Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

CONTENT

Content

List of Tables ii

List of Figures ii

Abbreviations 04

Executive Summary 06

Chapter One - Introduction 09 1.1. The Background 09 1.2. Objectives of the study 10

Chapter Two – Situation Analysis 11 2.1. Finding of the Analysis 11 2.2. Domestic Violence, Decision Making, Women Empowerment and Employment 12 Status 2.3. Education 14 2.4. Policies and National Programs 14 2.5. Enterprise Sri Lanka 17 2.6. Grama Shakthi 17 2.7. Agriculture Sector Modernization Project 18 2.8. Identified barriers for women economic empowerment 18

Chapter Three - Methodology 20 3.1. Research Design 20 3.2. Data Collection 20 3.2.1. Sample size calculation and Selection 20 3.2.2. Data Collection Method 22 3.3. Data Analysis 22 3.4. Approach to the Qualitative Data Collection 22 3.4.1. Key Informant Interviews 22 3.4.2. Focus Group Discussions 22 3.4.3. Households Surveys 22 3.5. Data analysis for qualitative data 23 3.6. Limitations 23 3.7. Location 23 3.8. Scope of the Work 23 3.9. Outline of the Report 24

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in i Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Chapter Four – Result, Analysis and Discussion 25 4.1. Distribution of the sample 25 4.2. Gender of the Respondents 26 4.3. Status of Employment 26 4.4. Respondents Current Occupation 27 4.5. Reasons for Unemployment 28 4.6. Economic Status 29 4.7. Monthly Allowances (Samurdhi/Government Allowance) 29 4.8. Income Earning Sources available in the project areas 30 4.9. Monthly Household Income 32 4.10. Method of Covering Expenses 33 4.11. Reasons for obtaining loans 34 4.12. Decision Making 34 4.13. Information related to Vocational Training 36 4.13.1. Participation for Vocational Training 36 4.14. Courses followed 37 4.15. Reasons for Unemployment 38 4.16. Quality of Vocational Training 39 4.17. Awareness about Vocational Training Programme 40 4.18. Reasons for Unawareness about Vocational training Programme 40 4.19. Difficulties and way to overcome vocational training (Only for Female) 41 4.20. The way to overcome the Problems 41 4.21. Reasons for not attending Vocational training 42 4.22. Training Preferred 43 4.23. Information Relevant to the Services 44 4.23.1. Benefits from Financial Institutes 44 4.23.2. Benefits from the Government Sector 45 4.23.3. Benefits from the Non-Government sector 46 4.23.4. Barriers to obtaining Services 47 4.24. Self-employment 48 4.24.1. The reasons for not being Self-employed 49 4.24.2. Opportunity for self-employment 50 4.24.3. Possible interventions preferred in perceiving self-employment 51 4.24.4. Barriers to access women employment 52 4.25. Project Oriented subject Areas 53 4.25.1. Issues related to Dairy Farming 53 4.25.2. Cinnamon/Coco Cultivation and the main problems 54 4.25.3. Potato Cultivation and the main problems 55

Chapter Five – Barriers, Stakeholders and their Intervention, and Recommendations for 57 Intervention and Capacity Buildings 5.1. Social and Economic Barriers to Women’s Engagement in Economic Activities 57 (WEE)

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in ii Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

5.1.1. Economic Growth 57 5.1.2. Women Entrepreneurship: Issues and barriers (WEE) 58 5.1.3. Education and skills development 60 5.1.4. Education and skills development 60 5.1.5. Reproductive and domestic responsibilities 60 5.1.6. Access to physical and financial assets 61 5.1.7. Social Capital and leadership 61 5.1.8. Gender norms and discriminatory social norms 62 5.2. Key stakeholders and their current intervention 62 5.3. Possible Interventions 63 5.4. Area of capacity building 67 5.4.1. Capacity building for the primary stakeholders (women) 67 5.4.2. Capacity building for the secondary stakeholders 67

References

List of Tables

Table 2.1. Domestic Violence 12 Table 2.2. Decision making ability in the three districts 13 Table 2.3. Employment status by Employment 13 Table 2.4. Vocational Training Centers 14 Table 3.1. Distribution of Sample 21

List of Figures

Figure 4.1. Distribution of the sample based on the district and DS area (In %) 25 Figure 4.2. Gender of the Respondent (In %) 26 Figure 4.3. Status of Employment (In %) 26 Figure 4.4. Respondents Current Occupation 27 Figure 4.5. Reason for Unemployment (In %) 28 Figure 4.6. Monthly Allowances - Samurdhi (In%) 29 Figure 4.7. Monthly Allowances – Government Allowance (In%) 30 Figure 4.8. Availability of Income Earning Sources - Agricultural (% out of total 31 respondents) Figure 4.9. Income Earning Sources available in the project areas– Non-Agricultural 32 (%) Figure 4.10. Sufficiency of Monthly household Income (In %) 33 Figure 4.11. Method of Covering Expenses (In %) 33 Figure 4.12. Reasons for obtaining loans (In %) 34 Figure 4.13. Decision Making (In %) 35 Figure 4.14. The reasons, if none of the decisions are made by Woman in the family 36 (In%) Figure 4.15. Participation in Vocational Training (VT) (In %) 37

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in iii Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.16. Course Followed 38 Figure 4.17. Reasons for Unemployment (In %) 39 Figure 4.18. Quality of Vocational Training (In %) 39 Figure 4.19. Awareness about Vocational Training Programme (In%) 40 Figure 4.20. Reasons for unawareness about Vocational Training Programme (In%) 40 Figure 4.21. Difficulties at Vocational training (Only for Females) (In %) 41 Figure 4.22. The way of overcome the Problems (In %) 42 Figure 4.23. Reasons for not attending Vocational training (In %) 42 Figure 4.24. Trainings preferred (In %) 43 Figure 4.25. Benefits from Financial Institutes - Savings (In %) 44 Figure 4.26. Benefits from Financial Institutes, Loans, leasing and microcredit (In %) 45 Figure 4.27. Benefits from the government sector (In %) 46 Figure 4.28. Benefits from the non-government sector (In %) 46 Figure 4.29. Barriers to obtaining Services (In %) 47 Figure 4.30. Self-employment Situation (In %) 48 Figure 4.31. The reasons for not being Self-employed (In %) 49 Figure 4.32. Opportunity for self-employment (In %) 50 Figure 4.33. Types of Opportunity for self-employment (In %) 50 Figure 4.34. Possible interventions preferred in perceiving self-employment (In %) 51 Figure 4.35. Barriers to access women employment (In %) 52 Figure 4.36. Dairy Farming (In %) 53 Figure 4.37. Main problems of dairy farmers (In %) 54 Figure 4.38. Cinnamon/Cocoa cultivation (In %) 54 Figure 4.39. The main problems of cinnamon/cocoa cultivation (In %) 55 Figure 4.40. Potato Cultivation (In %) 55 Figure 4.41. main problems (In %) 56

Annexures

Annexure I : KII Guidelines 69 Annexure II : FGD GUIDELINES 76

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in iv Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

ABBREVIATIONS

DS - District Secretariat

DTET - Department of Technical Education & Industrial Training Authority

EGSD - Enhancing Gender Inclusive Socio-Economic Development

FHH - Female head of Household

FGD - Focus Group Discussions

GII - Gender Inequality Index

GOSL - Government of Sri Lanka

HDI - Human Development Index

HH - House Holds

IDA - International Development Association

KII - Key Informant Interviews

MRA - Multiple Response Analysis

NHRAP - National Human Rights Action Plan

SDGs - Sustainable Development Goals

SPSS - Statistical Package for the Social Sciences

SRS - Simple Random Sampling

TVEC - Tertiary & Vocational Educational Commission

VTA - Vocational Training Authority

VT - Vocational Training

WEE - Women’s Economic Empowerment

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in v Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Executive Summary

Sri Lanka has reached a per capita GDP of $ 4065 by 2017, while standing as a middle- income country1. In order to develop Sri Lanka empowering women in the economy is of paramount importance. The women of Sri Lanka bring the uppermost foreign exchange to the country in numerous ways. Among those, especially women who work in the Middle East, apparel industry and plantation sector add the highest value to the GDP of the country. Although Sri Lanka is a lower middle-income country, regional disparities can be noticed in terms of economic status, educational level and social status. This may be due to the variations in climate patterns, cultivation patterns, infrastructure facilities, etc. Regional disparities create vulnerable communities especially in the rural and estate sector. These variations effect the self-employment of women as well. The Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) project directs its focus on the most vulnerable areas in Central and Uva provinces in Sri Lanka.

The key objective of the Enhancing Gender Inclusive Socio-Economic Development (EGSD) project is to enhance rural and estate communities’ sustainable and diversified livelihoods, with effective engagement in inclusive gender-sensitive socio-economic development processes, in cooperation with the private and public sector. As per TOR, the objectives of the assignment are as follow; • Identifying social and economic barriers to women’s engagement in economic activities at individual and household level, community and district, regional level in the project area. • Mapping of the key stakeholders and their current initiatives were undertaken on women’s economic empowerment in provinces (at policy and practice level). • Identify and/or recommend the possible intervention to avoid / handle the identified bottlenecks and barriers to women’s economic engagement. • Suggest the area of the capacity building process for the stakeholders those who can contribute the policy dialogue.

The project is jointly led by OXFAM, Save the Children International and LEADS. The project EGSD (Enhancing Gender Inclusive Socio-Economic Development) is carried out in Central (Nuwara Eliya district) and Uva (Monaragala and Badulla districts) provinces and intends to contribute to increasing income levels and the reduction of poverty and inequality among rural and the estate communities in Central and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka.

Mapping study for women’s economic empowerment includes a strong methodology including a Situational Analysis and Primary Data Collection including both quantitative and qualitative data collection. The survey targets the women population in Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Monaragala districts of Uva and Central provinces of Sri Lanka. It is designed to cover all the women population in above said districts to generate unbiased estimates of indicators of interest. Stratified sampling techniques has been used considering a district as a stratum. According to the Department of Census and Statistics, the total mid-year women population estimates in 2017 of those three districts totaled 1,087,000 and therefore 385 citizens of three said districts, covering all 31 DSDs has been considered as the total sample size with error margin of 5% and with 95% confidence levels. Data collection of the quantitative survey was completed through an interviewer administrated

1 Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 6 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

household questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed by 385 households at the project area. Participants were selected according to probability proportional to the size of the targeted beneficiary population which included 160 questionnaires in Badulla District, 85 questionnaires in Monaragala District, 140 questionnaires in Nuwara Eliya District. Qualitative data collection was completed by FGDs conducted with the participants from the communities and KIIs were conducted with the government officers and leaders in the different organizations. Then the data base was analyzed using a software (i.e., SPSS). SPSS was used mainly to perform Multiple Response Analysis (MRA) along with continuous variables. Qualitative data were analyzed using discourse and content analysis technique. The synthesized information was then triangulated through quantitative surveys, expert opinion and direct observation. Findings of the quantitative analysis were compared with the findings of the qualitative survey and both quantitative findings and qualitative findings were validated with the ground level staff of the WEE project.

The area selected to the project shows the low-income levels compared to national and district statistics. Economic level of the people affects the spectrum of conditions. Rural areas are dominated by Sinhalese communities while the estate sector is dominated by Tamils. Uva province mainly focuses on paddy and chena cultivation, while Central province is focused on tea plantations. Since the focus is mainly on agriculture, climate may affect the productivity and income. Rural sector’s agricultural pattern is fixed with the rain pattern of the area; thus, rain and drought highly impact the cultivation and leads to economic (in) stability. Poverty of the people runs as a vicious cycle due to factors such as mismanagement of income and heavy alcohol consumption. Qualitative results showed that financial mismanagement is one of the main reasons for the poverty of the people from the project area. On top of that, the financial overburden of the people especially that of women are misused by the micro credit companies. Alcohol use is heavily linked with the economic level as well as the social issues. This may be a personnel experience of a focus group discussion, rather difficult to generalize for the entire community.

In each project area, majority of the people earn from agricultural activities and there were respondents who earn from non-agricultural activities as well. A majority responded that, their income was insufficient, and they cover the expenses through loans. Alcohol consumption is highlighted at the project areas. Most of the households do not received Samurdhi or any other government allowance. Various restrictions have been identified concerning employment opportunities for women such as the remoteness of the area, familial influences and cultural constraints.

Participation for Vocational Training (VT) was in a considerably lower level. The male participants were unemployed because of the lack of opportunities available at the areas and female participants were unemployed because of household work. Through the quantitative analysis it was found that female participation for vocational training is higher than male participation. At the same time qualitative results shows that female participation is lower than male participation. It was found that the reason for lower participation for the vocational training was, time limitations and lower understanding about VT courses. Lack of language proficiency mainly affected the lower participation of VT courses at Nuwara Eliya District. Through the qualitative and quantitative analysis, there were different courses identified that the respondents wish to follow.

Most of them were willing to start self-employment activities in all project areas and there were many respondents who were already self-employed in different fields. Several

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 7 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

barriers were identified for women’s engagement in economic activities (WEE) such as domestic responsibilities, care burden, restrictions from one’s family, etc (Chapter 5). It was identified that, females ought to work for a higher number of hours compared to men, especially in the plantation sector. Decision making power was distributed among all the family members. Further, financial decisions are frequently taken by the husband/elder man of the family.

Several recommendations are identified (chapter 5) to improve women’s engagement in economic activities (WEE). Though barriers to women’s engagement in economic activities (WEE) can be seen at the macro, meso and micro levels, the study mainly makes recommendations at the meso and micro levels since most of the macro level issues and barriers cannot be resolved by a project like EGSD. The study presents two types of recommendations (1) recommendations to address barriers to WEE, and (2) recommendation focusing capacity building. All of the recommendations lead to improve six capital model: (1) human capital, (2) social capital, (3) financial capital, (4) physical capital, (5) natural capital and (6) cultural and political capital. Key recommendations (interventions) can be listed as follows (details and more recommendations are in chapter 5). ✓ The project intervention can encourage an explicit zero tolerance policy toward all forms of violence. The project can provide with awareness and training of managers and supervisors on work-family balance, workplace violence and other health and safety issues from a gender perspective. ✓ Private firms may be encouraged and motivated to address the issues related decent work and barriers that restrict women’s access to jobs. ✓ Women advisory service bodies in each district may be formulated. ✓ Barriers and issues related to women entrepreneurship must be addressed (details in chapter 5). Key areas for interventions include capacity building, attitude change, microfinance, transaction costs, value creation, women business Companies. ✓ Development projects must ensure gender-responsive interventions and must be carefully designed to address spillover effects. Social protection and social security are key areas. ✓ Capacity building programs in selected areas must be conducted for three types of stakeholders (1) women and girls (2) males (husbands), and (3) relevant officers (details in chapter 5).

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 8 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1. The Background

After seven decades of independence, Sri Lankans still experience relatively low socio- economic standards and political engagement. The contribution of women is vital for the improvement of the socio-economic sector. In the present, the proportion of women contribution for the working population is high in Sri Lanka. However,2 out of the total working age population, the percentage of employed women is only 18%. Around 80% of the economically active women of Sri Lanka are from the rural sector. It is important to get more contribution from the women to enhance the economic development of the country as well as their individual income. Women and youth constitute the largest segments of the population who are underrepresented in both the economic and the political sphere. The gender ratio of the population has more females than males, yet women’s economic participation remains at a very low level of 35 percent3. Though most of the women engage with many kinds of income generating activities, there are many others who wish but cannot do so as they have many issues such as the care burden, cultural constraints, family restrictions on mobility, educational and health issues etc.

Sri Lanka receives its foreign remittance from the female domestic workers in the Middle East. Other than that, tea and garment industries also contribute to the earnings of foreign exchange to the country. The women who have currently have their own businesses, need to add value and expand it according to the current needs. There are many women who are willing to start their own business. Though they have the interest, they cannot go further without proper guidance and the support of relevant parties such as family members, government or any other responsible party with proper knowledge and experience.

The key result of the Enhancing Gender Inclusive Socio-Economic Development (EGSD) project is to improve the sustainable and diversified livelihoods of the rural and estate communities with positive engagement in inclusive gender sensitive social economic improvement processes, in cooperation with non-public and public sectors. It is understood that gender inequalities are nevertheless mirrored, and the widest gender role is registered in the plantation vicinity in Nuwara Eliya alongside with rural areas like Badulla and Monaragala.

Therefore, to initiate the full participation of women in local economic development and entrepreneurship, requires overcoming deep-rooted discriminatory attitudes, stereotypes and inequitable social, cultural structures. Moreover, this project will support the public and private investments that lift these barriers and thereby creating an enabling an environment to achieve and sustain inclusive and equitable socio-economic development and to enable women’s access to local economic opportunities, entrepreneurship, and public services.

2 http://www.ips.lk/talkingeconomics/2018/03/08/economically-empowering-sri-lankan-women-one-strategy-does-not-fit-all/ 3 Maps Approach Supporting SDG Implementation in Sri Lanka, Government of Sri Lanka and UN Country Team in Sri Lanka, January 2018

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 9 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

The project’s intermediary outcomes are:

• Enhanced productivity and economic profitability of selected local value chains in target areas • Increased engagement of unemployed rural and estate youth in skilled employment opportunities. • The engagement of women in a more recognized and dignified social and economic role due to decreasing structural barriers • Improved space for CSOs and representational bodies to engage in policy dialog on entrepreneurship development.

1.2. Objectives of the study

By conducting the mapping study, the consultants explore the targeted objectives given below, • Identify social and economic barriers to women’s engagement in economic activities at individual and household level, community and district, regional level in the project area. • Mapping the key stakeholders and their current initiatives on women’s economic empowerment which were undertaken in the provinces (at policy and practice level). • Identify and/or recommend the possible intervention to avoid/handle the identified bottlenecks and barriers to women’s economic engagement. • Suggest the area of the capacity building process for the stakeholders who can contribute to the policy dialogue.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 10 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

CHAPTER TWO SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS

This chapter contains findings of the situational analysis related to the study focusing on the policies and programs in relation to women’s economic empowerment. Starting from the objectives there is list of key sources in which the situational analysis was supplemented.

2.1. Finding of the Analysis

Several definitions have been found for empowerment and the empowerment of women from the past research studies. Empowerment means that people, both men and women – can take control over their lives: set their own agendas, gain skills (or have their own skills and knowledge recognized), increase self-confidence, solve problems, and develop self-reliance. It is both a process and an outcome”4. A woman is economically empowered when she has both the ability to succeed and advance economically and the power to make and act on economic decisions. To succeed and advance economically women need the skills and resources to compete in markets, as well as fair and equal access to economic institutions5. There is a large gap between the male and female labor force in Sri Lanka. In 2016 only 35.2 percent of women participated in the labor force whereas 64.8 of Sri Lanka’s workforce consisted of men. Women’s participation in the labor force has fallen in South Asia overall, and Sri Lanka is no exception.6

There appears to be greater gender equality in Sri Lanka than in many other developing countries, particularly in other countries in the region. The UNDP report ranked Sri Lanka 80th in gender inequality index (GII) in 2017 with a GII of 0.354. GII measures inequality between women and men in three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment (political participation and education), and labor market participation. At the same report Sri Lanka’s human development indicators (2017) reflect a Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0.770 indicating “high human development”, positioned at 76 out of 189 countries. According to the Income and Expenditure Survey – 2016 Poverty head count index (HCI) and percentage of poor households were higher than national value in all project districts. Based on statistics of the Registrar General’s Department, Maternal Mortality rate is higher in Badulla District. Infant Mortality is high in Nuwara Eliya district compared to the other districts.

In terms of demographic background, the sex ratio is in favor of women (106:100), as they accounted for 51.5% of the population in the 2011/12 National Census7. Women have served in parliament since independence in 1947 but they have never constituted more than 6.5% of elected members (1977 election) and now make up only 5.8% (13 of 225 elected in 2015). The figures are even lower for provincial councils, women made up only 3.9% of elected members in the 2013 elections (18 of 437 elected)8. The study found that in all sectors and for all ethnic groups women were underpaid relative to men. It stated that the analysis of wage gaps revealed that “regardless of whether women are paid more

4 Definition from the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles 5 The role of the private sector in Women’s Economic Empowerment in Asia, Responsible and Inclusive Business 6 Maps Approach Supporting SDG Implementation in Sri Lanka, Government of Sri Lanka and UN Country Team in Sri Lanka, January 2018 7 Government of Sri Lanka, Department of Census and Statistics. 2012. Census of Population and Housing 2012: Provisional Information Based on 5% Sample 8 Department of Census and Statistics

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 11 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

or less than men, they are paid less than they should be given productive endowments”9. Low levels of female labor force participation are also driven by the higher burden of unpaid care work that women shoulder. While time-use survey data is not yet available, census data show that 62 percent of working age economically inactive women were engaged in unpaid care work (referred to as housework), compared with just 6 percent of economically inactive men10.

Though the project’s major task is women’s economic empowerment (WEE), it is vital to consider about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender Equality is the fifth goal of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for 2015–2030. Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, half of its potential. But today gender inequality persists everywhere and stagnates social progress11. Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large12.

2.2. Domestic Violence, Decision Making, Women Empowerment and Employment Status

In 2013 survey by Care International Sri Lanka in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program found that 28% of Sri Lankan women had experienced physical or sexual violence or both from an intimate partner, and 33% of men reported having perpetrated such violence on their partner. Also disturbing were findings that violence was widely condoned, by women as well as men - in the same survey 27% of men and 38% of women agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that “there are times when a woman deserves to be beaten”13.

Following Table 2.1 compares the information related to domestic violence and the women empowerment of three districts selected for the project.

Table 2.1: Domestic Violence National Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala Experienced at least 16.6 15.7 10.3 7.4 one violence Experienced in domestic Violence Experienced any form 12.6 22.3 10.8 7.8 of domestic Violence Requested help for 27.8 30.8 32.2 32 domestic violence No any Violence from 82 83.5 88.7 91.3 intimate partner Source: Demographic and Health Survey – 2016, Sri Lanka

9 D. Gunewardena. 2010. An Analysis of Gender and Ethnic Wage Differentials Among Youth in Sri Lanka. In R. Gunatilaka et al. The Challenge of Youth Employment in Sri Lanka. Washington, DC: World Bank. 10 Maps Approach Supporting SDG Implementation in Sri Lanka, Government of Sri Lanka and UN Country Team in Sri Lanka, January 2018 11 United Nations Sustainable Development Framework, Sri Lanka 2018 – 2022 12 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/ 13 United Nations. 2013. Why Do Some Men Use Violence Against Women and How Can We Prevent It? Quantitative Findings from the United Nations Multi-Country Study on Men and Violence in Asia and the Pacific. Bangkok.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 12 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Out of the three project districts, women form Nuwara Eliya experienced the highest percentage of domestic violence on daily basis as compared to other two districts.

Table 2.2: Decision making ability in the three districts

Women's participation in decision making by National Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala background characteristics Woman’s own health care 88.0 81.8 85.4 83.5 Specific decisions making 84.8 85.3 80.6 81.8 major HH purchases Visits to her family or relatives 88.6 86.3 85.8 83.3 All above three decisions 78.9 76.9 72.3 78.8 None of the three decisions 6.1 9.8 5.9 14.5 Source: Demographic and Health Survey – 2016, Sri Lanka

Use of bank accounts are lower in Nuwara Eliya district and having a mobile phone is lower in Badulla district. All three districts are lower than the national value in terms of owning a mobile phone.

It can be identified that there are many service providers to help as government parties for the women who have faced any violence. Midwife, MOH, Mithuru Piyasa, Legal Aid Commission, Women Help line, Sri Lanka Women Bureau, Dep. Of Social Service etc. These are the service providers for violence against women in Sri Lanka.

Table 2.3: Employment status by Employment

Percentage distribution of employed population by employment status for each district.

National Nuwara Badulla Monaragala Total Male Female Eliya Employee 57.8 58.9 55.9 61.6 46.0 35.9 Employer 2.7 3.7 0.9 0.2 1.4 0.7 Own Account Worker 31.6 34.7 25.9 27.3 35.3 44.4 Contributing Family 7.8 2.7 17.2 10.9 17.4 19.0 Worker Source: Labour Force Survey, Annual Report – 2016

The employed population by status of employment has two vital categories; workers (employees) receiving wages and salaries and the self-employed. Self-employed can be further categorized in to three groups employers, Own Account Workers and contributing family workers. Status of employment describes the working behavior and conditions of work. This table emphasizes that majority of females contribute to family work other than men. 2.3. Education

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 13 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Education is vital to WEE. It contributes in many ways giving them the freedom of choice, promoting women’s economic empowerment and their overall empowerment. As education converts unskilled labor into skilled labor, the opportunity cost of women’s unpaid care labor increases with her education. Higher levels of education lead to better income-earning opportunities compared to lower levels of education. In fact, education levels above the primary level are found to be important in influencing women’s ability to exercise greater autonomy in decisions that affect their lives.14 In present, the literacy gap between women and men has almost closed in the country. Sri Lanka’s investments in education are also evident in the much higher proportion of both women and men that have at least some secondary education.15 Girls have higher enrollment and retention rates in secondary education and higher performance levels at public examinations. The percentages of female students in universities and non-vocational tertiary education are higher than that of male students.16

The percentage of No schooling of children is higher than the national value of all three project districts and Nuwara Eliya represent highest value. The percentage of those who have passed A/L exams is lower in all project districts compared to the national data.

Table 2.4: Vocational Training Centers

Institute District Total DTET* VTA** NAITA*** Nuwara Eliya 1 5 3 9 Badulla 2 8 2 12 Monaragala 2 8 3 13 National 39 230 71 357 Source: Progress Report – 2017, Ministry of Skill Development and Vocational Training

* Department of Technical Education and Training ** Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka *** National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority

Table 2.4 indicates the total number of vocational training centers in all three project districts with total of national institutes.

2.4. Policies and National Programs

The country has experienced policies that encourage gender equality and women’s empowerment since the past years. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Women’s Bureau, and The National Committee for Women comprise the national machinery for women in Sri Lanka.

Women’s charter is the main policy document that the Sri Lankan government established in 1993 to ensure women’s rights. The Charter spells out more detailed steps the State

14 Women’s Economic Empowerment, Literature Review, International Center for Ethnic Studies,2016 15 Gender equality diagnostic of selected sectors, Asian Development bank,2016 16 Country Gender Assessment Sri Lanka, An update, Asian Development Bank, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH,2015

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 14 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

should take in ensuring the equal rights of women. Seven areas of concern specific to women in Sri Lanka are highlighted, they include: civil and political rights; the right to education and training; the right to engage economic activities and receive its benefits; the right for healthcare and nutrition; rights within the family; the right to protection from social discrimination; and the right to protection from gender-based violence.

The Government of Sri Lanka made the rules and regulations considering all the parties including disabled people as well. According to the 1988 Public Administration Circular – 3% of vacancies in public services and public companies should be filled by people with disabilities "possessing requisite qualifications and whose disabilities would not be a hindrance to the performance of duties". Moreover, in year 2003 Ministry of Social Welfare introduced National Policy on Disability in Sri Lanka. Under the topic of employment in National Policy on Disability mentioned, people who have disability, both men and women, will have their right to work fulfilled, (1) They will have a free choice of employment in both the public and private sectors (2) The Employers Federation of Ceylon will convene and sustain a forum to promote the policy and strategies listed in this document related to creating and maintaining work opportunities for people who have disability in the private sector. As well as its own membership and management, this Forum will have representation from Disability Organizations and Trade Unions and relevant State sectors. (3) Programs and Projects which facilitate and support self-employment including entrepreneurship training, micro-credit and extension and marketing programs, will include a reasonable proportion of people who have disability.

There is a cabinet memorandum established in 2015 ensuring that receiving 25% of the provision for women from the projects implemented for rural economic development. This is led by the ministry of women and child affairs. The main objectives of the cabinet memorandum are, ✓ Increase the income level of women. ✓ Introduce new job opportunities and reduce unemployment among them. ✓ Provide market opportunities for women’s productions. ✓ Reduce violence on women and infringement due to economic poverty. ✓ Increase the right for resources, savings and investments of women. ✓ To make women not a set of dependents in the economy but a set of who actively engage in the labor force.

The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) is preparing a new National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights for five years (2017-2021), National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) to fulfill its obligation to protect and promote human rights in Sri Lanka. It includes civil and political rights, prevention of torture, rights of women, rights of internally displaced persons and returning refugees, rights of migrant workers, rights of persons with disabilities, economic, social and cultural rights, rights of children, labor rights and environmental rights.

The National Action Plan’s section of Rights of Women, enhances the government’s commitment in realizing gender equality, eliminating discrimination, ensuring equal rights and enabling the empowerment of women, through effective implementation mechanisms, adequate resources and a monitoring system to achieve the objectives of the Plan. They have identified 26 goals in order to achieve these objectives. Under the objectives there

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 15 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

are mentioned activities with the responsible agency. Followings are the identified goals under the section of Rights of women. • Guaranteeing women’s rights • Enhancing nutrition among pregnant and lactating mothers • Improved awareness on use of contraceptive with a view to reducing unwanted pregnancies • Access to services for persons living with STD/HIV/AIDS • Decriminalize medical termination of pregnancies in the case of incest, rape and major congenital abnormalities • Promotion of women’s economic rights and independence, including access to employment • Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work • Provide equal rights and access to ownership and control over economic resources including land • Securing Socio economic rights of farmer women • Implementing the Migration Policy • Reduction in violence against women and girl children through multisectoral interventions • Eliminate stereotypes that discriminate against women • A gender sensitive justice system which ensures protection of rights of victims and accountability of perpetrators • Sectoral involvement in addressing violence against women and girl child • Implementation of the National policy on female heads of households (FHH) • Provision of livelihood and other income generate in means to reduce poverty among war affected women, including female heads of households • Ensure State responsibility to provide for accountability for the missing and those who have been disappeared and to provide remedies and redress to family members including female heads of households • Strengthened institutional mechanism and personnel in place to tackle sexual exploitation and violence against war affected women including FHH • Women affected by conflict including female heads of households participate in the transitional justice process • Provision of government services to military widows • Reintegration of female ex-combatants • National policies on return, resettlement, reintegration and restitution to address the issue of protracted displacement in consultation with IDPs to ensure that policies and assistance responds to their gendered needs • Introducing gender sensitive policies to all levels of education • Ensuring equal access to technical vocational and tertiary education • Ensure access to sexual and reproductive health and rights • Increased participation of women in political bodies and at decision making levels

Foreign employment is an important and stable source of foreign currency inflow to Sri Lanka. Labor migration of Sri Lanka is governed by the National Policy on Labor Migration, which recognizes governance and regulation of migration, protecting and empowering migrant workers and linking migration and development. There is also an established mechanism to monitor the working conditions of migrant workers through Sri Lanka Missions abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Employment and Welfare has also entered into agreements with several Asian and European countries other than Middle East countries, to protect rights of migrant workers and to explore new job opportunities for Sri Lankan

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 16 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

skilled workers. Moreover, a National Migrant Health Policy (2013) and Sub-policy and National Action Plan on Return & Reintegration of Migrant workers (2015) were introduced to protect rights of migrant workers. Under human right action plan there is a section on rights of migrant workers and there are 16 goals mentioned the plan.

There are many more district, divisional and country level interventions and programs on women’s economic empowerment. The main intention of the program is to reduce poverty while contributing to the development of the country. Enterprise Sri Lanka, Grama Shakthi and Agriculture sector modernization project are three main projects that government has conducting in present all over the country.

2.5. Enterprise Sri Lanka

The project ‘Enterprise Sri Lanka’ aims to groom 100,000 entrepreneurs by 2020 through 16 concessional loan schemes with funds worth Rs.5.2 billion additional incentives provided to encourage female entrepreneurship. The government would allocate Rs.32 billion for Gamperaliya during the next four months and the ‘Budget – 2019’ would also provide more funds to the project in future. The program is implemented by the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media in collaboration with State and private banks, foreign financial institutions and the other participatory institutes. In macro point of view, it is expected to emerge the production economy in order to achieve the governments’ medium-term targets such as per capita income of USD 5,000, one million new jobs, doubling exports, more than five percent continuous GDP growth etc. The specific expected benefits of this project can be listed as follows: SME Development, Promoting Green Energy, Empowering Farmer Community and Poverty Reduction, Empowering Youth, Empowering Women, Promoting Exports and Supply Chain Development, Promoting Tourism Sector. There are 15 tailor made schemes are under the umbrella of the Enterprise Sri Lanka and it can be categorized as three categories i.e. interest subsidy loan scheme, donor funded refinance loan scheme, and financial plus non-financial support programs. Targeted Audience of the project is, • SME Business • Micro Business • Youth • Farmers and Farmer Organization • Women Entrepreneurs • Other Special Groups i.e. School Van Owners, Journalists, Low income households

2.6. Grama Shakthi

“Grama Shakthi” is a countrywide project implemented by the Presidential Secretariat under the supervision of President to show the path for people to escape the trap of dependency and to achieve self-sufficiency in partnership with the private sector. The mission of the project is to provide facilitations to people living in 5,000 Grama Niladhari Divisions to fulfill the basic needs and the growling needs individually collectively by providing information, decision making power and resources by 2020 and contributing to reach the national sustainable development goal of eradicating extreme poverty and having all forms of poverty by 2030.

\kThis project is successfully operative at Divisional Secretariat level targeting the underprivileged. Uplifting livelihoods, state financial funding, providing financial aid to

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 17 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

develop the business processes of the community and getting the assistance of the private sector to develop the rural entrepreneurship are among the benefits that will be received under this program. Other benefits include, providing development and research facilities to eliminate poverty in collaboration with the state and private sector, Development of the rural agricultural entrepreneurship based on the new technology and innovation ideologies.

The President provided the funds for the first quarter to the District Secretaries of Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts. Rs. 60 million for the Kandy district, Rs.15 million for the Nuwara Eliya district, and Rs.33 million for the Matale district was provided. Besides Badulla received Rs. 22.5 million and Moneragala received Rs. 16.5 million.

2.7. Agriculture Sector Modernization Project

To support the Government of Sri Lanka in the modernization of the agriculture sector, the World Bank through a Credit from the International Development Association (IDA) is supporting the ‘Agriculture Sector Modernization Project (ASMP)’. The development objective of the ASMP is to increase agriculture productivity, improve market access, and enhance value addition of smallholder farmers and agribusiness in the project areas. The total project cost of Agriculture Sector Modernization Project is value US $ 169.84 Million. The project focuses on the demonstration of agriculture diversification and technology improvement for production and post-harvest value addition, value-chain development for higher value-added production and better market linkages, and income generation from agriculture. The project also seeks to ensure that the agriculture modernization and diversification agenda is inclusive and poor farmers, including women, are enabled to benefit from investments into value addition, new skills and technology improvements, sustainable crop management, and new financing and marketing arrangements.

About 14000 farm households will directly benefit from the project agriculture technology demonstrations through improved production capacity, improved input supply and management, better and more efficient technology, improved market linkages, as well as opportunities for high value addition. About 20,000 farm households would benefit from the project support to establish professional farmer organizations and capacity building through farmer business and marketing training activities. The project targets selected districts in the lagging regions of the Northern, Eastern, North Central, Central, and Uva Provinces that are characterized by high poverty headcounts and high absolute numbers of poor. The priority districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Monaragala, Matale and Polonnaruwa.

2.8. Identified barriers for women’s economic empowerment

The study identified main barriers for women’s economic empowerment (WEE). Limited job opportunities for the women is one of the key barriers for WEE. Even though there are scores of unemployed women who are eager to work in rural areas, there are just a couple of openings for work for them at their villages. Many of them engage in agricultural activities as ‘contributing family members’ (involved in a family business or farming without payment), as they have no other choice. Men overcome this issue moderately effectively by moving to urban areas, where occupations are accessible.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 18 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Besides, a portion of the social issues, for example, constraints in mobility, familial obligations, and security concerns avoid women, especially married women and those with youthful youngsters, from leaving their towns to scan for employments.

Furthermore, lower access for training opportunities is another hindrance for the WEE. However, rural and plantation sector women find it difficult to attend such programs, owing to lengthy travel times and transport costs as most of the vocational training programs are conducted in urban areas or main cities; on the other hand, women lack knowledge and information about such programs.

In addition, lower money related proficiency is additionally an obstruction for WEE. Women tend to acquire more micro finance avenues mainly due to lack of financial literacy in most of the project areas. It is mainly due to the instability of the economic condition and higher range of daily wages. Women have been caught in a trap in micro finance with high interest rates since private and public banks require number of documents to provide a loan facility. In a scenario where they could not prove a stable income generation, banks reject providing loan facilities where women tend to take assistance of micro finance automatically.

Another hindrance notable is absence of physical access to business sectors (markets) and absence of exchange or bartering aptitudes for women. They realize it difficult to sell their product at a good worth because of the significant dependency on intermediaries for example packing, labeling and delivering a high-quality product because of absence of legitimate information.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 19 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY

3.1. Research Design

The data collection of this survey consisted of two broad methodologies as (1) primary survey and (2) situational analysis. Primary survey included qualitative data collection and quantitative data collection. Qualitative data collection included the key in-depth interviews, focus group discussions. Quantitative survey included the household questionnaire. Overview of methodology is schematically presented in below.

3.2. Data Collection

Quantitative data collection was mainly completed by the questionnaire survey.

3.2.1. Sample size calculation and Selection

The survey targets the female population in Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Monaragala districts of Uva and Central provinces of Sri Lanka. It is designed to cover the entire female population in above said districts to generate unbiased estimates of indicators of interest. Stratified sampling techniques will be used considering a district as a stratum. Sample size are calculated based on the Mid-year population estimates statistics 2017 published by the Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka. Sample size was calculated according to the following formula;

푧2 × 푝(1 − 푝) 2 푆푎푚푝푙푒푆푖푧푒 = 푒 푧2 × 푝(1 − 푝) 1 + ( ) 푒2푁

According to the Department of Census and Statistics, the total mid-year women population estimates in 2017 of those three districts totaled 1,087,000 and therefore 385 citizens of three said districts, covering all 31 DSDs has been considered as the total sample size with error margin of 5% and with 95% confidence levels. The below table represent the detailed sampling plan/sample population with breakdown for each district.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 20 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Table 3.1. Distribution of Sample

Expected FGDs Locations Sample District GN Divisions HH KIIs Beneficiaries (DS Division) Size Badulla 449,000 63 A Haputalle 17 Haputale 64 E Galkanda 17 Wevasse 24 Badulla Telbedda 24 Kanawarella 17 Passara 160 15 Tholabowaththa 17 Huldumulla 14 Haldummulla Nikapotha West 14 35 D Narangala 8 Kandekatiya 31 B Kandaketiya 8 Monaragala 244,000 Yakkadurawa 11 Siyabalanduwa Kakalana 11 Ruwalwella 6 Madulla Tampalawa 6 Morothomulla 9 Bibile Pittakubura 10 85 11 Monarawana 7 Madagama Tabana 7 Madukotanarawa 6 Badalkumbura Ankada 6 Karavila 6 Nuwara 394,000 320 L, Venture Estate 28 Eliya Ambagamuwa 320 I, Mausakelle 28 535/M. Shanthipura 28 Nuwara Eliya 140 5 468 C, Poonduloya East 14 475/D. Wattakoda 28 Kotmale 471 A, Sangilipalama 14 Total 1,087,000 26 385 385 31

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 21 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

3.2.2. Data Collection Method

Prior to administering the questionnaire, enumerators were vigorously trained on each question. In addition, they were educated on ethical aspects of the survey including the importance of maintaining the privacy of the respondents. The questionnaire was administered in the local language with a questionnaire translated to local language (i.e., Sinhala and Tamil).

3.3. Data Analysis

Each completed questionnaire was assessed for completeness by another enumerator at the field itself. If missing data was noted, relevant enumerator was requested to re-contact the study participant to complete the information. Then filled questions were entered to a data entry software. A set of selected questions in a 5% random sample of questionnaires was reentered to the data base. Then the accuracy of the data was ensured. Then the data base was analyzed using a software (i.e., SPSS). SPSS was used mainly to perform Multiple Response Analysis (MRA) along with continuous variables. Qualitative data were analyzed using discourse and content analysis technique. The synthesized information was then triangulated through quantitative surveys, expert opinion and direct observation.

3.4. Approach to the Qualitative Data Collection

3.4.1. Key Informant Interviews

KIIs is conducted to get access to qualitative data. Pertaining to the objectives of this assignment KIIs’ conducted targeting representatives from the provincial, district and divisional government stakeholders related to value chains and vocational training, Women Federations, Plantation Managements to obtain their individualistic perception towards areas covered under this assignment. Therefore, total Number of 31 KIIs’ were conducted covering all three districts with the assistance of lead consultants.

3.4.2. Focus Group Discussions

FGDs were conducted to obtain individualistic perceptions towards a specific subject area. The FGDs focus on the perception of a group. Therefore, to this assignment 26 FGDs were conducted in total with small groups within the plantation and rural community. Moreover, there were two FGDs for each division including common FGD (men and women) and FGDs exclusive for women. The number of FGDs conducted in each district is decided based on the sample size. Moreover, each of these FGDs were facilitated by one of the lead consultants together with field assistants.

3.4.3. Household Surveys

A structured household questionnaire was designed and used to collect quantitative data. The sample size of the Household survey was 385 (Badulla-160, Monaragala-85, NuwraEliya-140) for the target groups. Prior to the implementation of the house hold survey, a pilot survey has been conducted within a selected area to identify gaps and issues of the questionnaire developed. Once the issues were rectified, the survey was conducted as scheduled.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 22 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Moreover, each of these Household interviews were selected by using simple random sampling (SRS) technique. The Survey was conducted by the enumerators associating field coordinators by visiting the households and interviewing 80% of women and 20% of men from all the families to gather data related to social and economic barriers to women’s empowerment.

3.5. Data analysis for qualitative data

Notes were taken during the KIIs and FGDs. If the situation was appropriate and the consent was given, interviews and the discussions were photographed. Once the survey was completed follow up and review meetings were conducted with the enumerators to collect their observations.

3.6. Limitations

Sample size was limited for detailed quantitative analysis since it covers the sizable population in different administrative geographical areas which may cause limitations in the study sample. The KIIs, FGDs and HHs are conducted simultaneously due to time limitation. Due to the time constraints the opportunity for data validation and triangulation of data generated through different research tools has been restricted. • Project includes many key barriers which women are faced where the quality of the research findings would be dependent on. The final analysis has been made pertaining to the data gathered and there may be instances where it is diverted from the prevailing condition. • Since a sampling frame of the complete list of beneficiaries will not be available at the time of data collection, random sampling of households will be done at the project implemented area. This may not reflect the actual context of the most vulnerable beneficiaries of the project. • The consultant team will review existing data to arrive at certain assumptions, interpretations and conclusions. • Due to the extreme weather condition the data collection was delayed for more than three weeks at Nuwara Eliya and Badulla. • Conducting the FGDs at plantation sector was somewhat difficult since women who works at plantations should work until 4.00 pm and plantation management didn’t willing to give time for the FGDs.

3.7. Location

The project mainly covers the Uva and Central provinces. Under Central province the project area was Nuwara Eliya District and under Uva Province projects area was Monaragala and Badulla Districts.

3.8. Scope of the Work

A comprehensive study was conducted to identify the social and economic barriers to women’s engagement in economic activities in the districts of Badulla, Monaragala

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 23 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

and Nuwara Eliya. Moreover, the report includes ongoing district and divisional level interventions and programs (government or private) on women’s economic empowerment. Primary and secondary data collections are presented in this report. Finally, the report is included with recommendation on key barriers on women’s economic empowerment.

3.9. Outline of Report

Report includes several sections as given on the table of content. Initially the report describes the background including the introduction to the project, scope and purpose of the report. The situational analysis related to the study focusing on the policies and programs in relation to women’s economic empowerment is indicated in the second chapter. Then the report describes the methodology used for primary data collection with its limitations. After the methodology, report describes the results of the primary data collection combined with quantitative data and qualitative data. Based on the quantitative and qualitative data, discussion and conclusions of the report is presented in the same chapter. Final chapter contains the barriers, stakeholders, possible intervention and areas for capacity building.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 24 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

CHAPTER FOUR RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents an analysis, the data gathered from the questionnaire in order to derive information needed in verifying the objectives of the study. Further this includes the quantitative and qualitative findings of the study. Starting from the general information of the respondents, in-depth subject oriented analysis is included in this chapter. A questionnaire was administrated for 387 households in projected area.

This chapter contains; • Distribution of the sample • Status of Employment • Economic Status • Decision Making • Information Related to the Vocational Training • Information Related to the Services • Project Oriented subject areas

4.1. Distribution of the sample

The Figure 4.1 describes the distribution of the total sample based on District and DS area.

Figure 4.1: Distribution of the sample based on the district and DS area (In %)

40

39.3

29.6

25.9

22.4

21.2

21 21

20.7

18.5

16.5

14.1

9.9

Bibila

Badulla

Madulla

Passara

Haputale

Kothmale

Madagama

Haldumulla

Kandeketiya

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara

Ambagamuwa

Badalkumbura Siyabalanduwa Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala Source: Sample survey 2018

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 25 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

4.2. Gender of the Respondents

The below Figure 4.2 shows the gender of the respondents of the sample.

Figure 4.2: Gender of the Respondent (In %)

79.4 81.8

75

73.5

70

68.4

67.9

66.7 66.7

65.5

63.6

57.1

56.3

43.8

42.9

36.4

34.5

33.3 33.3

32.1

31.6

30

26.5

25

20.6

18.2

Bibila

Badulla

Madulla

Passara

Haputale

Kothmale

Madagama

Haldumulla

Kandeketiya

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara

Ambagamuwa

Badalkumbura Siyabalanduwa Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Male Female

Source: Sample survey 2018

The proportionate of the male and female respondents is indicated in Figure 4.2. About 80% of the sample comprises females and about 20% of the sample includes males.

4.3. Status of Employment

The below Figure 4.3 indicates the status of the employment of the respondents.

Figure 4.3: Status of Employment of the respondents (In %)

42.25

34.64

29.08

26.44

19.93

16.11

9.48

5.78

5.47

3.34

3.27

2.61

0.98 0.61

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 26 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

The information relevant to the status of employment of the respondents is illustrated in Figure 4.3. It can be identified that most self-employed people were males. Female’s employment rate is lower than that of men. In the qualitative data collection, one of the female respondents stated that “I have no sufficient time to engage in an employment since I have to look after my kids” Results shows that majority of females are unemployed with amount of 29.08%. It can be found that more self-employed respondents participated for the FGDs as well.

4.4. Respondents Current Occupation

The below Figure 4.4 shows the respondents current occupation.

Figure 4.4: Respondents Current Occupation

35.56

29.57

26.09

18.26

17.78

17.14

7.39

7.3 7.3

3.49

3.17

3.04 3.04

2.86

2.17 2.17

1.74

1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3

1.27

0.95

0.8

0.63 0.63 0.63

0.43

0.32 0.32 0.32 0.32

0 0

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Figure 4.4 indicates the information relevant to the respondents’ occupation. Generally, males of the families are more occupied than the females. The other occupations included tailors, seamstresses, boutique conductors, chili paste production, fruit juice production, mechanics, dairy farming, construction equipment suppliers, cane productions, housemaids, estate labors etc. In Nuwara Eliya district majority works in estates and engage with animal husbandry. One respondent from an FGD stated that “Many of us are engaging in animal husbandry in small scale such as dairy”. It can be highlighted that young generation also participates in the agricultural activities in Monaragala district. Except agricultural activities they engage in government and private jobs. According to the qualitative data, majority of males employed than females. A respondent in Passara DSD stated that “almost 80% of males engage in formal employments comparatively to females”. In general, females do not have any cultural constraints for engaging in any kind of employment. Since there are less job opportunities inside the villages, young generation focus on job opportunities outstation.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 27 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Respondent from the qualitative data collection said that “we do not have any cultural constrains for engage any employment”. This statement was proved by the other participants as well.

For example, most of the Tamil girls go for jobs at garment factories, even out of the village. This emphasizes the fact that, in the current scenario, cultural constraints do not negatively affect a woman’s occupation.

According to a KII conducted with Ms. A.M Premalatha, Chairman of District Women Federation-Monaragala stated that, “Most women are engaged in domestic agricultural work other than formally employed”. This verified that most of the women are unemployed and as the same time they are engaging with the family agricultural activities. “youngers also engage with agricultural activities with their parents”.

4.5. Reason for Unemployment

The Figure 4.5. below shows if the male or female in the family is unemployed and reason for unemployment.

Figure 4.5: Reason for Unemployment (In %)

47.47

32

18.18

16

12.12

6.12

5.05

4.25

4 4 4

2.85

1.01 0.43

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

The above Figure 4.5 illustrates the reasons for unemployment if the male/female is unemployed. Majority of the females responded that they are unemployed because of their household work. A respondent stated that “I have no sufficient time to utilize for an employment since I have to look after my kids” The lack of job opportunities also results in unemployment. According to the FGDs similar reasons were found such as less job opportunities of the area, load of household works and lack of interest to do a job.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 28 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

A Respondent from Monaragala District said that “I don’t have any idea about being self- employed”. The statement was proven by another few respondents as well. This emphasizes that they do not have any idea about self-employment.

Further they mentioned, “Although I want to work, there are no job opportunities at the village, and they can’t go outside to work by leaving our children at home”.

“Higher educational attainments are associated with more prestigious employment outcomes such as public sector jobs. In these rural areas majority of women do not have such educational background”. This was found by the KII conducted with Mr. W.M.N Weerasinghe, Director of Planning, Provincial Ministry of Women Affairs-Uva Province.

4.6. Economic status

There is a marginal gap in between income and expenses. Majority are middle income families and they can only cover their expenses. If there’s a financial difficulty, they cover it by other incomes, savings and loans. It is highlighted that in Bibila DSD, people are living in lands that are owned by the Saman Dewalaya of Mahiyangana. Therefore, the community cannot take loans from any other financial institute. Therefore, they are attracted to micro credit loans. One respondent from Bibila DSD said that “our husbands do not take loans so that we have to take on behalf of our families to fulfill our needs”. This issue was emphasized in many areas where females are obliged to take loans where males are hesitant to commit themselves for loans.

The negative effects of micro credit also exist within the project areas and it is considerably high. Most women take money for consumption rather than investments. Therefore, they have no extra income to pay the loans. They were caught in massive trouble to pay back the money to the institutes. A respondent at the FGDs, stated that “most of the micro credit loan givers catches women at home”.

4.7. Monthly Allowances (Samurdhi/Government Allowances)

The below Figure 4.6 shows the monthly allowance receive by the respondents.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 29 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.6: Monthly Allowances receive by the respondents - Samurdhi (In%)

100 100

98.2

91.7

91.2

90

89.5

81.8

77.3

75.9

71.4

66.7

61.1

38.9

33.3

28.6

24.1

22.7

18.2

10.5

10

8.8

8.3

1.8

0 0

Bibila

Badulla

Madulla

Passara

Haputale

Kothmale

Madagama

Haldumulla

Kandeketiya

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara

Ambagamuwa

Badalkumbura Siyabalanduwa Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Yes No

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Samurdhi is given for the people who had lowest income of the country. Therefore, the lower rate of Samurdhi recipients indicates that the respondents maintain a considerable standard of living to certain extent.

Economic status of the respondents can be analyzed under different categories. As per the above Figure 4.6, Badalkumbura DSD can be identified with the highest percentage of Samurdhi recipients. In Kandeketiya and Haputale there are no Samurdhi recipients.

Figure 4.7: Monthly Allowances receive by the respondents – Government

Allowance (In%)

100 100 100 100

96.4

90.9

88.2

87.1

84.1

82.4

81.8

81.5

80

20

18.5

18.2

17.6

15.9

12.9

11.8

9.1

3.6

0 0 0 0

Bibila

Badulla

Madulla

Passara

Haputale

Kothmale

Madagama

Haldumulla

Kandeketiya

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara

Ambagamuwa

Badalkumbura Siyabalanduwa Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Yes No

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 30 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

In Nuwara Eliya DSD 20% of the respondents receive a monthly allowance from the government. One respondent from Nuwara Eliya stated that “I receive a monthly allowance but it’s not sufficient to cover my requirements”. The monthly allowances can be highlighted as elders’ allowance, people’s allowance. In Kandekatiya, Haputale, Haldummulla and Madulla DSDs, there are no respondents receiving monthly allowances from the government.

4.8. Income Earning Sources available in the project areas (In %)

The below Figure 4.8 indicates the agricultural and non-agricultural income sources available in three districts. Majority of the respondents in all three project districts indicate that agricultural income earning sources are mainly available in the three districts. Nuwara Eliya mainly focus on plantation while Badulla and Monaragala focus on paddy and chena cultivation.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 31 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.8: Availability of Income Earning Sources - Agricultural (% out of total respondents)

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

Bibila

Badulla

Madulla

Passara

Haputale

Kothmale

Madagama

Haldumulla

Kandeketiya

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara

Ambagamuwa

Badalkumbura Siyabalanduwa Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Vegetable cultivation Tea plucking Animal husbandry / livestock Dairy Chena cultivation Pepper cultivation Paddy Cultivation Fruit cultivation Other Rubber cultivation Cocoa cultivation Potato seed production About the Cinnamon cultivation

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Figure 4.8 describes the availability of agricultural income generating sources in project areas. Highest proportion of paddy cultivation and chena cultivation is identified respectively from Madagama and Bibila. Farmers in the district of Monaragala mainly cultivate corn along with other cereals in their chena cultivations. The highest proportions for dairy were available in Passara, Badulla, Kotmale and Ambagamuwa DSDs while highest proportion for animal husbandry is available in Kandekatiya. Majority of tea and vegetable cultivations are from Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts. As the other agricultural products, strawberry, mushroom and coconut has been identified. Under the qualitative data collection, it was identified that cocoa cultivation in Monaragala district and Kotmale DSD among all the project areas. Cocoa cultivation is mainly identified from Badalkumbura in Monaragala district while lowest is from Kotmale in Nuwara Eliya District.

Figure 4.9 below describes the non-agricultural income generating sources available in project areas.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 32 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.9: Income Earning Sources available in the project areas– Non- Agricultural (%)

96.42

88.20

87.14

82.34

72.78

72.53

72.31

71.88

49.72

48.51

23.55

23.25

19.78

19.54

15.21

13.73

7.60 4.68

Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Working outside the village Three wheel/ van/ bus driver Working as self-employer Working in a shop/Boutique Garment worker Other

Source: Sample Survey 2018

According to the survey respondents, non-agricultural income sources available in the project districts are limited to few areas (1) working outside the village, (2) three wheels/van/ bus drivers, (3) self-employment, (4) working in shops and boutiques, and (5) garment workers. Other specified non-agricultural sectors are construction works, mason, driving, factory works, bricks productions and coir/fiber productions etc.

4.9 Monthly household Income

The Figure 4.10 shows the responses of sufficiency of monthly household income along with the method that people follow to cover the excess expenses. According to the study results the expenditures in different categories were identified. Quantitative study found that in most of the project areas, people use to spend a considerable amount of their income on alcohol. And they do not have proper understanding on income and expenditure balances. Based on the FGD findings, the usage of alcohol is high in most of the project areas and Badulla is the highest percentage. One female respondent from Nuwara Eliya DSD stated that, “Our husbands are addicted to alcohol where they can’t live without drinking”.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 33 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.10: Sufficiency of Monthly household Income (In %)

100

97.1

94.4

92.9

90.9

89.1

88.2

87.5

86.2

85.7

83.3 83.3

81.3

18.8

16.7 16.7

14.3

13.8

12.5

11.8

10.9

9.1

7.1

5.6

2.9

0

Bibila

Badulla

Madulla

Passara

Haputale

Kothmale

Madagama

Haldumulla

Kandeketiya

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara

Ambagamuwa

Badalkumbura Siyabalanduwa Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala Yes No

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Figure 4.10 gives the details of the income of the respondents. In Kandekatiya DSD 18.8% of the respondents responded as that their monthly household income is sufficient while it’s the opposite in Bibila DSD (100%). Furthermore, majority of the respondents stated that their monthly household income was not sufficient to cover their expenses. According to the conducted FGDs, majority respond that, “our household income is not sufficient at least to cover our day today needs and requirements”. This statement was verified by majority of the participants.

4.10 Methods of Covering Expenses

The below Figure 4.11shows the method of covering expenses.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 34 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.11: Methods of Covering Expenses (In %)

84

73.47

73.08

60

57.69

56.67

53.85

51.52

46.15

44

42.11

41.18

40

38.78

36.36

36 36

35.71

35.29

35 35

34.69

30.95 30.95

30.77

30.3

30

26.67

26.32 26.32 26.32

25 25

23.53

20 20

18.18 18.18 18.18 18.18

17.31

15.38

13.33

12.12

11.9

11.76 11.76

10.53

10 10 10

9.09 9.09

8 8

7.69 7.69

7.14

6.67

6.12

5.77

4.76

4 4 4

3.85

3.33 3.33

3.03

2.04 2.04

0 0 0 0 0

Bibila

Badulla

Madulla

Passara

Haputale

Kothmale

Madagama

Haldumulla

Kandeketiya

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara

Ambagamuwa

Badalkumbura Siyabalanduwa Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Loans Reduce expenses for food and clothing Savings Pawing Salary Advance Other

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Majority of the respondents have taken loans for covering their daily expenses in Nuwara Eliya district. Loans can be divided into two categories as formal loans which people get from banks or any other reputed company and informal loans such as borrowing money from someone, seettu and loans from community organizations. Majority of the respondents get informal loans. Correspondingly pawing can be highlighted as a major method of covering expenses in same district. The other methods of covering expenses can be highlighted as, doing extra work, from children’s income and selling fruits and milk etc. One respondent said that “Though our income is not sufficient we seek out for any other option since anyhow we have to feed our children”.

4.11 Reasons for obtaining loans

The below Figure 4.12 shows the reasons for obtaining loans.

Figure 4.12: Reasons for obtaining loans (In %)

35.26

12.43

9.83

8.96

4.34

1.73

0.29 0.29

Daily Construction Education of Other Purchase To pay bills To pay rent To buy expenses of house children home jewelry appliances

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 35 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Most respondents take loans to cover their daily expenses while the lowest marks to pay the rent and buy jewelry. The second and third reasons is for the construction of houses and children’s education. Other reasons for taking loans are health requirements, buying vehicles, paying pawning interest, purchasing equipment like sewing machines and for purchasing livestock. It was notified that, in the project areas, majority of loans are taken from women and men do not take loans for any means.

Further it was revealed from the conducted FGDs that most of the respondents need to educate their children since they are not much educated. One of the female respondents said that “My only wish is to see my children get well educated and live a better life than me” Another respondent said that “we want to educate our children well, if not they also have to face same situation that we face today. Therefore, we take loans for children educational purpose without any hesitation”.

4.12 Decision Making

The Figure 4.13 shows the decision-making power of men and women.

Figure 4.13: Decision Making power of men and women (In %)

88.9

75.7

47.8

45.7

44.6

44.5

39.4

37.7

37.6

33.7

32.4

29.2

29.1

25.8

21.9

21.3

19.2

18.6

17.8

15.4

15

14.6

13.5

12.8

11.6

10.1

8.5

8.3

6.8

5.2

4.8

2.3

Cooking

cleaning the cleaning

–

Health of the children Healthof

Expansion of business Expansion

purchasing)

planning

forchildren

development works development

entertainment)

Involvement in Involvement community/

available (children) available

how much to howinvest much

educational materials educational

Decisions on savings and on savings Decisions

How much to be spend on what on to be much How spend

Properties maintenance (selling/ Properties

Other HH chores chores Other HH

Selecting meals, cloths children for meals, Selecting

Entertainment options (any kind of options kind (any Entertainment

holding/managing the bank savings… the bank holding/managing

Providing further/ higher education further/ Providing

Children’s buying such as education Children’s

Deciding number of children/ familyof children/ Decidingnumber

Deciding on Investment options and Decidingon Investment

house, washing cloths, buying buying cloths, goods house, washing

Participation for Vocational trainings Vocational for Participation

schools, tuitions, stream education stream oftuitions, schools, Children’s education such as selecting selecting such as education Children’s

Female Male

Source: Sample Survey 2018

The information regarding distribution of decision-making power is illustrated in the above Figure 4.13. According to the results, decision-making power was distributed among all

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 36 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

the family members. Decisions regarding family planning were taken by both husband and wife together while all entertainment relevant decisions were taken by the family members collectively. Decisions regarding spending money, business expansions, property maintenance, savings, involvement of community works, and investment options were taken by the male party of the family. Women take the decisions related to child health, education, cooking and decisions related to the other household works. A female respondent said that “I wish I could cook what my children ask me to cook. But I decide what to cook to save money from what we have from the surrounding. Only one or two times a week we eat meat or eggs.”

Decision making is one of the major facts that societies measure with democracy. Decision making power should be distributed among the members of the family. Most of the families take the decisions by discussing with each other. Although at first place the husband disagrees with his wife’s suggestions, women somehow have the capacity to make the husband agree with her decision in a positive manner. There were some families where all the decisions were taken by the husband. Most of the Tamil families have that situation. According to the female respondent, “If husband doesn’t agree on her decision anyhow, she tried to get his permission and finally she wins”

Majority of the participants response was “Most of the decisions were taken after discussing with each other”. Therefore, the above statements express that women have decision making power at home.

Figure 4.14: The reasons, if none of the decisions are made by Woman in the family (In%)

The below Figure 4.14 shows the reasons, if none of the decisions of the family are made by women in the family.

80.0%

70.0%

60.0%

50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0% Nuwara Eliya Badulla Moneragala Woman in the family is not educated and unable to making 15.1% 20.0% 14.3% decision, No mother/ any elderly women in 0.0% 40.0% 0.0% the family, Men in the family do not allow the 72.1% 20.0% 0.0% women to make decision Women do not involve decision 12.8% 20.0% 53.7% making Source: Sample Survey 2018

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 37 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

The above Figure 4.14 indicates the proportion for the reasons if none of the decisions are taken by the women. It can be identified as the main reason with the proportion 72.1% of men in the family in Nuwara Eliya District do not allow the women to make decisions. According to the conducted FGDs, this situation mainly can be seen in the Nuwara Eliya District and Badulla area. One male respondent from Nuwara Eliya DSD said that “Since I’m the head of the household, I’m the one who should take every decision not anyone else” It can be found that in Monaragala district majority of women do not involve in decision making. Moreover, according to the conducted FGDs, they were agreed that they have involved in decision making in all project districts.

4.13 Information Related to Vocational Training

4.13.1 Participation for Vocational Training (VT)

The below Figure 4.15 shows the participation of Vocational Training courses according to the gender.

Figure 4.15 Participation in Vocational Training according to the gender. (VT) (In %)

6

5 5

4 4 4

3 3 3

2 2

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 0

Bibila

Badulla

Madulla

Passara

Haputale

Kothmale

Madagama

Haldumulla

Kandeketiya

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara

Ambagamuwa

Badalkumbura Siyabalanduwa Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Male Female

Source: Sample survey 2018

The above table 4.15 illustrates the participation for the vocational training. The highest participation for the vocational training (VT) can be identified from Kandekatiya and the lowest from Siyabalanduwa. More than half of the total respondents were not participated for the VT courses. Overall female participation for the VT courses is higher than male participation in gender wise.

4.14 Course Followed Under Vocational Training

The below Figure 4.16 shows the training course followed.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 38 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.16 Course Followed Under Vocational Training

16 15

14 12 12 10 10 8 6 3 3 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0

IT

Other

Masonry

Mechanic

Carpentry

culture

Flory culture Flory

Repairing

Dressing/ beauty Dressing/

HandCraft/Painting Electronic Equipment Electronic

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

The overall information related to Vocational Training courses is illustrated from the Figure 4.16. The highest proportion of respondents from the sample, followed other courses such as tourism, telecommunication related courses, English language etc. Further, the second highest proportion were from dressing/beauty culture courses followed by females. Female participation is higher than male participation for Vocational Training courses.

Based on the KIIs, “some females like to engage in some courses related to motor mechanism but, they cannot do jobs in relevant field after the course because of the barriers raised in the society.” It was also notified that after the marriage most of the husbands do not allow them to do jobs in those fields.

According to the conducted KIIs, “If a girl wishes to follow a course of construction or mechanical, she has to continue her studies to the highest level in order to become an expert”. This emphasizes that if a girl needs to do that kind of job and take reputation, she has to go for highest study level as well as the highest position.

Lack of knowledge in English language has become a barrier for both males and females. “Tamil youngsters cannot use Sinhalese language as well” resulted from KII.

In Nuwara Eliya, the target sample completed the VT Courses at Non-formal education center, Technical Collage, Norwood TMV, Nation tech council, Nuwara Eliya VTA, Sewing institute, Hatton, Brit, IFAD and Social Foundation.

4.15 Reasons for Unemployment by Gender

Even after following training courses, some do not get a proper job. The following Figure 4.17 describes reasons for such instances.

Figure 4.17 Reasons for Unemployment by Gender (In %)

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 39 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

45

42.11

21.05

20

15.79

15

10.53

10

5.26 5.26

5 5

0 0 0 0 0 0

Other

qualified

opportunities

family

Trainings

Do not have job Donot have

Differently Abled Differently

from home from

Not educationally Not

not have a market a have not

Do not have sufficient Donot have

with household work with

Not allowed to work by to work allowed Not self-employed, do Even

Work places are places far too Work Difficult to be employed Difficultto

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

The above Figure 4.17 describes reasons for being unemployed even after following VT courses. Majority of females are unemployed because of due difficulty to be employed with household chores (45%). Most of the males are unemployed because they do not have job opportunities in their area of living (42.11%).

According to the conducted KIIs, “both males and females do part time jobs with the knowledge they gained from this VT center in addition to their regular jobs.” According to the respondent from KII, it was evident that “women earn money especially from tailoring knowledge they gained from VT centers”.

A success story was identified where “a student from a VT center has become a good entrepreneur in tailoring sector. At present she has tailor shops in Maradana, Dematagoda and Kirulapana and currently she earns around Rs. 250,000.00 per month”.

In Nuwara Eliya District, a smaller number of females use the training experience because the family background does not allow the females to go outside the area. Their training cannot be used for their economic development. Only few females do self-employments using the training. A women’s working life is difficult compared to men. It proves from the statement below that was raised from FGD. “A man should work until 1.00 p.m. while the females should work until 5.00 p.m”.

4.16 View of Quality of Vocational Training

The below Figure 4.18 indicates the responses about the view of quality of vocational training.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 40 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.18 View of Quality of Vocational Training (In %)

Course content need be changed

The training provided by trainers were easily understandable

Laboratory facilities and library facilities are adequate

Learning materials provided are adequate

Training is adequate to get an employment

-80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100

Disagree Strongly Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree

Source: Sample Survey 2018

According to the table 4.18, the highest number of respondents strongly agree with the statement that training is adequate to get an employment. A considerable number of respondents strongly agree to the statement that course-content needs to be changed while 50.0% of respondents neither agree nor disagree with it.

4.17 Awareness about Vocational Training Programme

The below Figure 4.19 describes the awareness about vocational training.

Figure 4.19 Awareness about Vocational Training Programme (In%)

50 45.28 45 40 35 30 25 20.75 20 15 9.43 7.54 10 5.66 3.77 5

0

trainee

Officers (Eg: Officers

Through a friend a Through

From my parents my From

GramaNiladhari)

Print Media Print

From Government From

visit/job fairs) visit/job

spapers etc.) spapers

Through a previous a Through

from Mobilizes (street Mobilizes from

drama/house to house to drama/house (leaflets/brochures/new Source: Sample Survey 2018

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 41 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

The above Figure 4.19 describes the awareness about the VT courses. the highest proportion of respondents aware about the VT courses through a friend (45.28%) while a least amount of them were known about it from parents (3.77%).

4.18 Reasons for unawareness about Vocational Training Programme by Gender

The below Figure 4.20 shows the reasons for unawareness about vocational courses.

Figure 4.20 Reasons for unawareness about Vocational Training Programme by Gender (In%)

47.5

36

28 22.5 15 13 12.5 10 7.5 8

Lack of access to timely Remoteness Poor communication Language deficiency Others information on vocational training

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Figure 4.20 illustrates the reasons for unawareness about Vocational training. As overall the main reason that affect to the males and females for unawareness about VT is lack of access timely information about VT. Remoteness is another main reason that affect to the both males and females. Besides that, poor communication also affects females (13%). Moreover, considering about the females in all the three districts, the reasons for unawareness about VT in Nuwara Eliya were remoteness and language discrepancies as most of the training courses are conducted in Sinhala. This condition was proved from the conducted FGDs as well.

4.19 Difficulties and ways to overcome vocational training (Only for Female)

The below Figure 4.21, shows the types of difficulties the participants face while doing the training and the way to overcome those issues according to the participants.

Figure 4.21 Difficulties at Vocational training (Only for Females) (In %)

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 42 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

53.12

25 18.75

3.13

No difficulties Family problem Other Problems in training (economic …) center

Source: Sample Survey 2018

The table 4.21 illustrates the difficulties for Vocational Trainings and the way to overcome the difficulties. The majority of respondents do not have difficulties (53.12%) when they were participating VT courses. This question was specified for female’s respondents, where they specified as the other difficulties such as limitation of timing and long distance for the VT centers.

4.20 The ways to overcome the Problems

The below Figure 4.22 shows, the possible ways to overcome the problems if the respondents have above mentioned difficulties for participate in vocational trainings.

Figure 4.22 The way of overcome the Problems (In %)

24.8

16.7

8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3

Other by explaining by the support by the support by neglecting By meeting a of the family of friends the problem counselor Source: Sample Survey 2018

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 43 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

As the ways to overcome the issues at the VT centers, about 24.8% of respondents mentioned that they do not find a method to overcome the issues, to bear the condition and yet to face the situation. In most of the scenario, students drop the course in the middle when they could not find a better solution. Other reasons can be identified as the changing the VT center, changes in the course.

4.21 Reasons for not attending Vocational training by Gender

The following Figure 4.23 shows the reasons for not attending Vocational Training.

Figure 4.23 Reasons for not attending Vocational training by Gender (In %)

40

35 33.79 28.36 30 28.36

25 24.14

20

14.93 13.1

15 13.1

10.45

9.66 7.46

10 7.46

3.45 2.99 5 2.76

0

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

According to the Figure 4.23, the reason for not attending VT courses in Nuwara Eliya district by most of the females was lack of proper understanding about VT courses other than other specified reasons. In Badulla District, the majority of females’ state that they do have time for VT and in Monaragala district, females responded that they do not have time for VT and they do not have proper understanding about training courses. According to the respondent who participated for the FGD they said that “we are not aware about the VT courses and then they could not apply for the VT courses”.

From all districts, the reasons for not attending females for VT can be identified time constraints (33.79%) and lack of proper understanding about training courses (24.14%). All in all, districts males also have the same reasons as females. The other specified issues that females are having can be identified as marriage, care burden, lower knowledge regarding VT courses etc.

4.22 Trainings preferred by the respondents by Gender

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 44 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

The below Figure 4.24 shows the trainings that the respondents prefer to have in near future.

Figure 4.24 Trainings preferred by the respondents by Gender (In %)

26

25.28

19.03

17.33

13.35

11.93

10

8.52

8.24

7.33

6.67 6.67

6

4 4

3.33

2.67

2.56

2.27

2

1.7

1.42

1.33

1.14 1.14

0.85 0.85 0.85

0.67 0.67 0.67 0.67

0.57

0.28

0 0

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Figure 4.24 presents the types of trainings that the respondents preferred. In all project districts, the majority of males’ request trainings on mechanic, agriculture and floriculture. Majority of females request trainings on sewing, agriculture and beauty culture in all project districts. Moreover, a high proportion that has been marked under others is described as follows.

The respondents were willing to have trainings related to hotel management, milk farming, civil engineering, packing, dry product businesses, home gardening, animal husbandry, dry fish selling, graphic designing, foods production, driving, milk based new products, sewing curtain, strawberry, plant nursery, bakery industry, shoe manufacturing, compost, spices packaging, making sweets. There were few respondents who do not have an interest for self-employment.

According to the conducted FGDs, in all three-districts, the majority request yogurt, ice cream, bee keeping, batik, making fancy items, soap manufacturing, mushroom. Specially in Badulla district they request trainings related to producing organic fertilizer and in Nuwara Eliya they are willing to have trainings on patch work, announcing, umbrella manufacturing etc. Especially they are willing to engage with packaging of pepper and clove.

In Monaragala the respondents request training regarding, making spices, manufacturing bags, planting ginger, making brooms, making banana bites, making lime drinks, making teddy bears, trainings on Anthurium, and Orchid planting, trainings on Mason, Tile Mason, Carpentry and mechanic, manufacturing LED bulbs, manufacturing exercise books, making Incense sticks, plant nursery, planting betel, products related to milk, products related to

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 45 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

jack fruit, manufacturing shoes, sewing mosquito nets, training on food dehydration, technical support to grinding pepper and chilly, new technologies for farming, wall décors and make frames, manioc bite manufacturing, pig farming, new varieties of banana plantations, jackfruit and manioc drying, making coconut oil. Number of respondents stated that “If we have proper training, we can work hard to develop ourselves as self- employees”.

4.23 Information Relevant to the Services

4.23.1 Benefits from Financial Institutes by Gender

The below Figure 4.25 and Figure 4.26 show the benefits that respondents take from financial institutions.

Figure 4.25 Benefits from Financial Institutes by Gender - Savings (In %)

70

60 57.45 55.76 51.56 48.44 50 42.55 44.24 40

30

20

10

0 Normal savings Senior Citizen Accounts Minor and Youth Accounts

Male Female

Source: Sample survey 2018

The above chart reflects the fact that, in general, females receive more benefits from financials institutes than males. This must result due to most of the financial related activities such as taking loans that are handled by the females. Yet, it is noticeable the fact that in terms of account holding, both males and females bear comparatively a similar number of percentages.

Figure 4.26 Benefits receive from Financial Institutes, Loans, leasing and microcredit (In %)

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 46 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

100 88.89 90 77.78 80

70 60 60 49.06 50.94 50 40 40 30 22.22 20 11.11 10 0 Home Loans Personal Loans Leasing Micro Finance/Micro Credit

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

The Figure 4.25 and 4.26 describes the benefits from financial institutes in gender wise. According to the above overall results majority of males took leasing while majority of females took micro finance loans. Further, considerably highest percentage of personal loans has been taken by male respondents. The highest rate of minor and youth accounts was having for the males and highest rate of normal savings and senior citizen accounts were having for females.

According to the conducted KIIs, it was found out MCC (Micro Credit Company) problem is serious as it has created undue sex relations in the society, when a certain woman cannot re-pay the loan, she is compelled to find money from sexual work. These issues are not area specific as they are common issues in the country. “Micro credit issue is really a burden for our villagers” said by one of the respondents from Monaragala District. This was confirmed by majority of the FGD participants as well as KII respondents.

One respondent added to the discussion that “most of the women took loans from micro credit agents”. Further it was illustrated by them as, “most of the villagers engage to micro credits because most of the state and private banks request more documents and equity to get a loan”.

4.23.2 Benefits receive from the government sector by Gender

The below Figure 4.27 shows the benefits that the respondents receive from the government sector.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 47 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.27 Benefits receive from the government sector by Gender (In %)

70

60

50 62.2

60.38

55.56 54.33

40 54.05

51.78

51.61

50.82

50.09

49.91

49.18

48.39

48.22

45.95 45.67

30 44.44

37.8 39.62 20

10

0

Male Female

Source: Sample Survey 2018

The above Figure 4.27 presents the information relevant to benefits from the government sector. Majority of females take loans (60.38%) from the government while majority of men took agricultural help (62.20%) from the government. One male respondent participated to an FGD stated that, “the only relief we have is government subsidies, yet it is not sufficient to continue our cultivations”. Subsidy can be defined as, transfer of money or products from the government to an entity.

4.23.3 Benefits from the non-government sector by Gender

The below Figure 4.28 shows that the benefits that the respondents take from the non- government sector.

Figure 4.28 Benefits from the non-government sector by Gender (In %)

90 82.5 78.13 80 70 57.97 60 55 52.38 50.88 49.12 45 47.62 50 42.03 40 30 21.88 17.5 20 10 0 Development of Loan facilities Awareness Provide Home Help for Other infrastructure programmes appliances agricultural activities

Male Female

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 48 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

The information related to the benefits from non-government sector demonstrates from the above Figure 4.28. Highest proportion of females in project areas receives loan facilities from the non-government sector. One female respondent added to the discussion saying that “when we have money urgency, the easiest way to mitigate that is to take a loan from micro credit companies. In that time, we never think about the interest rate, yet later we find it extremely difficult to clear the loan.” Moreover, majority of females receive home appliances from non-governmental sector while more males received agricultural help from the non-government sector.

4.23.4 Barriers to obtaining Services by women

The below Figure 4.29 shows the obstacles when obtaining services from, financial institutes, Government sector and non-government sector.

Figure 4.29 Barriers to obtaining Services by women (In %)

1.22 0.97 0.85 1.95

10.83 24.82

12.29

16.18

14.84

16.06 Take too much of time to provide the service Do not have knowledge to get services from financial institutions Distance to the service provider Difficult to access the provide services due to poor income level Request more documents Difficulty in obtaining loans They try to mislead us/do not provide proper information Request for bribery Approaching with the different intention to that of the service they should provide Other Source: Sample Survey 2018

The Figure 4.29 describes the information regarding the constrains face by women when acquiring services from service providing institutes such as Hospitals, Divisional Secretariat, Electricity Board, Water board etc. According to the results, it can be identified that institutions consume higher time to provide the service (24.82%) was considered as the main constrain that they have experienced. A female respondent stated that “sometimes we wait for the whole day and going back in empty hands without completing our need”. Moreover, the second constrain can be identified as lower knowledge to get services from service providing institutions (16.18%).

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 49 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Difficulty in obtaining loans can be identified as, most of the financial institutions request pay sheets or any valuable asset as bond to provide loans. One respondent added her view saying that “If we go to a bank to take a loan, the banks refuse to provide loan facilities since we don’t have a proper income earning source”. Majority of this community people cannot provide such requests and therefore this was their difficulty to get loans. As per to the KII, some officers in the Public Sector neglect women and do not attend to their work. Moreover, lower knowledge to get the services from service providing institutions also affect to the respondents.

4.24 Self-employment

It is marked that there are considerable number of females who were engaging with the self-employing activities. Almost all the women participants for the FGDs are willing to being self-employed as a help to their family /husband with some extra income. One female respondent stated that “we are very happy to learn a self-employment in a professional way and carryout a business to help my husband to cover our expenses”. The employment opportunities were lacking in this project areas. More importantly, women in estate sector wishes to get involved in sectors such as mushroom cultivations, tailoring, and poultry other than plucking tea.

Figure 4.30 Self-employment Situation by Gender (In %)

64.71

58.33 56.41

50

48.15

40.38 38.46

28.85 30.77

24.69

17.65

16.67

14.81

13.46

8.33 8.33 8.33

5.88 5.88 5.88

5.77 5.77

5.13

4.94 4.94

3.85 3.85 3.85

2.56 2.56 2.56

2.47

1.92 1.92 1.92

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Male Female Male Female Male Female Dairy products (like yoghurts) Grooming and pruning flower NuwaraMushroom Eliya cultivation Badulla Cinnamon related products/Monaragala spices Beauty culture (Running a Saloon) Cultivating vegetables Cultivating Fruits Sewing Cloths Other Source: Sample Survey 2018

According to the above Figure 4.30, most of the females were engaged in sewing clothes or cultivating vegetables or fruits in all the project areas. From the all project districts, other specified fields can be identified as supplying construction equipment, conducting preschool, photography, producing bags/teddy bears, providing lunch packets to the shops, selling fruits & vegetables, cane production, making sweets, poultry, milk farming

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 50 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

(cow, goat), packing spices, repairing electronic appliances, mason and manufacturing LED bulb.

4.24.1 The reasons for not being Self-employed by Gender

The below Figure 4.31 illustrate reasons for not being Self Employed

Figure 4.31 - The reasons for not being Self-employed by Gender (In %)

54

50

42.9

40.9

39

35

29.3

28.6 28.6

27.3

22.5

20 20

14.6

14.3 14.3

13.6

12.5

10 10

9.8

9.1 9.1

7.5

7.1 7.1 7.1

4.9

4

2.5

2.4

2

0 0 0 0

Male Female Male Female Male Female Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Lack of time Lack of enough resource Market barriers Poor economic condition No proper training or knowledge Other

Source: Sample Survey 2018

The main reason for not engaging with self-employment activity for females is lack of enough resources in Nuwara Eliya (54%) while 35% in Badulla.

According to them there are some possible reasons for being unemployed such as children’s age, lower interest in employments, financial barriers and less trainings and another reason is once they failed, they hesitate to take the risk again. The key problem of self-employed women is lower market opportunities. Other barriers can be identified as, middlemen request more commissions, low quality of products, competition, no proper value for the products even to cover initial cost etc. Other hindrances can be identified as, physical weakness as well as childcare.

Further it was explained by one respondent “Once I had my own business and then it collapsed. I don’t have a mood to start once again”. Moreover, the respondents respond that “Because of the middlemen we cannot have proper profit”. Therefore, they cannot proceed in their businesses. This is a very common respond and the majority agreed for that statement. One of another issue identified was respondents do not have an enough capital to start a business.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 51 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

4.24.2 Availability of opportunities for self-employment by Gender

The below Figure 4.32 shows the availability of opportunities for self-employment and preferred self-employment activity.

Figure 4.32 Availability of opportunities for self-employment by Gender (In %)

95.65

95.61

89.58

86.67

85.42

68

32

14.58

13.33

10.42

4.39 4.35

Male Female Male Female Male Female Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Yes No

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Figure 4.32 describes the self-employment opportunities and preferences for self- employment activity. According to the respondents, most of the females are willing to be self-employed. The preferred self-employed activities can be identifying as follows.

Figure 4.33 Types of Opportunity for self-employment by Gender (In %)

80

73.5

72.22 71.93

70 65.22

60

50

40

30 19.57

20

15.04

13.73

11.11

10.53

10.26

8.85

7.08

7.02

5.56 5.31

10 5.13

3.92

2.17

1.96 1.96

0 0 0 0 0 Male Female Male Female Male Female Nuwara Eliya Badulla Moneragala

Selling of Cooked Food Selling of Fruits and Vegetables Selling of Flower plants Others

Source: Sample Survey 2018 The respondent’s preferences can be identified as follows, producing bags, tailoring, home gardening, shoe manufacturing, fruit juice producing, bakery, poultry, packaging spices, preschool teacher, yoghurt production, carpentry, mushroom, bites manufacturing,

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 52 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

agriculture base activities, beauty culture, milk farming, driving, pepper plantations, technician, spices businesses, cake businesses, compost production, painting and electrician.

4.24.3 Possible interventions preferred in perceiving self-employments by Gender

The below Figure 4.34 shows the possible interventions preferred in perceiving self- employment

Figure 4.34 Possible interventions preferred in perceiving

self-employments by Gender (In %)

40.63

40.13

38.82

35.94

32.05

31.76

29.49

28.66

28.13

26.22

24.84

23.78

21.88

20.31

18.47

14.1

12.94

12.5 12.5 12.5

12.1

11.54

10.37

9.41

8.97

7.06

6.25

6.1

4.88

3.85

3.18

3.13 3.13 3.13

1.27 0

Male Female Male Female Male Female Nuwara Eliya Badulla Moneragala

Technical assistance

Coaching to enhance organizational development skills

Provide support in elaboration of sustainable business plan

Provide support in identify bottleneck/unforeseen obstacles

Setting up communication platform with potential client and service provider (marketing) Source: Sample Survey 2018

Figure 4.34 describes the possible interventions prefer in perceiving self-employment. Majority of the females in Nuwara Eliya district request more technical assistance (26.22%) and support in elaboration of sustainable business plan (28.66%) and in Badulla district majority of females request more coaching to enhance organizational development skills with other specified requests. One respondent added to discussion saying that “even though we have the willingness, we don’t know the technical knowhow to run a business”. Majority of females in Monaragala district requests technical assistance as well as coaching

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 53 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

to enhance organizational development skills. As a whole, majority of male from the entire three-project district request technical assistance. Other specified requests such as trainings, equipment, facilities, infrastructure, financial benefits, land area, loan with low interest rate.

4.24.4 Barriers to access women employment

The Figure 4.35 shows the barriers to access women employment.

Figure 4.35 Barriers to access women employment (In %)

64.42

50.27

47.86

46.65

38.42 35.22

32.54 32.94

30.24 30.24

26.65

26.61

23.24

16.71

16.03

12.19

10.65

9.74

6.68

5.42 3.59

3.25 3.67 2.34

2.22 2.48

1.18

1.05

1.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Have no barriers Family doesn’t allow to work Neighbors and relatives don’t allow Unequal access to labor market Poor quality of types of employment Barriers to upward occupational mobility Cultural constraints Educational gap between men and women There is no work place near by Political actions/works Other

Source: Sample Survey 2018

According to the Figure 4.35, majority of the respondents’ state that they do not have a work place close by for employment (39.02%). However, there are about 26.96% of respondents whose families do not allow being employed. Moreover, this condition mainly reflects in Nuwara Eliya district and Passara DSD. Further, some respondents mentioned that they cannot be employed while doing the household work due to care burden.

As per to the KIIs with Ms. A.M Premalatha, Chairman of District Women Federation- Moneragala, it is revealed that another main issued faced by women for economic empowerment is to meet market conditions or the market itself to sell the products and they cannot put their products to the market by themselves. “Even if woman try to create a market place individually it is not possible to do so, as a solution a market should be created for a group of people so that they all can engage in their development together”.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 54 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

4.25 Project Oriented subject Areas

Although all the project areas have agriculture base economic system, they do not engage with any value additional activity. All the respondents are engaging in home gardening with the available land areas. Both purposes of consumption and selling is covered through home gardening. There was considerable number of respondents who were planting only for their personal consumption. Animal attacks and less water are the main issues of them. In Badulla District they mainly plant crops such as, vegetables, pineapple, pumpkin, pepper, cinnamon, rubber, coffee, strawberry, water spinach, tea, coconut, chilies etc. Some of them responded from Nuwara Eliya “sometimes we cannot cover at least our initial cost”. They dry vegetables which they cannot sell at the proper time. In Nuwara Eliya, the main income generating sources were identified as, tea, pepper, coffee, clove, floriculture, milk farming, vegetable farming etc. In Monaragala district they have much bigger lands for agricultural activities compared to the other two districts. In generally they plant, corn, cereals, pepper, coconut, fruits and vegetables, cinnamon etc.

4.25.1 Issues related to Dairy Farming

The below Figure shows the main problems encountered when engaged in dairy farming.

Figure 4.25.1 Involvement on Dairy Farming (In %)

120

100

80 52.6

35.3

50

54.5

68.8 75

60 71.4

80.4

94.1

96.6

100 100 98.2

40 64.7

20 50

45.5

47.4

25

31.3

28.6

0.00%

5.9

1.8

3.4 19.6

0 0

Bibila

Badulla

Madulla

Passara

Haputale

Kothmale

Madagama

Haldumulla

Kandeketiya

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara

Ambagamuwa

Badalkumbura Siyabalanduwa Nuwara Eliya Badulla Monaragala

Yes No

Source: Sample Survey 2018

The Figure 4.36 indicates DSDs that involve with dairy farming. The highest proportion of dairy farmers were from Passara DSD (64.7%) while there were no identified farmers from Haldummulla and Badalkumbura (0.00%).

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 55 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Figure 4.37 Main problems of dairy farmers (In %)

50.6

37.35 37.35

22.89 21.69 19.28 19.28

Cattle mash is Other No proper Lack of Lack of Lack of Can't meet the very expensive market vetinary vitamins exposure into quality facilities new technology Source: Sample Survey 2018

Overall problem for dairy farming is high price of cattle mash. There were 37.35% of other specified problems such as high priced of animal medicines, insufficient lands, high expenses than the income level, less grass and water. Lack of theoretical/practical training was another problem they are having with.

Respondents elaborate that, “when our cows are not well, we have less facilities for immediate treatment”. Majority of them agreed on the statement and they add more as, “we have to spend more to treat our cows’ medical treatments”.

4.25.2 Cinnamon/Cocoa cultivation and the main problems

The below Figure 4. 38 indicates cinnamon and cocoa cultivation and the Figure 4.39 indicates the main problems that the farmers faced when doing it.

Figure 4.38 Involvement in Cinnamon/Cocoa cultivation (In %)

120

100

80 50 50 47.1

60 97.9 93.3 40

50 50 52.9 20 2.1 6.7 0 Badulla Haldumulla Madagama Madulla Badalkumbura

Yes No

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 56 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Information related to the cinnamon/cocoa cultivation present in Figure 4.38 Highest proportion of cinnamon/cocoa cultivators can be identified in Badalkumbura and lowest were found from Badulla. There were no cinnamon/cocoa gardening in Nuwara Eliya district, kandekatiya, Passara, Haputale, Siyabalanduwa and Bibila.

Figure 4.39 The main problems of cinnamon/cocoa cultivation (In %)

80 75

70

60

50

40

30

20 12.5 8.3 10 4.2

0 Wild animals Lack of Lack of knowledge in Lack of updated theoretical/practical land management technology training practices Source: Sample Survey 2018 As per the respondents, the major problem was attacks of wild animals with the percentage of 75.0%. Other than that, they have a threat of plant diseases and damages to the yields at the initial level. The respondents from FGD said that, “monkeys are really a big trouble for cocoa harvest”.

4.25.3 Potato Cultivation and the main problems

The below Figure 4.40 shows potato cultivation and the main problems that cultivators faced when farming.

Figure 4.40 Involvement in Potato Cultivation (In %)

33%

67%

Yes No

Source: Sample Survey 2018

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 57 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

The above Figure 4.40 indicates the number of potato cultivators from all project districts. About 67% of respondents cultivate potatoes in project area.

Figure 4.41 main problems in Potato Cultivation (In %)

100 94.44 90 80 70 61.11 60 50

40 33.33 27.78 30 20 10 0 Climate change Other Potato importers Lack of proper exposure to (importing from other new technology countries) Source: Sample Survey 2018 Information on potato cultivation is given in the Figure table 4.41. Potato cultivation can be identified only on Nuwara Eliya DSD. The major issue for potato cultivation can be identified as climate change (94.4%). Other problems can be identified as, no proper competitive market, diseases for potatoes, lack of new farming methods etc.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 58 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

CHAPTER 5 BARRIERS, STAKEHOLDER AND THEIR INTERVENTION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTERVENTION AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Previous chapters presented and analyzed the results of the desk review, sample survey, FDGs and KIIs. Based on the findings of the previous chapters, this chapter highlights barriers to Women Economic Empowerment (WEE), key stakeholder, possible interventions and areas of capacity building. Accordingly, this chapter is organized into four sections: (1) social and economic barriers to women’s engagement in economic activities at individual and household level, community and district, regional level in the project area, (2) relevant key stakeholders and their current intervention, (3) recommendations for possible intervention to avoid/address barriers to WEE, and (4) areas of the capacity building process for the stakeholder.

5.1. Social and Economic Barriers to Women’s Engagement in Economic Activities (WEE)

The role women played in an economy is an outcome of complex economic, sociocultural, and institutional factors, and is also affected by the individual characteristics of women, characteristics of the other family members, social cultural and economic environment of the society that they live in. It is also heavily affected by the country’s laws and policies. This chapter examines the barriers to and enablers of WEE, focusing on women as individuals, households, the community, the whole country in terms of social, cultural, and economic characteristics and laws and policies. Most developmental policies naturally affect men and women differently. But governments also implement women-focused interventions, such as gender budgeting and microfinance schemes or maternal and child health programs.

5.1.1. Economic Growth

Economic growth and Women Economic Empowerment have a very close relationship. Naturally, economic growth creates winners and losers that closely determine WEE. In countries experiencing rapid economic growth like Newly Industrial countries (NICs), the constantly increasing demand for labor and availability of better-paying jobs positively ensure WEE. In other words, when an economy creates more jobs and demands more workers, greater female inclusion in the labor market is more likely to be happened and this development is less likely to adversely affect male counterparts and does not necessarily come at the expense of men. In nutshell, the causal link between economic growth and WEE is clear in the literature (World Bank 2012). However, economic growth is a necessary but insufficient condition for improving Women Economic Empowerment. All the other macro level factors, such as social, cultural and law and order, and meso and micro levels factors affect WEE.

Studies show that economic crises have had significant impacts on women’s employment opportunities in recent years. Formally employed women and adolescent girls are more likely than men to lose their jobs during economic crises.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 59 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

5.1.2. Women Entrepreneurship: Issues and barriers (WEE)

One of the key areas that truly affects for WEE is women entrepreneurships17. Therefore, this study examines the barriers, enables, and opportunities for women entrepreneurship specifically focusing the selected areas of the project (EGSD) locations.

Issues and barriers regarding women entrepreneurship development can be listed as follows. While some of the problems/issues are common for the entire country and some are more specifically related these three districts. Meanwhile, some of the issues and barriers are common for men and women together, some of them are only women specific factors. ➢ Inadequacy of capital is the main problem and where available the high interest rates discourage investment. This is common for all the country. Though many MFIs and many other institutions offer financial product mainly microcredit, the amounts are not enough to start a sustainable business since the initial costs including construction costs and transaction cost are very high in Sri Lanka.

➢ Absences of marketing facilities are major obstacles to smoothly marketing or selling their products in general and for women entrepreneurs in particular. It is found from FGDs and KIIs that SMEs are highly concentrated in local market. Women entrepreneurs particularly face various social and cultural problems when try to go beyond the local market. The study also found that male middlemen suppliers dominate in the popular industries in these districts and they buy goods at lower price on the production side. As input suppliers, they charge higher prices. In both sides, women entrepreneurs’ loss their business profits. As Figure 4.8 shows, economic activities in Nuwara Eliya mainly focus on plantation while Badulla and Monaragala focus on paddy and chena cultivation. These products go to market mainly through male middlemen. One woman in Nuwara Eliya mentioned: We sell our vegetables to the modalaly (the middleman) and he decides price. We cannot negotiate. We have to buy inputs form him as well’. Constraints in transportation are always real challenge for women entrepreneurs.

➢ Lack of opportunity for accessing to international market is a common barrier for SMEs and particularly women entrepreneurs since women entrepreneurs and SMEs do not produce exportable quality goods. Women entrepreneurs mostly run small businesses as well as traditional businesses.

➢ Lack of skills and experiences: Neither do women entrepreneurs nor workers in women-own enterprises have skills, and experiences. Women in these three districts do not have skills and experience in the modern industries as well as modern technology. Their skills and experiences are mostly limited to garments and beauty culture.

➢ Lack of healthy workplace environment moves women away from engagement in economic activities. In work places, women are more likely to be victims of psychological and sexual violence. Women also experience violence while traveling to and from the workplace. Apart from, these three districts are predominantly

17 As shown in table 4.3, women in the project areas are mainly engaged in self-employment activities (Chapter 4).

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 60 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

agricultural areas. Farmers heavily use pesticide and therefore, pesticide exposure negatively impacts the health of women and men, including their reproductive health. For example, one women participant of FGD at the Nuwara Eliya district mentioned that they (women) take responsible for washing pesticide soaked clothing.

➢ Triple burden responsibilities: Women’s triple burden responsibilities- reproductive, domestic chores and income generating - negatively affect to WEE. In an interview at the FGD in Monaragala, a female employee in a piecework garment factory explained about her day: ‘I have to give my target, so sometimes I work till mid-night, because I have to make the meals, feed my two children, help their studies, wash cloths, clean home, and so many work at home’. One of the female respondents (the sample survey) stated that “I have no sufficient time to engage in an employment since I have to look after my kids” (refer Chapter 4). Many development projects that target women may negatively affect women empowerment though such projects target women’s engagement in economic activities.

➢ Balancing family and business Expenditure: The study found that balancing family expenditure and business expenditure was another challenge that faces women business entrepreneurs. The respondents said that family needs took up resources that were meant to expand their businesses hence their businesses took time to expand. The women entrepreneurs that were interviewed for this study do not differentiate their business expenses and family expenses.

➢ Multiple procedures and licenses: The study further found that the many procedures and licenses that one was required to start and run a business firm in Sri Lanka, were a challenge. The respondents said that they were required to obtain many approvals from different places and they have to wait months to complete their approval procedures. Some participants at FGDs mentioned that the women entrepreneurs were harassed by the officials when they come to inspect the business premises prior to the issuance of the license and approvals. There were no “one- stop-shops" which could inform aspiring entrepreneurs of what is required of them in terms of regulations to be followed for registration and other licensing. It is also found that the individual women lack in knowledge about these official procedures and regulations. The process of registration was described by the respondents who were undergone those procedures, as time consuming, complicated, expensive and confusing. With all of these, transaction cost becomes very high particularly for women-run business firms.

➢ Low education levels and non-entrepreneurial education: Another challenge that the study found the women entrepreneurs in the project areas faced was their low levels of education in general and entrepreneurial education in particular. The formal education system does not focus entrepreneurship. The level of education among women in these three districts is relatively low. Lower education and school curriculums that do not develop entrepreneurship skills, decreased the chances that a person, particularly a woman, would become an entrepreneur. This made them lack the confidence and trust to be entrepreneurs. As found out from the study, women in these three districts lack in entrepreneurial skills, ICT skills, and financial management knowledge.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 61 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

5.1.3. Education and skills development

Educating girls is a primary means of increasing economic outcomes later in life and adult vocational training and skills development is also important to WEE. The study found that level of education, entrepreneurial skills and other vocational skills among the women in these three districts are low and conventional18. Skills and trainings that they have obtained are not suitable for the 4th Industrial Age. Access to quality education during childhood is important to breaking the poverty cycle, and to improve labour market outcomes later in life. The barriers to female education have serious repercussions for their prospects later in life. The respondents of this study highlighted that they invest more in girls’ education than boys’. However, the second major reasons for female being unemployed in the project area is lack of educational qualification. Language is another barrier for women’s engagement in economic activities. Lack of knowledge in English language can be observed among males and females. “Tamil youngsters cannot use Sinhalese language as well” resulted from KII.

5.1.4. Access to quality, decent paid work

Each and every woman cannot be trained and developed as an entrepreneur and an own- account business woman (self-employment). Expanding labour market opportunities is an important mean to increase women’s engagement in better work. Access to decent work is very significant for WEE (refer chapter 2: 17 SDGs)19. Formal sector work is more likely to be decent. Literature from worldwide confirms that formal employment either government or private sector, is the most consistently empowering for women. Studies also confirm that informal employment including own account work characterized by low earnings and high risk. Women included in the sample predominantly work in the informal sector (refer chapter 4, Table 4,4) and their own account-businesses, which are considered as survival-oriented income-generation. Most of the works are done at their home or places a very closer to their homes mainly because of their domestic responsibilities as one of the survey respondents mentioned: “I have no sufficient time to engage in an employment since I have to look after my kids”. In addition, poor infrastructure and a lack of safe public transport restrict women to go out and engage in decent work. Transportation and other infrastructure facilities in these areas are low in quality and poor in access though young generation looks for job opportunities outstation (Chapter 4).

5.1.5. Reproductive and domestic responsibilities

The unpaid care including child and elderly care, and all other domestic works including cleaning, cooking, children educational support etc. disproportionately carried out by women (refer chapter 4)20. The results of the sample survey show that the main reason for women’s unemployment is their unpaid family responsibility (Figure 4.5 in chapter 4). These prevents women, particularly mothers’ entry into decent paid employment and constitutes a significant income loss for women with children compared with women without children (motherhood penalty vs WEE). Studies highlight that women’s labour force participation is higher where childcare is available. For example, in Brazil women’s

18 A Respondent from Monaragala District said that “I don’t have any idea about being self-employed”. This emphasizes that they do not have any idea bout self-employment (Chapter 4) 19 United Nations Sustainable Development Framework, Sri Lanka 2018 – 2022 20 Census data show that 62 percent of working age economically inactive women were engaged in unpaid care work (Chapter 2 of this report).

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 62 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

employment increased from 36% to 46% after they were able to access publicly funded childcare services. Women in Badualla and Nuwara Elliya express their views that they are forced to stay at home (Unemployed)21 or work in informal sector closer to home due to family responsibilities. One of their challenges is in balancing work and family life (domestic responsibilities). Since the economic hardship these families go through, women have pressures to earn money as well as to do all the domestic responsibilities.

5.1.6. Access to physical and financial assets

Access to, ownership of and control over physical and financial assets are crucial for WEE. Women’s land and house ownership is hardly found in these three districts. Women’s financial inclusion, including access to banking and other financial services, is also vital to increase women’s economic control and opportunities. Many microfinance institutions are working in these three districts and they predominantly target women. Sometimes women become victims of microfinance. For example, even though women do not want to get loans, their husbands push them to go for small groups and get loans. One respondent from Bibila said that “our husbands do not take loans so that we have to take on behalf of our families to fulfill our needs” (Chapter 4). Microfinance programs also target women for several reasons. One of the reasons is that they are all the time stay at home: “most of the micro credit loan givers catches women at home” (FGD, Chapter 4). Many participants in FGDs mentioned that microfinance gives many troubles for women: “loan issue of micro finance is really big trouble for the villagers” (FGD 12, Bibila: Exclusive for Women) though the wealth of evidence indicates that microfinance, particularly microfinance plus, has become a popular effort to increase WEE. This includes enabling women to start and develop enterprises, as well as increasing resources available to access productive inputs for agricultural work and improving women’s skills and capacities.

The results of the survey indicate (chapter 4) that majority of the respondents have taken loans, mainly from the informal sources, for covering their daily expenses (Figure 4.12, chapter 4). This has become a real barrier for women in particular to engage in economic activities. Though many development projects aim entrepreneurial loans or business startup loan, according to the respondents of the survey and FGDs, people in the project areas demand for loans for some other purposes: daily expenses, children education, construction of houses, and purchasing household items. As one female respondent at a FGD stated: “we want to educate our children well, ……. Therefore, we take loans for children educational purpose without any hesitation” (Chapter 4).

Limited business and job opportunities for the women is also a key barrier for WEE. Even though there are scores of unemployed women who are eager to work in rural areas, there are just a couple of openings for work for them at their villages.

5.1.7. Social Capital and leadership

Women’s ability to work together with others as mainly small group and community organizations to enhance economic activity and rights is key to WEE. Small groups have become popular in these three districts. They are formed as mean to access microfinance. The benefits of small groups included higher productivity and product quality as well as

21 According to the FGDs, the main reasons for female unemployment are less job opportunities of the area, load of household works and lack of interest to do a job.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 63 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

increased access to credit and market information. Women’s participation in such small groups provides an important opportunity to develop confidence and self-belief, and effective leadership skills. This paves the way for women to enhance their skills by taking leadership positions and to build the necessary constituency to move into positions in other informal or formal structures, including public or political office. Therefore, it is very significant that NGOs and other development agencies would provide organizational or technical support, including capacity-building and leadership training.

5.1.8. Gender norms and discriminatory social norms

Gender norms refer to contextually specific social traditions about what behaviors, preferences and knowledge are appropriate for women and men. Gender discrimination can be observed in every part of the Sri Lankan society including households, community, workplaces, politics, etc. Such discriminatory gender norms cause huge barriers to WEE. In the Sri Lankan society, one of such acceptable norms is that men are economic providers and women as mothers and care-givers.

Alcoholism is a serious issue the project areas, and it may be a major barrier to economic empowerment. One female respondent from Nuwara Eliya DSD stated that, “Our husbands are addicted to alcohol where they can’t live without drinking” (Chapter 4). When women earn extra income to their family, husbands tend to expend more money for alcohol and gambling.

5.2. Key stakeholders and their current intervention

This type of development project has two types of stakeholders, namely primary stakeholders and secondary stakeholders. The primary stakeholders in the EGSD project are mainly women in the project areas. In addition, their family members particularly children also consider as the primary stakeholders. There are several types of secondary stakeholders in the EGSD project. They come from the government sector, private firms, NGOs and community organizations. This section briefly examines the relevant key stakeholders and their current intervention.

As mentioned before, women in the project areas become the key primary stakeholders (women and children) while children also come under the primary stakeholder category. Women is the key target group in the EGSD project and they are very optimistic about the project and willing to give their fullest support to the project staff. Most of the women interviewed and attended FGDs have participated these types of livelihood development projects particularly projects with microfinance arms. The findings of the survey show that some of the women are already engaging in self-employment activities. They are willing to learn more about self-employment opportunities and techniques. In their words, ‘we are very happy to learn a self-employment in a professional way and carryout a business to help my husband to cover our expenses” (Chapter 4). However, adult males must be taken as a very important stakeholder in a project like EGSD since they become key and influential players in WEE (Women’s engagement in economic activities). At the sometime, they (male) become a group of beneficiaries as well. Though it was found that a few males support women’s engagement in economic activities, the majority, culturally and behaviorally, do not give fullest supports to women’s engagement in economic activities. They easily pass all the domestic responsibilities including cooking,

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 64 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

cleaning, child and elderly caring etc. to women. They push women to get loans. They dominate in ‘economic or financial’ decision makings.

The secondary stakeholders in the EGSD project include relevant institutions and department in the government sector, private firms, NGOs and community organizations. Their influence and interventions in livelihood development particularly in women’s engagement in economic activities cannot be ignored by a project like EGSD.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Women’s Bureau, and The National Committee for Women are national women’s policy making and national programs implementation bodies in Sri Lanka. Women’s charter is the main policy document that the Sri Lankan government established in 1993 to ensure women’s rights. In addition, many policy initiatives have been taken by the government at national level (Chapter 1). There are many more district and country level interventions and programs on WEE. Enterprise Sri Lanka, Grama Shakthi and Agriculture sector modernization project are three main projects that government has conducting in present all over the country. For example, the project ‘Enterprise Sri Lanka’ aims to groom 100,000 entrepreneurs by 2020 to encourage female entrepreneurship. One of the outcomes of the Enterprise Sri Lanka Project is to empower women (Chapter 1). “Grama Shakthi”, which is another countrywide government project implemented by the Presidential Secretariat, aims to eradicate poverty by showing the path for people to escape the trap of dependency and to achieve self-sufficiency in partnership with the private sector. The ‘Agriculture Sector Modernization Project (ASMP)’, another national project, aims to increase agriculture productivity, improve market access, and enhance value addition of smallholder farmers and agribusiness in the project areas. Women become key primary stakeholders of all these national projects.

In addition to the national level programs, provincial and district level programs and projects are implemented by the government department and institutions. The study conducted several KIIs with all the relevant secondary stakeholders in the project areas. Some of them involve in the policy decision making level while some in the project and program implementation level. Vocational training centers in the areas are also very important actors in WEE. These stakeholders provide various facilities to women for developing their livelihood development. Private firms and NGOs also are actively engaged in WEE activities. For example, MILCO company organizes dairy farmers in the villages and forms societies. They officer support the dairy farmers in many ways extension services, facilities to transport milk to chilling centers, raw materials etc. are provided. Dairy farmers give their milk to the village centers. However, poverty is still the key issues in these three districts.

The study reveals that though there are many actions that have been taken by various ministries, departments and institutions, most of the regional level public sector institutions (officers) are not aware of some of the initiatives: for example, this Action Plan. SEDAW Standard, Women Rights Statute, Against Domestic Violence Act, National Women Committee.

5.3. Possible Interventions

As noted above, barriers to WEE may be identified from different levels namely macro, meso and micro levels. The government mainly may have to take responsibility at the

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 65 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

macro level, particularly maintaining enabling external environment for WEE. The package may include law and order, polices, legislation and conducive macro-economic situation. At meso level, government ministries, department and institutions, private firms, the community, and development agencies including NGOs can play a significant role. At micro level, household and individual have to play their role as well. This report mainly focuses on possible intervention at meso and micro level, particularly from the Enhancing Gender Inclusive Socio-Economic Development in Uva and Central Provinces (EGSD) project. Since the most of the macro level barriers cannot be addressed by a project like the EGSD, the section mainly focuses the possible meso and micro levels interventions. However, an integrated intervention is recommended.

➢ The study found that one of the major barriers to WEE is different levels and types of violence against women: domestic, community, society, and workplace. The main outcome of the EGSD project implementation is to enhance rural and estate communities’ sustainable and diversified livelihoods with effective engagement in inclusive gender-sensitive socio-economic development processes, in cooperation with private and public sectors. Two of the project’s outcomes are also directly targeted to decrease structural barriers and policy dialogue on entrepreneurship development. Therefore, the project intervention can encourage an explicit zero tolerance policy toward all forms of violence –including discrimination –, encouraging the reporting of violent incidents, providing support to victims of violence and other affected employees. The project can provide with awareness and training of managers and supervisors on work-family balance, workplace violence and other health and safety issues from a gender perspective. At the same time, workers can be educated on the issues of violence.

➢ Access to decent work is very significant for WEE. This study further finds that poor infrastructure and a lack of safe public transport restrict women to go out and engage in decent work. Transportation and other infrastructure facilities in these areas are low in quality and poor in access. The EGSD project can encourage private firms to address the issues related decent work and barriers that restrict women’s access to jobs. Firms can be encouraged to introduce workplace polices on workplace daycares and provides facilities for breastfeeding. It is very clear that developing a decent working environment goes beyond solely passing and tightening legislation; wider strategies are needed. Bringing together all the stakeholders – including government, private sector, development agencies and gender equality experts – can help to develop a business environment that supports and rewards good practice, thus creating incentives for sustained effort.

➢ The EGSD project can intervene at the community level to ensure the community health and safety. For example, women’s committees on health and safety can be formed. The EGSD project with the support of all relevant stakeholders may initiate women advisory service bodies in each district.

➢ Women entrepreneurship as women’s engagement in economic activities: In the path of WEE through women entrepreneurship, the project has to

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 66 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

identify real 22 women entrepreneurs and provide them with necessary resources and guidance such as financial, technical and capacity building. The EGSD project can first prepare a list of genuine and potential women entrepreneurs. After the identification, capacity building trainings may be organized to build their capacity. It is also very important to make women entrepreneurs aware of market condition, market price, quality of goods, value creation opportunities, and availability of inputs. As explained above, rigid social norms, values and attitudes act as barriers in women’s engagement in economic activities. Social attitudes towards the operation of women entrepreneurs need to be changed. Entrepreneurship education should be introduced in both formal and vocational educational institutions. Changing attitudes with entrepreneurship education is the way to create entrepreneurial firms instead of job seekers. However, there are some external barriers that cannot be shorted out at the meso level intervention like the EGSD project. Government interventions should highly be necessary in many areas, namely national security, the infrastructure facilities, and law and order. Government should ensure the conducive environment for women entrepreneurs. The project can support women entrepreneurs through developing their capacities mainly in terms of business and financial knowledge, financial services (microfinance plus), and social capital. Information about different types of business opportunities that are doable for the areas can be identified and business proposals can be developed. Due to their limited education levels, these are real challenge for these women. Since women in these three districts are with low level of education and lack of professional skills, less risky and micro enterprises may be suitable. It may be possible to set up women business companies (cooperative societies for women entrepreneurs) since the small group concept is already popular among the women in these districts. In names of women business companies, specific group concept such as one group-one product system (Pepper Sauce, Flowers etc.) and ‘One Village – One Product concept’ may be promoted.

The entrepreneurial development services may extend with pre and post investment counselling (consultancy services) for women entrepreneurs. Since women do not have collateral facilities, women entrepreneurs should be provided collateral free loans. Credit guarantee scheme for women entrepreneurs would be another option. Loan procedures and loan application must be simplified. Long and delaying procedures for registration and other official requirements are another area of concerns. Most of the loans are taken for children education and some other purposes rather than developing their own income generating activities. New microfinance products including multi- or different purposes credits, micro-insurance and other microfinance ‘plus’ services must be provided.

The project can encourage the provincial governments to set up one-stop-shop services. The project may conduct special training programs for the relevant officers. Marketing is a burning issue for SMEs in general and women entrepreneurs in particular. The EGSD project with the support of other stakeholders including private firms and government agencies may develop a proper mechanism to the women entrepreneurs to market

22 This is very important since every individual cannot be concerted as an entrepreneur. They may not have entrepreneurial skills and abilities. They may not like to entrepreneurs, as a respondent from Monaragala District said that “I don’t have any idea about being self-employed” (Chapter 4).

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 67 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

their products. The EGSD project may set up marketing centers in selected areas and link them with women entrepreneurs and large companies.

It was found that (chapter 4) majority of females are unemployed even after following VT courses because of due difficulty to be employed with household chores (45%). According to a KII, “both males and females do part-time jobs with the knowledge they gained from this VT centers in addition to their regular jobs.” The EGSD project may promote part- time jobs. Then women can do both types of work: domestic chores and income earning23. Comprehensive value chain analyses of available sectors (industries) in the project areas would be helpful to identify part-time job opportunities. This may help to create new business and job opportunities for women. Although all the project areas have an agriculture base economic system, all the respondents are engaging in home gardening with the available land areas. They are not aware of any value creation activities. Possible areas for value chain analysis can be listed as follows: Badulla district- mainly plant crops such as, vegetables, pineapple, pumpkin, pepper, cinnamon, potato, rubber, coffee, strawberry, water spinach, tea, coconut, chilies, dairy farming etc; Nuwara Eliya district- tea, pepper, coffee, clove, floriculture, dairy farming, potato, vegetable farming etc.; and Monaragala district- corn, cereals, pepper, dairy farming, coconut, potato, fruits and vegetables, cinnamon etc. Special projects such as value additional activities in identified sectors may be formulated.

Social protection and social security: Many development projects including the EGSD project employ sustainable livelihood development approach as their intervention methodology. Microfinance is one of the successful instruments in the sustainable livelihood development approach. Many microfinance programs employ social protection packages. Social protection programs facilitate WEE by alleviating poverty, reducing vulnerability to economic risks and supporting women to overcome barriers that prevent their economic participation, such as caring responsibilities. Social protection has positive, long-term implications for inclusive economic growth in developing countries given its overwhelmingly positive impacts on household productivity and labour market participation. However, it has limited capacity to uphill WEE. Such social protection interventions must be combined with social security facilities such as micro-insurance and other personal development services because social protection initiatives are not automatically empowering women. Careful attention must be paid to women’s specific risks and constraints to avoid unintended effects. Social protection instruments must also be emphasized legal protections for maternity, paternity and parental leave, unemployment benefits, childcare support, employment guarantee schemes, including public works programs, and social pension and micro-pension schemes (Own-account business pension schemes). Child caring and elderly caring are some of the key areas to be addressed since significant of women and their time spend in child and elderly caring. Development projects must ensure gender-responsive interventions and must be carefully designed to address spillover effects.

Establishing strong network among different institutions and agencies that involved in the development of the women in the areas may be more effective system. Language is one of areas that policy makers must look at when developing networks and supporting economic activities.

23 The study found that females are usually not allowed to go outside the area. Their training cannot be used for their economic development.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 68 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Carrier guidance programs are essential throughout the education structure so that the students could made themselves aware on how to select subjects for O/L, A/L along with their professional carrier. Most of the students select subjects not only based on their talents but also for the trend or parent’s opinion. Therefore, both parents and students must be conscious when selecting subjects. Students in schools should be made aware of the outer world and society. Establish a career guidance unit in each school is necessary.

5.4. Area of capacity building

The EGSD project may play a major role at the meso and micro levels in different ways. One of the areas is capacity building. Capacity building is required for the primary stakeholders (mainly women) as well as the secondary stakeholders- relevant public officers and others (private sector and community organizations).

5.4.1. Capacity building for the primary stakeholders (women)

Different areas of individual level capacity building for women is required: (1) entrepreneurship and enterprise development, agriculture (2) personality and attitudes, (3) domestic responsibilities. Proper training for running enterprises, maintaining accounts and marketing strategies may be provided. Then women get an opportunity to start micro-enterprises in their respective localities without disturbing their family life. It is very crucial how to balance their work and businesses and their family life. Awareness programs about the work-own account business-family life may be conducted. Effective training programs are needed for women entrepreneurs’ development. Most of the women entrepreneurs in these three districts use traditional training and skills in their business. Now the world is in the 4th industrial age. Technology based training plays a role in increasing productivity, increasing the quality of output and saving time and money of women entrepreneur. Women entrepreneurs need up-to-date training for new technology, new areas of product development, marketing, and management skills. They need skills how to work with other stakeholders (entrepreneurial network). It is observed that there are many microfinance providers in these areas and they provide loans to women particularly. Financial literacy among these women is weak. Capacity building on financial management is required for women’s entrepreneurs. Many girls are attending vocational training courses. However, they need trainings that combine vocational training with life skills support. The women (and men) in the areas are not aware of and knowledgeable about value creation activities. Capacity building on value creation is highly recommended. Integrated interventions, for example those that combine economic services and skills, life skills and other training, are recommended. Women should be made aware to improve the quality of their products to suit local and foreign markets with proper monitoring and evaluation system under responsible party. For this excellent training, financial facilities & machineries are required. Language knowledge in English and Sinhala must be improved.

Though there are several VT centers and VT courses available in the project areas, it seems that people in the areas are not aware of such courses (Table 4.23, Chapter 4). Awareness programs targeting youths and females about available VT courses may be conducted. According to the respondent who participated for the FGD, “we are not aware about the VT courses and then they could not apply for the VT courses”. In areas of capacity building, according to the sample respondents, the majority of males’ request trainings on mechanic, agriculture and floriculture and females mostly request

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 69 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

trainings on sewing, agriculture and beauty culture in all project districts. Awareness programs on Agricultural work in modern manners, climate resilient cultivations etc. are recommended. It is very important to strengthen collaboration between vocational training centers and companies. Industry sector representatives may be involved in designing curricula (if possible collaboration with the other countries). VT courses according to the preference of women may be designed (especially, short courses on usage of modern technology for businesses such as purchasing from e-bay).

Social barriers must also be addressed. Capacity building related social barriers must also be targeted adult male members of the family. It was observed that male members of the family always want to keep their wife at home to look after their children and to perform other domestic responsibilities. Male members hardly perform those household activities. The EGSD project may conduct some awareness programs on these aspects for adult males. Women entrepreneurs need support from their family members particularly from their husbands. In addition, alcohol addiction by male members is a serious issue in these areas. Since it negatively affects women, awareness programs on alcoholism for male members are recommended. Capacity building programs on personal development, motivational and soft skills development should be conducted for women (under that there should be counseling; attitude changing etc. can be mainly focused).

5.4.2. Capacity building for the secondary stakeholders

(CBOs, public officers and private companies): Many secondary stakeholders involve in WEE projects like the EGSD. The capacity building for the secondary stakeholders are also very crucial for achieving final outcomes (WEE) of these types of projects. Providing women with equal economic opportunities requires an integrated set of laws and policies, which are relevant across every domain of WEE. Women in the areas are preforming their own-account businesses, are working as domestic workers in the Middle-east countries as well as locally, are providing paid and unpaid labours in the agriculture sector and the informal sector, and are working in the formal sector. Awareness programs on WEE for relevant officers may be conducted. For example, WEE requires the active commitment of employers across all sectors to good working conditions and gender-responsive practice. Awareness programs may be conducted for relevant officers on existing policies, actions etc. on WEE.

Since enabling factors for WEE can be identified from all the level and are interlink, the best way to address WEE is the whole system approach, which is an intergraded approach: intergrading government fiscal policy (gender-responsive budgeting), sectoral actions and individual capacity development and attitude changes.

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 70 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

ANNEXURES

Annexure 1 KII Guidelines

Women federation – Badulla, Monaragala

1. Give a brief introduction about your women federation organization? (vision, mission, started date, what are the key works doing, how many members, how many beneficiaries) 2. How do you select the members for your federation? (volunteers, by encouraging to participate….) what are the difficulties you faced to make women participate in federation? Have you identified any barriers to have stopped females participating in such activities performed by organizations under direct supervision of women federation? 3. The regions, the persons you are targeting to participate in your federation, give reason why? 4. Give some of your success stories in your region 5. Have you found any women who haven’t been to schools? If so, can you say which region people mostly doesn’t attend the school? 6. Explain the reason behind the children for not going to school. 7. Did you made any workshops or programmes to encourage women to go to schools? Explain. 8. Explain socio economic problems found in your region. 9. Are there any women heading families found in your region? If yes, give reasons. (cause of death of men, reason for disability of men….) 10. Did you include such women heading families in your organization? If yes, explain the activities and programmes you made for them? 11. Can you explain the job opportunities for women in your region? (The willingness and participation of women, what are the available jobs, salary, difficulties, complaints) 12. Did you have any steps to encourage women to go for works? If yes, explain them. 13. Can you explain socio cultural barriers found in your region to stop women participation in job, school …? 14. Are there any changes in those social cultural barriers in past five years? If yes, explain the reason why and whether it is favorable or not. 15. Do you need any interventions for women empowerment in your region? If yes, explain them 16. Suggestions to initiate women empowerment

Kurukkal Talawakale 1. How long have you been in this place? (native, you have move to here) 2. Can you explain the demographic of the nuweraliya district and surrounding regions (religion, ethnic, social, cultural aspects)? 3. Can you give some brief idea about your participation in social cultural events in your region? 4. Can you explain the participation of men and the women in the social and cultural events in your region? Who will be more significant participant in those events? (explain individually for all events) and explain why they play such a role, (if women were neglected, ask for reason) 5. Can you explain the participation of women in education and job? 6. What do you think about the participation of women in school and job?

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 71 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

7. Are there any social cultural barriers for women to take part? If yes explain them, and explain why they are important. 8. Are there any changes in attitude of women in job, education, in last few years? What can you say about those changes? (supportive or opposing) explain reason for changes 9. What do you think about women empowerment? 10. Can you give a comparative study about the women empowerment (between different culture and religion, how they think about women empowerment)? 11. If we want to establish women empowerment project, what are social cultural challenges we will face? 12. How can we initiate the women empowerment in your region? (how to overcome the above said barriers? 13. Give your idea, what key role you can play for women empowerment in your region? 14. Give suggestions

District Additional Director – Vocational training, Principle of New Valley vocational training centre, District manager – NAITA, District Director – VTA, District Additional Director – Vocational training, Principle of VT – Passara, Principle – SoS 1. Give a brief introduction about your training centre and your career in this vocational training 2. What are the basic requirements for selection of student to the training programme, the eligibility of persons in your region? Is there any gender barrier or age limit available for those programmes introduced? 3. Can you explain the course available and number of males, female students following that course? 4. What do you think about the participation of women in education and job? Is it needed one or not? Explain why and give your opinion. 5. Are there any significant differences between the educational levels of males and females in your region? If yes, explain why? 6. How about the participation of women in the vocational training compared to male? Are there any difficulties faced by women when participating vocational training in your region? If yes, explain the reason. If no, explain the motivational factor which encourages women participation. 7. Are there any special courses designed for women? If yes, explain the course content and job opportunities for them? Give a brief summary on participation and performance of women in that field. 8. Are there any dropouts? What is the percentage of dropout to that of programme registry? Can you give a pattern of dropouts in year wise? (increasing/decreasing/no pattern) explain the reasons for the dropouts and what the measures taken to reduce the dropouts? 9. Is the any difference in dropouts count comparing gender wisely? If yes, explain the difference and reason why? 10. If VT courses available for any age group, which age group represent the majority of participants? 11. As benefit in part for completing the course, have participants given any sort of job opportunity through VT center? 12. From those who have completed the courses, especially females, how many of them have utilized the certification of course to economically benefit them? If so, in which ways have they utilized it?

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 72 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

13. Are there any barriers for women in searching for jobs in your region? (Gender inequality, insufficient talent, cultural constraints.) 14. Did you come across any significant women who has followed training course and obtained a remarkable place in region? If yes, give a brief information about that person. 15. Give your suggestions to improve the women participation in education and job, in your region.

Estate Manager – Despert Estate, Ury Estate, Manager – Passara Human Resource Development Assistant – Ambagamuwa DS Division Human resource Director – KellanyVelly Plantation

1. Explain your company/estate? (Brief introduction, including year of start, how long works, the basic organizational structure...) 2. What do you think about educational qualifications and life style of people in your region? 3. How do you recruit persons for the job, (explain according to the jobs)? Are there any specific concerns of the management when recruiting a female to perform job tasks? 4. Are there any barriers for female to participate in job in your region (educational, social, cultural constraint?) 5. Is there any specific benefit given for women who are employed at the estate? (explain them with reasons) 6. The participation of women in the job compare to male (in different jobs) in your region 7. The difference of educational qualifications between male and female, if there is any significant difference between them in educational qualification explains why? 8. Is there any need of improvements in participation and performance of women in certain job? point out them and give suggestions for them. 9. Are there any specific job tasks performed only by women or only by men? 10. What is the duration of working hours of Women compared to that of Men? 11. Was there any instance which women at work place were treated differently by their coworkers? 12. Has any incident on GBV at work place been reported? 13. If there’s any value addition for the products available in the factory, how have you ascertained women to those tasks? 14. Is there any opportunity available in place for women to link with factories/ estates/ firms in the area to sell their value-added products? 15. Did you found any improvement in women in their life style and economic by working? (are there any success stories of women you found in your region?) 16. Give your suggestions to encourage women to develop their talent and to involve in jobs

District Career guidance Officer, District Career Guidance Officer – Department of Manpower and employment 1. What are your job obligations? (give a small introduction) 2. Explain the work done by you/ division in your region. 3. Are there any success stories you have about your activities done in your region? (Increase in job opportunity, decrease in unemployed youths, self-employment …) explain them? 4. How about the education level and the talents of people in your region? they have

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 73 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

5. Was there any need of improvement in education and skills of person in your region? If yes explain what kind of improvements, and how can those can be achieved 6. What you think as the minimum requirement to obtain a job at a firm other than labor work? 7. What kind of job opportunities available for youth and adults? 8. In your opinion what is the availability of young professionals in your region? 9. Availability of firms in the area, what types of firms available in these locations? 10. Have you made any chance to meet employer and unemployed persons in your region (job fairs, walk in interviews …)? 11. Are there any specific jobs where women are recruited (such as sewing, weaving, etc.)? explain the participation of women for those jobs, skills and talents they have and suggest if it needs improvement 12. Were there any barriers (cultural & social constraints, skills, talents, gender discrimination…) faced by women in getting job, explain them. Have you done any measures to overcome, suggest any interventions? 13. Does any personal from the village consult you for advices to obtain a job? What are the actions you made? 14. The consultation gain by females, what kind of consultations they need, the hesitations felt by female in getting consultation, the difficulties and barriers said by females in getting job and education 15. How about outer migration in the village? The reason for such migration of persons, the counts of persons move outside from your region in past few years (increasing or decreasing or constant.) Explain them with reason. 16. What do you think about such movement? (needed or unavoidable, have to be stopped) What are the measures you have taken? 17. What is percentage of women in migration compared to male (explain the reason for female to move outside and the difficulties faced by females) 18. Suggestions to improve women empowerment in your region

Milk Collection Center Executive – Passara, MILCO Field executive officer – Siyabalanduwa, MILCO 1. Describe about your firm (MILCO), the involvement of people in your region and how do you identify or select for your firm? 2. What is the percentage of women engagement in employment when compared to that of men? 3. What kind of activities performed by women under their job tasks? 4. Are workers at estate, factory or firm trained periodically to perform their job tasks effectively? If yes, explain the trainings given to them. 5. Explain the performance of women and men. Are there any differences and how to improve the performance of the female? 6. What is your opinion on rate/ payment made to female workers? is it sufficient for the tasks they perform? (was there any conflict regarding payments?) 7. Was there any instance which women at work place were treated differently by their coworkers? 8. Has any incident on GBV at work place been reported? 9. What are the main grievances of female workers if any such had been identified? 10. Are there any specific concerns of the management when recruiting a female to perform job tasks? If yes, explain those concerns and reasons for them. 11. What specific benefits should be given for women who are employed? 12. Are there any specific skills identified of women in the area? 13. What programmes/ interventions in place to have help them economically benefit by utilizing their skills?

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 74 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

14. Do you think education plays a major role in a woman’s life? 15. Have there been any specific cases which “societal norms” were created for those women who are engage in some sort of employment? 16. What kind of societal barriers have you identified to keep women away from working or even being educated? 17. In your perspective what you think the society expect from women? 18. If empowerment will help women overcome such societal and economic barriers, how would you suggest to approach this aspect?

Provincial secretary - Provincial Ministry of women affairs – Central province, Provincial secretary - Provincial Ministry of women affairs, Secretary – FMS – Siyabalanduwa

District women development officer - Nuwaraeliya, District women development officer - Badulla 1. The educational level of women in your province (give some comparative value in percentage for male and female regarding education) 2. The achievements of women in sports, education, jobs, … 3. How many of women are employed in the area? (Working in government sector/ private sector company) 4. What type of job opportunities available for women in your province? 5. What are the difficulties and constraints faced by women in getting job and education? What are the measures you have taken for them? 6. What are the difficulties and constraints faced by women at their work place? Was there any significant issue you found and the actions you have taken? 7. Has any such incident on GBV at work place been reported? 8. Is self-employment promoted among women in your province? Are there any supportive actions given for them? 9. What is the level of women having access to obtain loans/ credits? Was there any significant loan for women to improve their life style? Explain such loan schemes 10. What specific constraints faced by women when accessing services from service providing organizations, especially public/ government organizations? 11. What are your perspectives about activities performed by women in the area? 1. Societal/ community level 2. House hold level 3. Work place 12. What can you suggest for their economic development and empowerment? 13. Were there any projects/ interventions in the area performed through the ministry focusing on women empowerment? 14. Were there any other programmes / projects specifically conducted for women? 15. What were those interventions main objectives and major concerns? 16. In your perspectives were those interventions successful? 17. How would you address women empowerment in your locations? 18. Are there any major factors highlighted about women in this area apart from those listed above? 19. Are those issues identified on women, specific to these locations or similar to which is identified at National level? 20. What programmes or policies in place at National level to empower women?

Provincial Director – National Youth Council Service Director – National Youth Council service

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 75 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

1. Give a brief introduction about the youth council? Are there any community-based organizations available in the area? (vision, mission, started date, what are the key works doing, how many members, how many beneficiaries) 2. The participation of youths in your region. 3. Success stories you have about activities done by youth council (participation of members, participation of male and female members separately, involvement …) 4. The participation of women in youth council, the barriers faced by women in participating in youth council, what are the supportive actions you have made to encourage women participation council 5. The benefits youth have received through these Organizations 6. The participation of women in activities done by youth council (was there obstacles inside the youth council, obstacles from outside, hesitation of female in participation,), how you made the event successful 7. The understandings of male and female members about each other's problems 8. What male members feel about the female participation in council and other activities 9. Have you done any projects concerning women? If yes, explain them 10. How would you suggest having these youth organizations support to initiate economic empowerment of women? 11. Suggestions for women empowerment in your region

Skill Development Officer – Nuwara Eliya 1. Explain about yourself (The job obligations, educational qualifications, work history as skill development officer) 2. The education level of persons in your region 3. The skills they need, explain with reasons for them 4. How you identify the talents of persons and how you train them. Have you identified any specific skills of people? 5. The skills and talent women posses and need of training for them 6. Are there any specific skills performed by women, which could help them in self- employment? 7. Comparatively to the available skill level, how about the utilization of such skills? 8. What specific constraints you see, if effective utilization of such skills is not available? Suggestions to overcome thos 9. Compared to the number of sole proprietors or those who are self-employed what is the percentage of women involvement? 10. What barriers faced by women if their self-employed to produce? (acquire raw materials, delivery, accessing the market, etc) 11. What are possible interventions in place to influence women empowerment? 12. Had there being any programmes / interventions promoting this aspect in the area? 13. In your opinion were those interventions successful? 14. If previous interventions were not successful what you perceive to be as reasons for failure? 15. Are there any training centers (education/ vocational) in place to further master their skills identified? 16. Suggestions for women empowerment in your region

CEO – Chamber of commerce (nuweraeliya, badulla) CEO – chamber of commerce Assistant Director - Export development Board Economic development officer – Madulla DS Division 1. What is your opinion on women employment at present compared to that of men at National level?

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 76 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

2. What is your perception on Women Economic Empowerment? 3. Do you see any difference in rate of employment of women at estate and rural sector? 4. In your opinion what would you think as barriers at Societal and cultural level to minimize women employment/ economic empowerment? 5. How would you suggest to have improve involvement of women in income generating activities? 6. Do you think GDP of the country can be increased through Women Economic Empowerment? Give some strong arguments 7. What value creating activities available for women which can help positively to induce GDP of the country? 8. What means or methods available to create an export market and improve local market to sell these value-added products manufactured? 9. What barriers faced by women to meet market conditions or the market itself to sell their products? 10. Are there any programmes/ interventions introduced to improve empowerment of women? 11. Give your suggestions for women empowerment

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 77 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

Annexure 2 FGD GUIDELINES Exclusive for Women. Employment 1. How many of you are employed/ self-employed? 2. What are the types of job opportunities available for women in this area? 3. If you are employed, are you satisfied with your current job? 4. Are you getting paid according to the work you do? 5. What is the mode of employment and what tasks you generally perform? 6. What difficulties and constraints you face at your current working place, if any? 7. Have you faced any societal or cultural barriers to stop you engage in any sort of employment? 8. Are there any gender priority issues in your work place? 9. Are the men supportive in your employment? (Household/Work Place/co- workers) 10. What do you’ll think about being self-employed? 11. What do you prefer, being self-employed or being employed under a firm/ factory/ estate? 12. From work place do you find any self-employment opportunities that you can fit in to? 13. If unemployed, have you looked for any kind of paid work? 14. What are possible reasons for being unemployed? 15. Do you like to help your family with some extra income? 16. Have you recognized any value creating activities in the area that you could fit in, as means of self-employment? 17. If you are self-employed, what type of products you manufacture? 18. Have you encountered any difficulty in reaching the market for your products?

Education level & Training 19. How many of you have attended school? 20. How many girls in this area continue their education at least up to O/Ls, in terms of a percentage? 21. Do you think it’s important for girls/women to be educated? 22. Were you entitling for any employment training/vocational? 23. If you have received any kind of training, how did you use it in practice? 24. Were you being able to find any extra income from it? 25. If you haven’t received any kind of training were there any societal, cultural or economical barriers to stop you participating in any such training programme? 26. If you have children in the age of going to school how would you manage their expenses, have poverty effect your child’s education?

Decision making 27. Have you been able to make any decisions in your family? 28. Were you allowed to express your ideas or were your ideas neglected by family? 29. Who is making decisions in your family?

Societal Issues 30. What is the average age of girls when getting into marriage? 31. Who decide the person and the age? 32. Do you believe that your husband treats you well? 33. Have you felt that you have been illtreated by your family/ husband? (Physically/Mentally)

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 78 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

34. Have you discussed these issues with someone? 35. Are you aware that there are regulatory bodies to address these issues, like WDO and counseling bodies? 36. Do you have access to public institutions to receive required service without and difficulty? 37. Have you identified any social norms reflect in education, marriage and social affairs?

Women Leadership & empowerment 38. Do you think that women have societal responsibility to make a better community? 39. Do you believe that if women got together that you could overcome societal, cultural and economic barriers for employment, training or further self- improvement? 40. Do you feel that you are being well treated and respected within the community? 41. Have you encountered any cultural barriers to succeed your life? 42. Do you feel proud being a woman? 43. Do you believe that your religion and culture safeguard you within community? 44. Were there any trainings, programs conducted at community level to help you support with empowerment? 45. Is there any woman CBO’s available in the village & what functions it performs? 46. Are there any social and economic barriers faced by Women based organizations? 47. Are there any issues with the members of the societies or communities in women leadership?

Infrastructure Facilities 48. Is there sufficient infrastructure available in your area to support you with day- to-day activities? 49. As a woman have you faced any difficulties due to lack of proper infrastructure facilities at your household and village?

Economic Status 50. How do you manage your expenses in the family, has it exceeded your income levels? 51. How do you manage difficult financial situations? 52. Has nutrition of children being ignored due to economic barriers? 53. Have you faced any situation where you cannot afford medicine due to lack of money?

Interventions or programmes in place 54. Were there any programmes or interventions available in the area specific for Women? 55. What were their major concerns or objectives? 56. In your view were those interventions successful?

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 79 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

FGD Guidelines – Common Employment 1. In general, what is the proportion of men engaging in some employment in the area compared with Women? 2. Is the present youth are willing to engage in any kind of employment? 3. What kinds of job opportunities available for young males in the area? 4. What kinds of job opportunities available for young females in the area? 5. Do you think Women in the area face many cultural constraints if engage in some employment?

Educational Level 6. How about education level of children, are there any children in this area without going to school? 7. How many children in this area continue their education at least up to O/Ls, in terms of a percentage? 8. Is there any difference between girls and boys continuing their school/ higher education?

Value chain development 9. Do you have land area suitable for Home gardening and if so what is the average land extent? 10. Do you engage in Home gardening? 11. Generally what crops you plant? 12. What is the purpose of your home garden, is it to sell the harvest and obtain cash or for the consumption at home? 13. If you are selling your crops, to whom you sell them? 14. Are you satisfied with the amount you receive as payment for the harvest? 15. If there’s no home gardens, what are the specific constraints faced by you to avoid having a home garden? 16. Do you think you have any opportunity to create further income through value addition for your harvest, or products manufactured?

Community Leadership 1. Are there any community-based organizations available in the area? 2. How about the involvement of youth in such Organizations? 3. What kinds of activities were performed through those organization?

Previous Interventions 4. Were there any projects/ interventions in the area? 5. What were those interventions main objectives and major concerns? 6. In your opinion was those interventions successful or were you benefitted on any regard? 7. If previous interventions were not successful what you perceive to be as reasons for failure?

Further Development 1. What kind of training programmes you prefer to receive? 2. What other support or suggestions available to develop your economic status?

Mapping Study on Key Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in 80 Uva and Central Provinces, Sri Lanka