BACKGROUND OF ADAPT-SL

 

Due to variety of factors including climate change effects and development projects (as stated by the National Physical Plan 2030) paddy farmers in the dry zone of Sri Lanka are expected to face an increased incidence of water scarcity in the future. As such, they adapt their agricultural practices to deal with climate change scenarios.

 

NBRO is working with Vanderbilt University researchers in a multidisciplinary effort to understand better the environmental, institutional, social and individual factors that influence adaptive capacity of a farmer of Sri Lanka with the objective of developing a drought mitigation tool. In this project, VIEE researchers will work together with Sri Lankan researchers in developing the tool. For better coordination of the project in Sri Lanka, the project team was decided to establish a stakeholder committee.

 

The Agricultural Decision-making and Adaptation to Precipitation Trends-Sri Lanka (ADAPT-SL) is a five year project funded by National Science Foundation (NSF) of United States to examine agricultural adaptation among farmers in the Mahaweli River Watershed of Sri Lanka.

                                                                                                                                                          

PURPOSE OF STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC)    

 

The primary objective of the ADAPT-SL Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) based in Sri Lanka is to represent the views of its related professions to the project on all matters involved in the research, development and implementation of alternatives. This SAC will ensure that its members have the ability to provide regular and relevant input into the development and implementation of the research, and that the research objectives.

 

The SAC will draw members from a wide range of stakeholders, including government and non-government agencies, research institutes and universities. This will ensure that a wide range of views will be represented by the SAC. SAC will be coordinated and lead by NBRO, and Director General of NBRO or Director of Human Settlements Division (HSD) will act as the chair of the SAC.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

MEMBER COMPOSITION OF THE SAC

 

Members of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee will be invited by the Director General of National Building Research Organization. SAC will consist of 32 members; however, average of 15 will be called for a monthly SAC meeting. All members are expected to provide fullest cooperation to the project and inputs.

 

The member’s list of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee is given below.

 

1. Ministry of Disaster Management

2. Climate Change Secretariat

3. Irrigation Department

4. Department of Agrarian Development

5. Water Management Secretariat

6. Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka

7. Hector Kobbekaduwa Agriculture Research and Training Institute

8. Ministry of Environment

9. Ministry of Agriculture

10. Ministry of Irrigation and Water Management

11. Ministry of Public Administration

12. Disaster Management Centre

13. United Nations Development Programme

14. Meteorological Department

15. Department of Agriculture

16. National Physical Planning Department

17. Wildlife Conservation Department

18. Central Environmental Authority

19. Samurdhi Authority

20. Ceylon Electricity Board

21. National Water Supply and Drainage Board

22. Water Resource Board

23. Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy

24. International Water Management Institute

25. National Dam Safety and Water Resource Planning Project

26. Department of Zoology, University of Colombo

27. Department of Sociology, University of Colombo

28. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa

29. Department of Civil and Environment Engineering, Open University

30. National Cleaner Production Centre

31. Geological Surveys and Mines Bureau

32. Practical Action

 

EXPECTED ROLES OF SAC MEMBERS

 

• Overall guidance of the project in Sri Lanka

• Provide advice on administrative constraints, basic research areas, and overall aspects of the research and development activities.

• Provide feedbacks on the research strategies.

• Facilitate appropriate consultation, data requirements and the research development as required.

• Coordinate with the regional officers for data sharing and facilitate the research developments.

• Interact and involve with the research development and disseminate regional level decisions relevant to the research.

• Provide technical inputs on policy level decision making.

• Discuss government policy issues and monitor the implementation of the project activities.

• Assist to identify suitable demonstration sites and discuss sub- research areas.

• Implement the research findings.

 

SUPPORT

The secretarial and administrative functions for the SAC will be facilitated by the Climate Research Unit (CRU) under NBRO.

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee will provide the views directly to the project. Chairman of the SAC will be (by designation) Director General of NBRO or Director of Human Settlements Division (HSD) of NBRO.

 

MEETINGS & REPORTING

 

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee will meet at least once a month or more as relevant. Initially, the Stakeholder Advisory Committee will be required to meet more frequently to assess and provide comment on the initial review, research and development proposals and the progress of new demonstration trials of alternatives to NBRO.

The SAC will report to the NBRO after each meeting by way of a report from the Chair. The Climate Research Unit (CRU) will disseminate relevant advice and outcomes from SAC to other groups.

Any proposals with significant overarching policy implications will be sent to NBRO for consideration and consultation with other institutes where applicable.

All SAC members will be remunerated for their participation at the SAC.