SLAHDA - PROFILE

Sri Lanka Aid and Humanitarian Development Agency
(SLAHDA) No. 40/9, 6th Lane, Pagoda Road, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.

SLAHDA - Sri Lanka Aid and Humanitarian Development Agency
This document spells out the vision, mission, objectives, strategies and mode of operation of SLAHDA, an NGO which will operate in Sri Lanka. The present and the future plans reflect the essence of this policy document.

Introduction
SLAHDA will address the pressing societal needs in the realm of Community Development, Relief, Rehabilitation, Education, Economic Development, Environmental conservation, Agriculture, Health and Temperance and other fields of concern useful for the Development of Sri Lanka and its people. SLAHDA will function both as an Aid Facilitator and Project Implementing Organisation.

It derives strength and inspiration from its vision, “enhancing the quality of people’s life by empowering them to participate in development.
Also, SLAHDA will focus development amongst marginalized people groups such as impoverished children, women, youth, and rural poor, refugees, city slum dwellers who are not fully integrated into development frame work of Sri Lanka.

SLAHDA also considers the fact that strengthening the solidarity with the oppressed and the marginalised cannot be achieved in isolation. Hence to network with other like minded organizations in the working environment is felt as a supportive effort and is given due consideration. SLAHDA is intending to network corporation, partnerships and technical expertise amongst both Local and International NGO’s and Volunteer organisations. Emphasis is for the organizations such as PVOs, GRO and CBO's to play an active role in the fashioning and shaping of the norms of tomorrow’s society of poor and marginalized will be a important focus of SLAHDA.

Further, SLAHDA will expand its contact base with international donors and funding organisations to facilitate and implement its program objectives in Sri Lanka and in other countries.

SLAHDA accepting the reality of the ethno-cultural diversity of the Sri Lankan society has resolved to work within the confines of the same in its endeavour to strengthen solidarity with the marginalised people. The cooperation with the Government of Sri Lanka is seen as a vital measure since it serves the dual purpose of accepting the recognition of volunteer organizations by the Government as well as providing the necessary social space for the Government to perform.

The major challenge of private organisations that will contribute to SLAHDA aid is to strengthen and support, successful local organisations to implement relevant people based development programmes. Recipient control is a principle with as much importance in development aid through private organisations as for other bilateral assistance. This implies that the target groups and the local organisations or government bodies will be partners of activities and be responsible for the development process in progress. External donors will have a consultative and supporting role.

The Vision

SLAHDA is an NGO (Non governmental Organization) operating in Sri Lanka. Our vision is to enhance the quality of the life of people by empowering them to participate in development.

The Mission

The mission of SLAHDA is to

1. Strive and improve the physical, mental and social conditions of the people through humanitarian and developmental activities.
2. Facilitate assistance in situations of crisis and work toward long term solutions to the affected.
3. Enhance equitable partnerships with those in need to achieve positive and sustainable change in communities.
4. Strengthen and build networks which sustain indigenous capacity, appropriate technology, and develop skills and knowledge at all levels.
5. Develop and maintain relationships with our partners and constituents which provide effective modes for growth and action.
6. Promote equitable and participatory involvement of women in development process. Advocate responsible care and management of natural resources and environment.
7. Empower children to attain their full potential.
8. Function as a catalyst in building up and strengthening local groups / organisations in order to improve the socio-economic situation of the marginalised, fight alcohol-and drug problems, promote peace and harmony among communities while providing humanitarian assistance in times of need.

Improve the living conditions:

To work for the uplifting of the marginalized, to release them from the clutches of poverty and exploitation, has been the key note of SLAHDA intervention from the inception. However, the poor productivity due to deteriorating environmental conditions, man made disasters, poor security conditions, inaccessibility to resources, denial of basic rights etc. play a major role in the lives of people bringing about adverse results. Hence SLAHDA has to develop different strategies to overcome this situation. The developmental approach which springs from building grass root level organisations and strengthening them in order that they may be mobilized to help achieve the expected results.

SLAHDA will launch a catalytic intervention on a periodic basis where necessary to create awareness among the target population and equipment them to undertake the necessary action against adverse elements. Of vital importance is the degree of motivated participation of the target population. Integrated programmes too will strike a balance and they are expected to sustain to a good extent.

Fight alcohol and drug problems:

SLAHDA will empower people to improve their quality of life, regard alcohol and drug consumption as particularly affecting the poor strata of the society due to the limited income and disproportional share of resources used on such substances.

SLAHDA acknowledges the connection between suppression, bondage and the consumption of alcohol and drugs. We regard alcohol and other drugs as threats to human, social and economical development on micro level. Sri Lankan society is challenged by an aggressive and expanding drink industry, serving the traditional market as well as introducing new products to new consumer groups. Alcohol production, particularly illicit brewing, should be addressed in its complexity.

SLAHDA will raise the consciousness among our partners of the ill effects of alcohol and drug consumption, promote an alcohol and drug free life style and support income generating alternatives to local alcohol production and sale. SLAHDA will support the local forces fighting alcohol and drug problems, to counter the increased alcohol and drug consumption in the country.

Peace:

SLAHDA being a development organization feels firmly that peace is a pre requisite for development. Development efforts for enhancing the quality of life of individuals will be severely hampered if peace does not prevail.

The ongoing war in S. L. while causing irreparable damages to people and property, has also resulted in the degradation of human values. “Refugees” and “Displaced” are created and are forced to be dependant. The mistrust among communities has increased and the vacuum for peace initiatives is much felt by the peace loving civic society.
Further the effects of war are reflected throughout the country, especially bringing about deterioration in the country’s economy and causing untold hardships to the ordinary citizen. Hence it has become unavoidable for any organization to strive to work to bring about peace, which otherwise would result in destroying the whole sustainable efforts built up.

SLAHDA having peace and human rights as one of the focal points of their ideology , needs to develop strategies to promote and support peace initiatives which is the need of the day in Sri Lanka.

Humanitarian assistance – Relief:

The ongoing war has affected the rich and the poor, and people are desperate since they have virtually lost everything. There are situations in which people would starve and even die if relief measures do not reach them, and this situation threatens the most vulnerable group the women and children. The internally displaced and the refugees await humanitarian assistance since there are no other options.

SLAHDA bears the responsibility to be with the target group/people in times of manmade and natural disasters in order to reduce human suffering to the maximum possible extent. Though relief assistance is not a part of SLAHDA’s profile, it has become a result of absolute necessity. Still a participatory approach is advocated in relief operations paving the way towards development efforts.

Co-ordinating relief efforts with the NGOs and other NGOs is followed for better results and avoiding duplication.

The Principle of neutrality, impartiality, need orientation regardless of race and ethnicity, which are ratified by all major humanitarian agencies, is guidance for our intervention.

Streamlining the lifestyles of the affected population after an emergency situation should also be envisaged by SLAHDA in order to bring about normalcy, allowing population to start lives on their own.