Local economic growth through partnerships and value chain development through LEED+ model

• Presentation on 28 February by International Labour Organisation at knowledge sharing session by Chamber Academy of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce 

The Chamber Academy of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has organised a knowledge sharing session, together with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), on the LEED+ project and its

Khairul Ismail

Kring Thomas

incentives to the private sector and local producers. 

The project contributes to poverty reduction, sustainable job creation and peace-building through an improved environment with strengthened governance, effective community-based services and public-private partnership that economically empower vulnerable groups in conflict-affected populations in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

LEED+ has adopted a value chain/market systems development approach as one of its key strategies to generate lasting impact and achieve larger outreach. Six value chains under agriculture and fisheries sectors have been identified which show high potential to create decent jobs for the target population in the north of Sri Lanka. The project promotes partnerships with selected domestic companies to facilitate investments and sourcing primary/processed products from producers in the post-conflict areas. 

The business models are developed with careful attention to ensure the ownership of the models and incentives for the private sector as well as for the local producers. Through this model, companies engage, with the support of ILO, directly with co-operative societies and independent farmers and fishermen. The partnerships address shortages of input and lack of access to markets and technical expertise. Through the partnerships, ILO facilitates linkages between companies and co-operative societies, suppliers, farmers as well as relevant Government departments etc. The partnerships also include joint investments, thereby helping to lower the risk involved for the participating companies.

The seminar will be conducted by ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Chief Technical Advisor Dr. Thomas Kring Ph.D. from the Jobs for Peace and Resilience Program, along with ILO Marketing and Value Chain Specialist Khairul Islam from the Local Empowerment for Economic Development and Reconciliation (LEED+) Project.

The presentations will be followed by an interactive question and answer session. 

The session will take place on 28 February at the Auditorium of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce starting at 9.30 a.m. For registrations contact 11-5588852, 11-5588892, email [email protected] / [email protected] or by simply downloading the Chamber Events App on IOS or Android.