Healthy Socio-Economic Recovery of the Micro and Small Enterprise Sector of Sri Lanka (COVID-19)

Healthy Socio-Economic Recovery of the Micro and Small Enterprise Sector of Sri Lanka (COVID-19) The COVID-19 crisis has hit hard particularly micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Sri Lanka. Health and safety of those working in these often-congested enterprises is paramount in light of COVID-19, as is the need to keep them and the workers they employ financially afloat. With a return to work scenario imminent, the project will provide support to MSEs to operate in a COVID-19 safe environment while assisting them to access working capital through Government and/or private sector channels to restart their businesses. The strategy includes MSE support through specific Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) preventative measurese, business continuity planning, entrepreneurship support, manager-worker dialogue and on-line delivery channels and training thereby enhancing sustainability and ensuring decent work. This dual strategy of OSH precautionary measures and access to working capital will help mitigate the adverse health and socio-economic impact on vulnerable enterprises and hundreds of thousands of workers they employ, allowing Sri Lanka to faster and steady recovery. The project designed based on the Government of Sri Lanka development priorities and following consultations with the Employer’s Federation of Sri Lanka and other social partners. The strategy secures value for money by building on existing or recent collaboration with national or local institutions. The project implemented by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) in collaboration with United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and World Health Organization (WHO). The project specifically target MSEs with a special focus on female owned enterprises in Gampaha and Kaluthara districts.

Project symbol

LKA/20/50/UND

Admin unit

CO-Colombo

Start date

01/07/2020

End date

31/05/2021

Total allocation

651715

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

593968

Development Partners

Multi Partner Trust Fund Office, UNDP

Country/Countries

Sri Lanka

Outcomes

Outcome 4: Sustainable enterprises as generators of employment and promoters of innovation and decent work
Outcome 8: Comprehensive and sustainable social protection for all