Sharing CSIAP Experiences and Best Practices with the IRDCRP at the World Bank

 A special high-level meeting was held today at the World Bank with senior officials of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) and the Integrated Rural Development and Climate Resilience Project (IRDCRP), with the objective of 

• Transferring knowledge and implementation experience gained under the CSIAP to the staff of the Integrated Rural Development and Climate Resilience Project (IRDCRP).
• Handing over key project resources, including technical documents, operational guidelines, manuals, and presentation materials (PPTs) developed under CSIAP.
• Reaching an agreement to provide targeted capacity-building support, including specialised training for IRDCRP staff who require further knowledge and skills in Climate-Smart (CS) approaches and practices.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Thruni Liyanage, Co–Task Team Leader (Co-TTL) of the CSIAP and the session provided an important platform to reflect on CSIAP’s implementation journey, highlighting how strategic planning, strong institutional coordination, and community engagement have contributed to tangible outcomes on the ground.

 Mr. Frank Jayasinghe, Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist; Mr. U. K. Nissanka, Water Management and Monitoring Specialist; Mr. D. V. Bandulasena, Institutional Development and Capacity Building Specialist; Dr. Kumuduni Gunasekara, Agribusiness and Market Linkage Development Specialist; and Mr. Samantha Mallawaarachchi, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Specialist of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) made detailed presentations during the session. Their presentations comprehensively outlined the key interventions, progress achieved, and measurable outcomes of the project across the six provinces where CSIAP is currently being implemented, highlighting sector-specific achievements, lessons learned, and the overall contribution of the project toward strengthening climate-resilient agriculture systems. These presentations demonstrated the project’s comprehensive approach and its alignment with national development priorities and World Bank objectives.

The CSIAP delegation was led by Mr. Saman Bandulasena, who actively participated in discussions, sharing insights on implementation experiences, challenges faced, and innovative solutions adopted during project execution. The IRDCRP, led by Mr. R. H. W. A. Kumarasisri, also took part in the meeting, fostering knowledge exchange and identifying opportunities for synergy between the two projects.

As the implementing agency, officials from the Department of Agrarian Development (DAD) were also present, underscoring their critical role in translating project strategies into field-level action. Their participation reinforced the importance of inter-agency collaboration in achieving sustainable and climate-resilient rural development outcomes. Mr. S. Manoharan, Senior Consultant for Agriculture and Rural Development at the World Bank, also joined the meeting remotely. He previously served as the Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP.

By Samantha Mallawaarachchi, IEC & ICT Specialist, PMU, CSIAP