The `Restoration and Improvement of Fish Landing Centers with Stakeholder Participation in Management’ ( I-FLC) Project has been operational in Sri Lanka since March 2009, implemented by the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and executed through the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Ceylon Fishery Harbour Corporation.
The project organized a training workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation techniques coupled to a consultation process on implementation strategy. A total of 77 participants selected from senior and field staff of the Planning and Monitoring Division of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, plus staff from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Ceylon Fishery Harbour Corporation. The workshop was conducted from 6th to 7th November 2009 over a period of one and half days. The workshop was inaugurated by Hon. Felix Perera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the presence of Mr. Piyasena, Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Patrick Evans, FAO Representative, Mr. Calvin Piggot, CIDA Representative and various heads of agencies as distinguished guests.
The training programme on M&E was facilitated by an International Training Specialist, Mr. Matthias Grunewald, who has extensive experience on this subject from many developing countries. Consultations were held with the participants on the best way for developing a participatory institutional model for the sustainable management and operation of the Fish Landing Centers that will be developed by the project. A draft training plan for capacity building of ministry and department staff, due to start next month, was also discussed and proposals for its improvements noted.
The workshop provided a useful opportunity to improve the M&E knowledge and capability amongst the staff of the ministry and its agencies involved in implementation of this project and for the project management to seek a consensus from key stakeholders for effective project implementation.