Disaster Recovery Framework for the Irrigation Sector of Sri Lanka

Recognizing the need for greater investment in the planning process for disaster-resilient infrastructure across Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), via its Regional Hub in Bangkok, and with the financial support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has launched the Resilient Infrastructure through Enhanced Knowledge’ Project initiative.

The initiative received grant funding from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR), which was funded by the Japanese government through ADB. The objective of the project was to strengthen the capacity of the selected countries to define and implement disaster-resilient measures in pre-disaster recovery planning and post-disaster recovery efforts. Sri Lanka has chosen the irrigation industry to implement project activities. Recent disaster damages and losses highlight the imperative need to plan and design infrastructure in Sri Lanka with disaster risk in mind. Current climate projections indicate a significant increase in climate-induced disasters (hydro-meteorological disasters), which could lead to an increase in future damages and losses. As a result, this initiative is intended to address some of the most significant challenges and gaps in disaster recovery in the irrigation sector, which is crucial to agricultural production and rural development in Sri Lanka.

The Publication is primarily intended for irrigation sector practitioners, particularly irrigation sector project planners and administrators who are responsible for implementing DRR and recovery initiatives at subnational and local levels. This manual is a practical guide that emphasises the process of planning and implementing risk reduction initiatives, as well as recovery preparedness and key decision points. The descriptions and discussions are supported by case studies that seek to illustrate the variety and range of practical approaches that can be employed.