OUR MISSION - Save the Children

Photo by: Madubashini Rathnayake

OUR MISSION is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

OUR VISION is a world where every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

First Published 2016

? Save the Children International

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Save the Children International Sri Lanka Country Office 12 Amarasekara Mawatha, Colombo 5. Tel +94 (0)11 2555336 -8 Fax +94 (0) 11 2555077 info@

Investing in Children in Sri Lanka - CHILD CENTRIC RESOURCE ANALYSIS SUMMARY REPORT

Photo by: Madubashini Rathnayake

Principal Consultant/ Investigator Chathuri Jayasooriya

Research team Nilmini Ekanayake Kasun Kathriarachchi Chamindri Katuwawala

Save the Children Technical Team Ranjan Weththasinghe Buddhini Withana Bob Libert Muchabaiwa Michael Corlin

Consultant Editor Pravin Mark Jayasinghe

Cover Page Photos Madubashini Rathnayake

Investing in Children in Sri Lanka - CHILD CENTRIC RESOURCE ANALYSIS SUMMARY REPORT

FOREWORD

At a time when much is being done in terms of development projects to better the lives of the people of Sri Lanka, it is crucial to remember those groups of society that are sometimes left behind; the children of our country. In this sense, the work done by this report in bringing to light the issues surrounding resource allocation and expenditure for children is highly valuable. Therefore, it is my pleasure to make remarks on the report on "Child Centric Resource Analysis", which shows the past and present trends in resource allocation for the wellbeing of the children living in Sri Lanka and; the gaps and weaknesses that remain to be addressed by the Government, society and family in order to create an environment that is healthy and safe for children.

As the national focal point of monitoring and evaluation, the Department of Project Management and Monitoring possesses vast experience in the process of the implementation of social welfare programmes in the past decade. It is observed that, achieving the expected targets in social welfare programmes is not easy due to the sensitivity of such programmes to unpredictable economic and political changes in the country. In addition, it is not easy to measure the outcomes of such programmes separately due to the direct and indirect influence by development projects and programmes in other sectors on the overall quality of life of children. Resource allocation for the key sectors such as education, health, child protection, and early childhood development is an indicator to assess the level of commitment and priority shown by a society for the sustainable wellbeing of its present and future generations.

This study has focused on public-sector approach as well as the contribution of civil society at sectoral, national, provincial and divisional levels to enhance the quality of life for children. Regional and sectoral disparities and gaps in investment on children are also discussed in-depth, with valid recommendations to improve the planning, budgeting, and implementation of future programmes to enhance the rights of children. Therefore, the Child Centric Resource Analysis is a commendable piece of study which will be helpful to policy-makers and planners to steer the country towards a balanced society in which the rights of children are secured to have a healthy, peaceful, safe and happy life.

DHARSHANA SENANAYAKE Director General, Department of Project Management & Monitoring Ministry of National Policy & Economic Affairs

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Investing in Children in Sri Lanka - CHILD CENTRIC RESOURCE ANALYSIS SUMMARY REPORT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Save the Children International (SCI) ? Sri Lanka would like to appreciate and acknowledge the following contributors who made all the difference in making this study a success. We thank the former Chief Secretary of the Southern Province (SP), Ms. W.K.K. Athukorala and the Deputy Chief Secretary (Planning), Ms. Preethika Kumuduni for granting permission to carry out the study in the Southern Province. Our kind gratitude goes to all officials at the Southern Province Department of Probation and Child Care Services and the Provincial Departments of Education and Health. While it is regretfully impossible to mention all names, we extend our gratitude to all the officials at national, provincial (SPC) and sub-national levels who supported us throughout the study. Special thanks goes to Ms. K.K. Swarnakanthi ? CRPO Habaraduwa and Ms. T.D. Kaluarachchi ? CRPO Kotapola for facilitating the field work in the communities. We highly appreciate the efforts of Ms. Yamuna Perera ? Commissioner, Department of Probation and Child Care Services and all her staff for extending continuous support to this process. Further, we acknowledge the support provided by Dr. Natasha Balendra ? Chairperson and Mr. Sajeea Samaranayake - Deputy Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority. Special thanks goes to Ms. Chandima Sigera ? Director, Children's Secretariat and Mr. A.A.K Athukorala ? Assistant Director, Children's Secretariat. We are thankful to all officials at the National Ministry of Health who supported us, especially Dr. Hemantha Benaragama ? Director Maternal and Child Health and the staff at the Family Health Bureau. SCI Sri Lanka is thankful to all the CSOs who participated in the research. We extend our sincere appreciation to the community members and children who took part in the research, for spending their valuable time with us, educating and informing us about the deeper grassroots issues the country is facing today. We are deeply grateful to Ms. Chathuri Jayasooriya ? the principal investigator, for her continuous dedication, bearing all the responsibilities of the study and delivering a comprehensive and quality research. We also thank her research assistant, Mr. Kasun Kathriarachchi for his efforts, and Ms. Enakshi Ganguly ? HAQ Centre for Child Rights, India, for sharing information on the global developments relating to resourcing child rights. We thank Ms. Nilmini Ekanayake ? District Programme Coordinator, SCI for supporting Ms. Jayasooriya during the period of field research and Ms. Chamindri Katuwawala for her invaluable contribution to the process. We deeply appreciate the dedication and support of the consultant editor, Mr. Pravin Mark Jayasinghe for developing a high quality final document. Our special gratitude goes to Mr. Bob Libert Muchabaiwa ? Manager, Investment in Children ? Child Rights Governance Global Initiative of Save the Children and Mr. Michael Corlin ? Senior Manager, Investment in Children of Save the Children Denmark for their valuable technical guidance and Save the Children Denmark and DANIDA for the financial support.

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Investing in Children in Sri Lanka - CHILD CENTRIC RESOURCE ANALYSIS SUMMARY REPORT

CONTENTS

Forward ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 01 Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................................................... 02 List of Tables.................................................................................................................................................................................. 04 List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................................................ 05 Acronyms....................................................................................................................................................................................... 06 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................................... 07 Why Invest in Children?................................................................................................................................................................. 08

1.0 BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE............................................................................................................................ 09

2.0 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................................ 11 2.1. Research Questions................................................................................................................................................................ 11 2.2. Time Frame ............................................................................................................................................................................ 11 2.3. The Sample ............................................................................................................................................................................ 11

2.3.1. Geographical Coverage ............................................................................................................................................... 11 2.3.2. Stakeholders................................................................................................................................................................. 12 2.4. The Scope .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 2.4.1. Period Covered ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 2.4.2. Sectors.......................................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.4.3. Ministries ...................................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.4.4. Interventions................................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.5. The Method............................................................................................................................................................................ 14 2.5.1. Literature Review ......................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.5.2. Field Research .............................................................................................................................................................. 14 2.5.3. Data Processing (Financial)........................................................................................................................................... 14 2.6. Gaps and Challenges ............................................................................................................................................................. 15

3.0 PROFILE ? SRI LANKA AND THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE ....................................................................................... 16 3.1. Sri Lanka ................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 3.2. Southern Province ................................................................................................................................................................. 17

4.0 BUDGET FOR CHILDREN (BfC) IN SRI LANKA......................................................................................................... 18 4.1. Trends in Investing in Children (2012-2015) ........................................................................................................................... 18

4.1.1. The National BfC .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 4.1.2. Sectoral Shares ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 4.1.3. Provincial BfC ? Southern Province ............................................................................................................................. 24 4.1.4. Sectoral Shares ............................................................................................................................................................. 27 4.2. State Investment in Children in Sri Lanka: A Snapshot........................................................................................................... 30 4.1.1. The National BfC .......................................................................................................................................................... 30

5.0 RESOURCING CHILD RIGHTS: THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY, COMMUNITY AND FAMILY .................................... 31 5.1. Civil Society Investments ....................................................................................................................................................... 31

5.1.1. Gaps and Challenges ................................................................................................................................................... 32 5.2. Community Resources............................................................................................................................................................ 33

5.2.1. Needs of the Communities ......................................................................................................................................... 34 5.3. Household Spending.............................................................................................................................................................. 35

5.3.1. Household Income ....................................................................................................................................................... 35 5.3.2. Household Expenditure ............................................................................................................................................... 36

6.0 GENERAL GAPS AND CHALLENGES ....................................................................................................................... 43 6.1. Financial Resources ............................................................................................................................................................... 43

6.1.1. Financial Allocations..................................................................................................................................................... 43 6.1.2. Financial Planning, Management and Presentation ..................................................................................................... 45 6.2. Physical Resources.................................................................................................................................................................. 47 6.3. Human Resources .................................................................................................................................................................. 48 6.3.1. The Workforce .............................................................................................................................................................. 48 6.3.2. Human Capacity .......................................................................................................................................................... 48 6.3.3. Monitoring and Supervision ......................................................................................................................................... 49 6.4 Programme Planning and Implementation.............................................................................................................................. 49 6.5. Coordination in Child Rights Monitoring .............................................................................................................................. 50 6.6. Service Delivery ...................................................................................................................................................................... 51

7.0 CHILD POVERTY AND SOCIAL PROTECTION.......................................................................................................... 54

8.0 SUGGESTIONS.......................................................................................................................................................... 57 8.1. Financial Resources ............................................................................................................................................................... 57 8.2. Human Resources................................................................................................................................................................... 58

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................................................ 60

APPENDIX 1: Participant List......................................................................................................................................................... 64 APPENDIX 2: Budget for Children (BfC) - Sri Lanka and Southern Province (2012-2015)............................................................. 67 APPENDIX 3: Welfare Spending on Children................................................................................................................................ 70

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Investing in Children in Sri Lanka - CHILD CENTRIC RESOURCE ANALYSIS SUMMARY REPORT

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3. : Sri Lanka at a glance ? 2012/13..................................................................................................................... 16 Table 3.2 : Southern Province at a glance ? 2012 ........................................................................................................... 17 Table 4.1 : Total national investment in children ? 2012-2015 ....................................................................................... 18 Table 4.2 : Programmes invested in at the national level, by sector (overview of priority investments) ? 2012-2015.... 24 Table 4.3 : Total provincial investment in children, Southern Province ? 2012-2015 ..................................................... 24 Table 4.4 : Programmes invested in at the provincial level, by sector (overview of priority investments),

Southern Province ? 2012-2015 .................................................................................................................... 29 Table 5.1 : Breakdown of household income by quintile ? 2012/13............................................................................... 35 Table 5.2 : Average (Mean) monthly household income by income level ? Habaraduwa DSD ..................................... 35 Table 5.3 : Average monthly household expenditure by major non-food expenditure group, Sri Lanka ? 2012/13...... 36 Table 5.4 : Household expenditure categories ............................................................................................................... 37 Table 5.5 : Annual household income, expenditure and saving/deficit by household unit ? Habaraduwa DSD ........... 38 Table 5.6 : Annual household expenditure by household unit ? Kotapola DSD ............................................................ 38 Table 5.7 : The average monthly household expenditure by expenditure category

- Habaraduwa and Kotapola DSDs ............................................................................................................... 39 Table 6.1 : Foreign investments in the education, health, development and protection of children ............................ 44 Table 7.1 : Income poor and/or multi-dimensionally poor children in Sri Lanka ? 2012/2013 ....................................... 55 Table 1 : BfC - Sri Lanka ............................................................................................................................................... 67 Table 2 : Recurrent and Capital Expenditure (National)............................................................................................... 68 Table 3 : BfC - Southern Province ................................................................................................................................ 69 Table 4 : Recurrent and Capital Expenditure (Southern Province) ............................................................................... 69

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Investing in Children in Sri Lanka - CHILD CENTRIC RESOURCE ANALYSIS SUMMARY REPORT

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