Our strategy development for the coming years was carried out in consultation with a broad cross section of partners, interns, board members and all staff.
Underpinned by the Vision and Values, the plan is informed by an analysis of our past performance, key trends influencing poverty and injustice, and key political, social, economic, technological and environmental factors influencing the living context of the Sri Lankan people. RAHAMA has to contend with the political, economic, social and environmental challenges that emerge from the Sri Lankan development context. Please refer Annex 1&2 for the internal and external environment scans.
Our strategic directions or change goals and enabling actions are all directed at building sustainable development. They are in compliance with the development policies of Sri Lanka and draw inspiration from the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our long-term efforts at resettlement, development and advocacy focus on identified change goals that are aligned with SDGs i.e.- ending poverty and ending hunger; contributing to education; empowerment for securing rights and entitlements; gender equality; nurturing and growing children, their education, and fitting youth for the world of work (decent work) and promoting a healthy life style free of alcohol and drugs; economic uplift through sustainable production, and caring for the environment; shelter, water and sanitation and health, and finally peaceful co-existence – helping us to bring about positive change in the lives of our people. RAHAMA’s five-year programme actually contributes to all SDGs but for Goal 7 and 13. Please refer annex 3 for the 17 SDGs.
We will support people to hold government, corporates, civil society and international organisations to account for the execution of their responsibilities. We will work to change policies that perpetuate poverty, insecurity and inequality. Our focus has to be shifted to the understanding that exclusion, inequality and injustice are the real target, more than simply a lack of or inadequate income.
With partners and allies we will work in solidarity with people especially women, to achieve their rights and assert their dignity as full citizens. We will support, capacitate and equip self-help groups and community organisations to spearhead their own development in a sustainable manner while being linked to other CSOs and government agencies. The foregoing efforts will be in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Internally, as an organisation we will endeavour to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of our work with the people. Performance will be closely monitored for lessons learning and corrective action if required. We will regularly monitor, report and communicate on our performance using scientific learning based on research to adapt to changing circumstances and improving effectiveness over the life of the plan, particularly in our advocacy and lobbying efforts.
In order to bring about change in poverty, exclusion, discrimination and inequality, we need people, alliances, civil society organisations, government and corporates to work together and also the solidarity and goodwill of our partner countries and international bodies. “Change is sometimes a smooth, steady process, but often emerges from ‘critical junctures’ – windows of opportunity provided by elections, changes in leadership, natural disasters or even conflicts.” As such, RAHAMA will grasp the window of opportunity whenever it presents itself to bring about positive change. We understand that Development is about power and its progressive redistribution from the haves to the have-nots in all spheres of political, social and economic life.
The Strategic Plan describes five directions/changes that stand for an integrated effort at addressing income poverty, inequality, discrimination, and exclusion. Basically, the implementation of the strategic plan will bring about a realignment of the prevalent, inequitable power dynamics in our communities and wider society to one that will favour the marginalised.
- Marginalised Communities including persons with disabilities, particularly women, upgrade their quality of life, free from all forms of discrimination, abuse and violence; secure through participatory governance their rights and entitlements, and fully participate in their own development as citizens living in peaceful coexistence with all.
- Children enjoy a high quality of life with the promotion and securing of their rights through active children’s cooperatives, child clubs, and links with other CSOs and government agencies, and in an improved home environment.
- An increasing number of groups of entrepreneurs produce environmentally sustainable products through viable businesses for the national and international markets and thereby achieve sustainable development while addressing climate change, extreme weather and disasters that follow.
- Consumption of ADAT is significantly reduced by marginalised families through the intervention of Divisional ADAT prevention forums in collaboration with other relevant agencies.
- RAHAMA as an institution is strengthened for well governed, efficient, effective and accountable development work with the community in cooperation with partners and other stakeholders for achieving its vision and mission.
Our Ways of Working
- Contribute directly to positive change in people’s lives through long term development and humanitarian work in the selected districts.
- Strengthen the capacity of individuals, communities, CSOs, government agencies, networks and social movements to bring about and sustain change.
- Change the ideas and beliefs that underpin poverty and injustice and mobilise a broad-based constituency for change.
- Empower the people to secure their rights and entitlements as citizens.
- Change the policies and practices of governments, corporations and CSOs through a combination of engagement, advocacy and people -based campaigning.
- Hold government and other stakeholders to account for delivering on these commitments to change policies and practices.
- Collaborate with partners, allies, government agencies, CSOs and the corporates for sustainable and positive change for the people.
- Capture the lessons from our work at the local level and use these to change our own practice and influence the practice of others, and develop proposals for policy and practice change at other levels.
- Monitor the impact of policy and practice change, and work for further change where necessary.
- Strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to self-organize around the priorities of poor and marginalized people.