CEPA Poverty Portal An Information Resource Portal on Poverty in Sri Lanka

1. Poverty Assessment and Knowledge Management Programme CEPA Poverty Portal An Information Resource Portal on Poverty in Sri Lanka

2. Outline • Introduce CEPA • Introducing the CEPA Poverty Portal • Introducing the Poverty Portal Network

3. About Center for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) • Non-profit independent organisation, established in 2001 • Service orientation - Applied Research, Advisory Services, Trainings, Dialogue & Exchange • Focuses on thematic areas – impact monitoring, poverty and conflict, poverty assessment and knowledge management • Communication and policy orientation; • Through this CEPA aims increase information availability and dissemination • Influence better poverty reduction policies and practices http://www.cepa.lk

4. Poverty assessment and knowledge management at CEPA • Core programme at CEPA – focusing on • Enhance current understanding of poverty • Generate and disseminate information on poverty in Sri Lanka • Create the space to enhance the discussion and information sharing on poverty related issues • Poverty Portal Phase I • Poverty Portal Phase 11 • Annual symposium on poverty (10th in 2009) • Open forums on poverty • CEPA website (since 2001) • CEPA publications http://www.cepa.lk

5. Why do we need a Poverty Portal in Sri Lanka? • Establish an interactive platform to share and obtain robust evidence on poverty related issues in Sri Lanka • To encourage learning on poverty related issues in Sri Lanka amongst various stakeholders • To engage a range of organisations that are able to use the information in their decision making processes

6. Getting to know the Poverty Portal • Home page – • Closer look at … • Resource Library • Maps and statistics • Poverty Blog • Picture Essays • Networking

7. Home Page

8. Resource Library

9. Maps & Stat

10. Poverty Blog

11. Outreach: Poverty Portal Network Expanding the knowledge base on poverty in Sri Lanka Encouraging information sharing and usage Encouraging learning on poverty related issues in Sri Lanka amongst various stakeholders Improving the use of information in decision making processes

12. CEPA Poverty Portal Networking Process 1. Design the network of members • Identifying key providers of evidence • Identifying a core group and resource partners of the portal • Identifying a technical group from the portal members 2. Establish the network • Undertaking discussions for partnership • Developing MoUs for their engagement • Identifying structured privileges for the core group and resource partners 3. Facilitate the network • Holding regular meetings with the network members • Sharing the knowledge base • Sharing analysis tools and reports • Sharing technical knowledge • Promoting active members and their resources

13. Types of network membership Resource Partners Members Core group Figure 1: Types of membership of the portal network

14. The Core Group – working closely on portal development Involvement Provide information resources to the portal’s resource base Help increase the resource pool by guiding the resource collection and dissemination process Take a lead on blog discussions and/or provide comments to blog posts Review content on the portal according to area of expertise Recommend new members Attend network meetings (every 2 months ) Privileges Disseminate own resources to a wider audience Use of knowledge base and portal tools Acknowledgement of contribution Use the portal to promote their activities Opportunity to participate in capacity building activities developed by the portal team

15. The Resource Partners – Growing group of resource providers Involvement Participate in blog discussions and provide individual opinions Provide related information resources to the portal Attend network meetings Privileges Disseminate own resources to a wider audience Use of knowledge base and portal tools Acknowledgement of members’ contribution on the site Opportunity to participate in capacity building activities developed by the portal team

16. The Members – Resources users Involvement Participate in blog discussions and provide individual opinions Ask the Core group and resource partners for information leads Suggest resource members and resources for the portal Privileges Disseminate own resources Use of knowledge base and portal tools in members’ own work Opportunity to become a resource partners (with the approval of the core group)

17. Potential members (core group and resource partners) Discussions held to date: • Government institutions • Ministry of Plan Implementation • Central Provincial Council • Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition • National Planning Department, Colombo • Centre for Information Resource Management (CIRM), Eastern Province • Samurdhi Division, Ministry of Nation Building and Estates Infrastructure • ICTA, Colombo • Universities and related departments • University of Colombo: Department of Economics • University of Sabaragamuwa (Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages) • Postgraduate Institute of Management, Colombo • University of Peradeniya: • Department of Economics and Statistics, Faculty of Arts • Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts • Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Faculty of Agriculture

18. Potential members (core group and resource partners) contd… Discussions held to date: • Non-governmental organisations • Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, Colombo • Marga Institute, Colombo • CARE Sri Lanka, Colombo • Save the Children Sri Lanka, Colombo • Point Pedro Institute of Development, Colombo To be contacted • Puttalam NGO consortium, Puttalam • Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo • Uva provincial council • University of Wayamba and Ruhuna • Sri Lanka Press Institute • And others

19. THANK YOU!!! • For more information • About CEPA – www.cepa.lk • About the Poverty Portal – www.povertyportal.lk • Have any questions about the portal? Email us at info@povertyportal.lk