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JAFFNA SOCIAL ACTION CENTER

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JAFFNA SOCIAL ACTION CENTER
18/1, Kailasapillaiyar Kovil Road,
Nallur,
Jaffna.
Tel: +94(0)212223699
Emai:l [email protected]


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Jaffna Social Action Center
(JSAC)


Working for Change


Jaffna Social Action Center is a Sri Lankan non-governmental organisation providing
services throughout the Jaffna Peninsula and the Northern Province.
























The focus of JSACs activity is the most vulnerable: former IDPs (returnees), women
headed families and children in areas of poverty.

Our intention is to implement projects that will reduce the impact of disaster and
trauma, and promote durable development. In particular we are working on the
protection of children and women.


Our mission is:

To work in partnership with communities to enable them to take
responsibility for their socio-economic needs, to understand and
claim their rights, and to ensure the protection of women and
children



Our vision is:

For communities to work together for a positive change: creating a
future where rights are protected and socio-economic needs are
met


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Contact Details


Name of Agency : Jaffna Social Action Center (JSAC)

Contact Person : Mr.N. Sukirtharaj (Sugi ), Co-ordinator, JSAC

Address : 18/1, Kailasapillaiyar road, Nallur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

Telephone No : 0094(0)21 222 3699 & 0212225593

Fax : 021 222 3699

E-Mail : [email protected]

Registration Number : Registered Under the Voluntary Service Organisation at
National Secretariat for Non Governmental Organisations Reg No- L -144812)

Board Members Details

Dr. (Mrs.) G. Bavani - President, JSAC
Mr.K.Keesavan - Vice President
Dr.Surenthirakumaran - Vice Secretary
Mr.S. Kanapathipillai. - Secretary
Mrs.Vimalawathy Jeyaraja - Treasurer, JSAC.
Mrs.Ratneswary Balasingam - JSAC Board Member
Mr.N.Sukirtharaj - Co-ordinator, JSAC


Programme Teams

Construction (4 persons)
Women Empowerment and GBV Response and Protection (Safe House - 5)
Livelihood (3)
Child Protection and Development (5)
American Corner Resource Centre (1)
Admin (1)
Logistics (2)
Finance (1)
Senior Management (2)
International Consultant (1)





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Who are we?

We are a special protection NGO that works with the most vulnerable members of
society.

In 2001, a period of relative normality during Sri Lankas civil war, a group of
individuals identified an urgent need for providing legal assistance and in
collaboration with UNHCR established a social services centre. The following year
this centre was divided in to two units: Legal Aid Foundation and the Jaffna Social
Action Center (JSAC).

In 2003 JSAC became an NGO under the auspices of UNHCR with the remit of
implementing projects that provided protection for children and women.

During the final stages of the twenty six year conflict our focus was relief and
rehabilitation, mostly of IDPs in welfare centres. However, since the end of the war
we have moved from responding to crisis situations to strategically addressing deep
underlying development problems in a post-conflict scenario.
What do we do?

One of many factors of the conflict was the 1996 mass displacement of the
population which shattered the socio-economic structures of Jaffnas communities.
IDPs began to return to their communities in 2011 but rebuilding and re-establishing
their lives is proving difficult.

Within this context JSAC is working to achieve its strategic goals of facilitating:

1. The well-being of every individual as they rebuild and revitalise their
communities
2. Communities to have access to sustainable livelihoods and to take
responsibility for their own socio-economic development
3. Women to be equal participants in society, able to access their rights and
protected from SGBV
4. Children to be protected from violence and abuse, and their rights upheld
5. Communities to work cohesively to access their rights and participate in the
local governance processes.
How do we do it?

To achieve these goals we are using strategies and models that we have developed
and adapted during our thirteen years of experience. These include:
Rebuilding infrastructure & social structures
Revolving Livelihood Funds (RLF)
Community based protection mechanisms
Community mobilisation
Capacity building
Cultural exchange
Advocacy
Adaptation to climate change

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We mainstream four cross-cutting themes across all our programmes: environment,
gender, social inclusion, and volunteerism.

We are a cross-sectoral organisation that works holistically within communities.
We base our approaches on some of the recent advances and initiatives in
development practice which include:
A Rights Based Approach - recognising that development is about helping
people claim diverse rights rather than a simple transfer of technology or
resources.
The continued growth of Participatory Rural Appraisal and Participatory
Learning and Action methodologies.
Active Citizenship: individual, groups and organisations taking responsibility
for development
The crossover between business and the non-profit sector: bringing
concepts such social entrepreneurship and venture philanthropy.
JSAC works to enable individuals with knowledge of their self worth and their rights
so that they can live a full and valued life. This rights-based approach underpins all
our work.

JSAC currently provides services primarily supported by USAID, UNICEF and The
Swiss Embassy, and has successfully implemented over 155 projects between the
inception of the organisation and the end of 2013.

In January 2014, we opened a field office in Kilinochchi so as to manage the
expansion of our activities from Jaffna to the rest of the Northern Province.
Networks

JSAC believes in collaboration and coordination and is a member of a number of
networks and bodies
Council of NGOs, Jaffna, District
Council of NGOs, Kilinochchi, District
Gender Based Violence Network, Jaffna District
District Development Coordination Committee
Divisional Secretariat Level Meetings
Child Protection Network, Sri Lanka
National Network for Reconciliation
South Asian Peace Alliance
South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children


We believe practicing is better than preaching



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JSAC Timeline

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Foundation
JSAC was originally funded by UNHCR in 2001 to legally assess and facilitate
the handling of peoples affairs after the LTTE lost control of the Jaffna District.
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Division
In 2002 the Legal Aid Division split from the main body of JSAC which was
focused on community services and protection. At a board meeting held in
August 2002, decisions were taken as to the future development of JSAC as
an implementation partner working through the Jaffna DS office.
Two projects were approved for implementation in 2002.
Safe House
With the support of UNHCR (funded from 2002-2006), JSAC opened a
Safe House in a secure, secret place providing temporary accommodation
for victimised women and children.
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UNHCR Implementation Partner
From 2003 to 2012 JSAC was awarded the status of being an UNHCR
Implementation Partner, working on projects that focused on protection and
community services.
USAID OTI
JSAC established a link with USAID OTI for peace keeping through livelihood
development projects. This connection was established so that JSAC could
enhance its community awareness programme.
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UNICEF Partnership
JSAC began its association with UNICEF who funded a project for a peer
learning CRC promotion, training and awareness programme with children
living in Welfare Centres

USAID OTI funded projects for livelihood development for women headed
families focusing on war widows

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Post-Tsunami
In 2005 UNHCR allocated a large fund to JSAC for community service
projects, and shelter construction. JSAC focused on women
empowerment and temporary shelters in tsunami affected locations
UNICEF continued to support child rehabilitation programmes with IDPs
and tsunami affected children, and from July 2006 started to fund JSACs
Safe House.
Christian Aid funded projects for livelihood development in tsunami-
affected locations, and for women headed families focusing on tsunami
widows.
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JSAC began its partnership with VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas) and
received its first expatriate volunteer.
CA continued funding projects in 2006, empowering women through small
loan schemes.
UNHCR increased their funding for shelter implementation & community
service activities, continuing funding in 2007.
UNICEF funding focusing on three main child focused activities:
1. CRC training awareness programme.
2. Psychosocial activities in tsunami affected areas
3. Safe House (taking over from UNHCR, funded until 2012)
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UNHCR continued funding for shelter implementation & community
development
UNICEF funded child protection, psychosocial activities, and the Safe House
CA projects focused on disaster management programmes, and small loan
schemes for women in conflict affected areas.
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Through UNCHR implemented shelter construction, WASH, and
community service activities with IDPs
UNICEF funded child protection, psychosocial activities, and the Safe House
CA funded projects to strengthen communities through livelihood
assistance, and a disaster management programme.
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UNHCR: Continued the shelter programme, WASH, and community
service activities
UNICEF: Child protection, psychosocial activities, and Safe House
CA: strengthening communities through livelihood assistance; a disaster
management programme; an environmental protection programme.
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UNHCR: Shelter construction for IDPS
UNICEF: Child protection programme and the Safe House
CA : strengthening the communities through livelihood assistance; a disaster
management programme
IOM started to fund the shelter, and water and sanitation programme for
resettled IDPs; the construction of toilets and transitional shelters
Established the American Corner Resource Centre with funds from the
American Centre

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UNHCR: Transitional shelters
UNICEF: Child protection programme and Safe House
New Donor: Japan Embassy - construction of community structures
New Donor: Asia Foundation enhance local economical governance
New Donor: JICA/PDP - strengthen community structures through
livelihoods
British Council: Active Citizenship Programme

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UNHCR: QIPS programme community structures
UNICEF: Child protection programme and safe house.
Japanese Embassy: Community buildings
British Council: Active Citizenship Programme
Asia Foundation Enhance local economical governance
UNDP: Gender Equality
Embassy of Switzerland Safe House Programme
SDC Childrens Programme
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Embassy of Switzerland Safe House Programme
SDC Childrens Programme
Asia Foundation Monitoring and Livelihood Programme
British Council Active Citizenship Programme
UNHCR Safe House Programme
UNICEF Child Protection Programme
VSO EIDHR Programme
USAID Shelter & Livelihood programmes
Embassy of United states American corner
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Embassy of Switzerland Safe House Programme
SDC Childrens Programme
USAID Shelter & Livelihood Programmes
UNICEF Child Protection Programme
Embassy of United states American Corner



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Summary of JSAC implemented projects

Project/Programme Duration
Project Amount
(RS)
Donor
Legal Aid Assistance 2001-2003 2 Million UNHCR
Shelter & Infrastructure
Development
2005-2010 296.05 Million UNHCR
2008 1.75 Million Christian Aid
2009 2.2 Million JSAC
2010 23.98 Million IOM
2011 14.5 Million UNHCR
Income Generation & Livelihoods
2004-2005 12.8 Million USAID
2006- 2010 4.23 Million UNHCR
2008 9.18 Million Christian Aid
2009 2.89 Million IOM
2011 1.97 Million JICA / PDP
Women Empowerment &
Community Development
2003-2005 33.6 Million UNHCR
2006-2010 7.45 Million UNHCR
Non Traditional Vocational
Training & Youth Empowerment
2004-2010 16.86 Million UNHCR
2005-2006 11.62 Million Christian Aid
Disaster Risk Reduction 2007-2008 13.258 Million Christian Aid
Temporary Accommodation for
SGBV Survivors (Safe House)
2004-2010 16.43 Million
UNHCR
UNICEF
Child Rights & Child Protection 2004-2010 40.06 Million UNICEF
Child Friendly Spaces with IDPs in
the Vanni
2009 2.23 Million UNICEF

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Hygiene Promotion 2010 0.418 Million IOM
Strengthening the role of civil
society in promoting human rights
and democratic reform
2011-2013 41M EU
Quick Impact Project (QIPs) 2012 14.8 Million UNHCR
Community development in
resettlement locations (Jaffna)
2012 10.08 Million Japan Embassy
Promoting local economical
governance and supporting the
local authorities (Jaffna)
2011- 2013 1.03 Million Asia Foundation
Nambikkai Illam/Safe House
Promoting gender equality through
the legal empowerment of women
2012 1.5 Million UNDP
SGBV Programme 2012-2013 5.8 Million
Swiss Directorate
of Political Affairs
Employing community based
initiatives to address violence and
abuse of children, with a specific
focus on the exploitation and early
marriage of adolescent girls (Jaffna)
2012-2014 1.97 Million SDC
Working for Wellbeing:
Rebuilding and revitalizing
communities through sustainable
livelihoods
2013-2016 121 Million USAID
SGBV Programme 2013-2014 7.21 Million
Swiss Directorate
of Political Affairs
SGBV Programme 2013 0.430 Million UNHCR
Child Protection Programme 2013-2014 4.11 Million UNICEF

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JSAC Team Competencies

Consultancy programme
Project planning
Childrens programmes
Peace building
Financial methodologies
DRR
Climate change
Gender and equality, SGBV

Training programme
Resource persons available at JSAC:
Sexual gender base violence
Child rights and child rights convention
Community participatory approaches
DRR /disaster management
Climate change
Leadership
Psychosocial
Sexual health
Peaceful co-existence
Communication
Conflict
Theatre techniques and approaches

Assessment programme
JSAC has a competent and well trained assessment team that has been hired by
various institutions to do assessments. The team is capable of handling a range of
assessment tools.

Team work and collective decision making
JSAC has developed strong programme teams and is committed to developing the
competencies of all staff. As part of this it holds weekly meetings where all are
encouraged to have a say and contribute to decision making.

Transparency and accountability
JSAC is transparent is all that it does, keeping full records of its activities and
expenditure.






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Full Contact Details


Head Office
18/1, Kailasapillaiyar Kovil Road, Nallur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka

T.P.No: 0094(0)212223699,
0094(0)212224399
Fax: 0094(0)212220665
E.Mail : [email protected]

Regional office
161
st
Mile Post, Kandy Road, Paranthan.
T.P.No : 0094(0)213217707
E.Mail: [email protected]


Resource & Research Centre & American Corner, Jaffna
23, Aththiyady New Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
T.P.No : 0094(0)212220665
E.Mail: [email protected]

Shelter and Construction Project Implementing Unit
T.P.No: 0094(0)212225593
E.Mail : [email protected]

Domestic Production & Marketing Unit

Prabanjam Marketing Center
423, Point Pedro Road, Nallur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka