Germany extends support to NE redevelopment

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 November 2003, 10:34 GMT]
"The German government has decided to extend its support to the North East Community Restoration and Development Project (NECORD) with additional funds of EURO 2.4 million (Rs. 260 million) spread over the next three years", said a press release issued by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) today.

GTZ is a Company owned by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. GTZ is one of the official Planning and Implementation Agencies for the official German Development Cooperation.

Full text of the press release follows:

Germany extends support to northeast redevelopment with Rs.260 m grant
The German government has decided to extend its support to the North East Community Restoration and Development Project (NECORD) with additional funds of EURO 2.4 million (Rs. 260 million) spread over the next three years.

The additional funds, which come in the form of a grant, will be utilized by NECORD during its second phase of activities, which will continue till December 2006, said T. Lankaneson, NECORD’s Project Director.

“The German assistance will be utilized to procure the human resources, equipment and materials required for the project. This will facilitate concept development and effective and expeditious implementation of sub projects,” said Mr. Lankaneson.

The German contribution will be implemented by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), which provides technical assistance in the form of management support to the project.

“The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, following the latest round of discussions with Sri Lankan authorities, decided to extend by another three years its support for the work done by NECORD,” said Dr. Roland Steurer, Country Director of GTZ.

“We are happy to join hands with NECORD’s other partners to continue the task of bringing immediate relief to the people of the war-battered north and east regions,” he added.

A project of the Sri Lankan government, NECORD is funded by the Asian Development Bank, the Government of SL, the OPEC Fund, and the Governments of Germany and The Netherlands. The executing agency of the project is the Ministry of Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government. The implementing agency is the North East Provincial Council.

NECORD strives to improve the quality of life of the people affected by war in the north and east through providing housing and basic services, improving health and education facilities and re-establishing agricultural and fishing activities as a means of providing income to people who are presently dependent on welfare payments.

According to Ingo Guhr, Senior GTZ Advisor to NECORD, the German funds would be utilized towards assisting in building a management information system so that the progress of infrastructure projects can be monitored, concept development for community mobilization, human resource development by organizing workshops for project staff, co-operating with government departments and partner NGOs and training for individuals in Sri Lanka as well as abroad, and in developing approaches for NECORD to support district planning.

Since the project was launched in September 2001, NECORD has identified 493 sub projects to the value of Rs. 2,606 million. Of those 225 sub projects to the value of Rs. 1,086 million have been awarded tender and 100 sub projects have been completed.

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