About Us

The Centre for Women and Development (CWD) was established in 1988 in Jaffna. It was later transformed into an autonomous body and registered as an NGO under the Social Service Ministry and then the Ministry of Defence. When CWD began, no other organisation in Jaffna was committed to addressing women’s issues. CWD set out to work for underprivileged, marginalised, discriminated and victimised women and girls.

Our history

At first, CWD’s field programmes covered the districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. The conflict and its consequences forced us to narrow our activities to Jaffna. We have had our ups and downs, particularly with financial resources, which also limited how many people we could employ.

The end of the war gave the Government and NGOs hope of a new phase of reconciliation, resettlement, democracy and development. Local NGOs in the North then faced new challenges. Local NGOs were not allowed to visit the war-affected Vanni areas, and every development project in the North needed approval from the Presidential Task Force (PTF).

CWD was one of the 12 NGOs that received PTF approval to carry out projects in Jaffna. This reflects the credibility of an organisation that worked with the people of Jaffna throughout the conflict, particularly with displaced and affected women.

Now is the time for us to strengthen our capacity to meet the new challenges of resettlement, development and reconciliation, in which women should be fully involved. We have carried out a baseline survey in Mankulam and Kilinochchi to understand the present living conditions of women there, so that we can expand our activities to these areas.

Significant milestones

Today CWD plays a catalytic role in initiating capacity-building activities on issues related to women. Democratic local governance has taken on a prominent role in Sri Lankan politics. We believe that unless the knowledge, skills and capacities of grassroots decision-makers are strengthened, democratic decentralisation cannot produce the desired results. Strengthening them improves people’s confidence in, and commitment to, democratic practice.

• Conducted a needs assessment survey to implement livelihood activities for the displaced.
• Documented data on women who lost their husbands during the war. Many national organisations used this data for their development activities.
• Conducted capacity-building training programmes for women in Women’s Rural Development Societies.
• Documented violence against women (VAW) using information technology, funded by ICTA. Established five regional centres; field staff visited rural villages and collected data on affected women.
• Created an online website to store domestic violence data.
• Documented data on disappeared and missing persons during the peak of the war.
• Conducted awareness programmes on international instruments and resolutions, including CEDAW, UN Resolution 1325, the Domestic Violence Act and the Women’s Charter.
• Carried out awareness programmes on project design.
• Conducted a series of programmes on human rights for the displaced population.
• Organised a district-wide poster competition for school children and community members on the theme of human rights violations.
• Conducted awareness programmes on legal matters.
• Established a free legal aid unit to address domestic violence cases. We were the pioneers in establishing such a centre in Jaffna. Cases are taken to the courts.
• Carried out a basic needs assessment survey (overview) in the Vanni areas devastated by the war.
• Published 25 true stories of women who had undergone domestic violence in three local newspapers.
• Collected 70 true stories from displaced and affected women from the Vanni area.
• Made submissions to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) about the human rights violations that took place during the last phase of the war.
• Celebrate International Women’s Day, International Peace Day and Human Rights Day every year.
• Carried out training programmes on gender and development at village level.
• Conducted training-of-trainers (TOT) programmes and in-house skill development programmes.
• Conducted leadership training for women.
• Provide IT training for rural women and children (ongoing).
• Developed a series of training manuals for trainees.
• Publish a gender-based magazine.
• Conducted programmes on good governance and democracy.
• Conducted a three-month human rights course in collaboration with Extra-Mural Studies, University of Jaffna.
• Planning to conduct a gender studies course for women in Jaffna.
• Coordinate and work with the hospital health unit, police and courts.
• Conduct VAW programmes for women of different age groups.
• Our Executive Director is a member of the National Committee on Women, Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment, encouraging women’s participation in policy decisions and reforms on women’s issues.
• Established links with national and international women’s organisations.
• Participate in seminars and workshops organised locally and internationally by women’s and development organisations.
• Organised an exchange programme with women’s groups in the South as a peace initiative.
• Organised and conducted a series of seminars in collaboration with the National Peace Council (EU project) to help displaced Muslim women and Tamil women build a better understanding.
• Organised an international inter-religious conference in Jaffna for the National Peace Council (EU project).
• Organised a one-day seminar to create awareness of land disputes that arose after the war.
• Planning school programmes in Jaffna on reproductive health and protection, on a voluntary basis using our own resources.
• Carried out livelihood activities for many displaced women and children with funding from SDC and DRC.

Read more in our programmes and our Annual Report 2013.

Leadership

Our founder and Executive Director, Ms. Saroja Sivachandran, M.A., is a member of the National Committee on Women, Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment, and has established good links with national and international women’s organisations.

She has a good rapport with Government officers and community-based rural organisations, and conducts gender-related programmes for the centre and for other organisations. She has participated in many international and local programmes related to women, including the Geneva Human Rights Council conference and a conference organised by Minority Rights Group. She serves as a core group member of the Council of NGOs Jaffna and as a Governing Council member of the National Peace Council, and her credibility is further shown by her role as a Council member of the University of Jaffna. She has also developed a good rapport with the Human Rights Commission, Jaffna, and previously served as an advisory committee member in the Ministry of Human Rights.

CWD is governed by a Board of Directors.

Our stakeholders

• Members of the Board of Directors
• Grama Niladhari officers
• Divisional Secretaries
• Women Rural Development Officers
• Women Development Officers
• Volunteers
• External resource pool members
• Staff of CWD
• Community-based organisations

Strengthening our organisation

CWD will strengthen its organisational and human resources in the following ways:

• Ensure that CWD has the right staff to meet the challenges of implementing future programmes.
• Enhance the competency of staff involved in building solidarity, to reflect the core identity of the organisation.
• Strengthen the capability of staff to learn and share, i.e. to document, analyse and disseminate lessons.
• Improve the system of internal programme/project monitoring and evaluation, and the system of periodic financial audit of projects, to enhance programme performance, management accountability and results-oriented staff.
• Strengthen the staff development programme to improve competency and commitment.
• Expand and strengthen CWD’s advocacy programmes in support of policies, strategies and programmes that promote good governance and sustainable development.

Success factors

• CWD is well recognised by society, civil society organisations, political parties, Government officials, donors, international organisations and the media.
• The Board is recognised for its credible composition of academics, its commitment and its high repute.
• CWD staff are committed, work as a team, can work in difficult circumstances and have field experience with women.
• Long years of experience and exposure to problems.
• Good relations with women’s organisations.
• Good relations with the NGO Council.
• Formed women’s groups in villages.
• Conducted a baseline survey on needs assessment.
• Ability to work with other communities and religious groups.
• Ability to mobilise volunteers.
• Good organising capacity.
• Good computer skills.
• Developed and update a website for the centre.
• Good report writing in Tamil.
• Write articles to the press on women’s issues.
• Collect articles for the magazine.

Allocated resources

• A driver for our three-wheeler
• Field staff use our two motorbikes
• Staff members are given in-house training every month

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges

Our values

CWD will follow this set of values in carrying out its mission and programmes.

In upholding these values of people’s participation and community empowerment, CWD will continue to work with the community, particularly women, in the light of present realities and future challenges.

Saroja Sivachandran, Director, CWD