Italian Cooperation

The Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGCS) is the department responsible for implementing development policy.

The Development Cooperation department operates in the priority country field through permanent technical units or temporary local offices usually appointed to face emergency situations.

Italian Cooperation in Sri Lanka is currently financing and monitoring the implementation of more then 40 projects within the post Tsunami rehabilitation process, in the areas of housing, livelihood, psycho-social and sanitation. The projects are implemented by 20 Italian NGOs and United Nations Agencies, namely UN Habitat, FAO, WFP and are often integrated by the contribution of many Italian local institutions and authorities.

Italian Cooperation's strategy in Sri Lanka focus on post-emergency interventions having the goal of creating a link between relief and development through projects that enhance community self-reliance on a participatory, integrated and sustainable basis.

Italian Cooperation has awarded UN Habitat for the implementation of three reconstruction projects, all implemented in partnership with Italian NGOs. The first one is a main component of a community resettlement and reconstruction programme in Panadura, in partnership with Asia Onlus and UCODEP: 800 persons will benefit by the reconstruction of 130houses. In the Hambantota district, UN Habitat and GUS are rebuilding 220 houses for a resettled community, and 100 houses in Kalmunai in partnership with Overseas.