහිකත ලංකා” (Mihikatha Lanka) in Sinhala and “பூமிப்பெண்” (Boomippen) in Tamil, will equip communities, especially women farmers and women leaders with knowledge and techniques on climate-smart agriculture and help build resilience in food systems in order to ensure food security. The project has a special focus on enhancing gender equality and empowering and partnering with women in bringing about these sustainable solutions.

Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development said, “Through the ACCESS Sri Lanka project, Canada is supporting communities most affected by climate change to build long-term resilience. By equipping women with the tools and knowledge to lead in climate-smart agriculture, this initiative not only strengthens food security but also advances gender equality. Together with World Vision, we are empowering communities to create a more sustainable and equitable future.”

Women's roles in agriculture are often in lower-value tasks rather than higher-value agricultural activities such as management or market access. Women often lack equal opportunities to enter leadership or decision-making roles in agriculture. This limits their economic autonomy in farming and makes them more vulnerable to climate impacts.

Felix Rathnasekara, World Vision ACCESS Sri Lanka Project Manager, said,  "Climate change stands as one of our most pressing challenges, with regions like Welikanda and Rideemaliyadda facing prolonged droughts and intense rainfall that make sustainable farming a daunting task. ACCESS Sri Lanka is, aims to build resilience in food systems while empowering women by recognizing and educating them as community leaders. We can foster their equal contribution and active involvement in decision-making and secure their access to vital resources. Through this, we can also create a sustainable solution rooted in the strength of women who are essential to their communities’ future.”

ACCESS Sri Lanka will ensure 70% of the total direct beneficiaries constitute women, particularly landless women, widowed women, single women, women with disabilities and those belonging to marginalized ethnic groups.

The project will provide leadership training and mentorship for women community leaders and establish governance structures for sustainable land and watershed management. By empowering and partnering with women and men, the project will help foster economic autonomy, build climate resilience, and create lasting social change in these vulnerable communities.

About World Vision 

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

We work through our main sectors –health and nutrition, water and sanitation, economic development and child protection – serving all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Our work is always child-focused, participatory and community-driven.

World Vision has been in Sri Lanka since 1977 and currently serves in 27 locations in 14 Districts across the country through long-term development programmes. In 2023, we directly impacted the lives of over 100,000 most vulnerable children and their families.