UNFPA Sri Lanka’s Annual Report highlights data’s role in socioeconomic development

Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture in its socioeconomic development which underscores the potential of data to drive economic recovery and sustainable development, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sri Lanka country representative, Kunle Adeniyi said in UNFPA Sri Lanka annual report released last week.

UNFPA is collaborating with the World Bank to support the government in formulating the Sri Lanka Strategy for the Development of Statistics (SLSDS) to strengthen statistical capacity, he said, adding “Our support to the Department of Census and Statistics for the 2024 Population and Housing Census contributes to a fundamental resource that will guide policy and national planning, ensuring strategies reflect the real needs of Sri Lankans after a significant gap since the last census in 2011.”

He said: “UNFPA Sri Lanka has made significant strides in bolstering the resilience of all Sri Lankans, amidst the country’s ongoing socioeconomic hardships. Steadfast in our mission, we’ve stood by those significantly affected, especially women, girls and marginalized groups like the elderly, helping create positive change by strengthening systems and advocating for the rights and well-being of all Sri Lankans.

“Working closely with the Government of Sri Lanka to impact progressive change, we focused on policy reforms and community mobilization in areas of vital importance such as family planning, maternal health and response to gender-based violence (GBV) across the humanitarian, peace and development nexus.

“In response to the humanitarian appeal of 2022 where UNFPA Sri Lanka mobilised $11 million, a humanitarian response was rolled out to ensure that women and girls at risk could access crucial medical supplies, general commodities, obstetric care and protective services. Enhancing service provision in family planning, maternal health and multi-sectoral GBV, especially in areas lacking such services in low-performing districts, we dedicated resources to capacity building and infrastructure development. Our focus on youth well-being led to the strengthening of youth-friendly Yowun Piyasa centres, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s young population can easily access sexual and reproductive health services.

“Sexual and reproductive health outcomes received an intensified focus within our programmes. Implementing a maternal and neonatal health information system across three districts now helps in accurately monitoring health indicators, leading to improved allocation of resources and informed decision-making. The digitalization of data management systems and comprehensive sexuality education reflects our commitment to modernizing service provision and access to information and services in maternal health and family planning.

“UNFPA’s commitment to gender equality and fighting GBV saw significant steps, including the technical contribution towards the National Policy for Gender Equality and the second iteration of the National Action Plan for Sexual and Gender Based Violence. This, along with leading the consultative process of developing a national GBV prevention strategy and public events like the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, reinforced our determination to create a society that condemns violence and promotes equality.”