DevPro’s work has improved livelihoods, built community and enterprise resilience to climate change, catalyzed innovative and inclusive policies, strengthened local economies, and created lasting opportunities for women and marginalized communities across Sri Lanka.
Through a people-centered and market-driven approach, DevPro works closely with farmers, entrepreneurs, private sector actors, and public institutions to address systemic barriers and unlock sustainable economic opportunities. By connecting small producers to local and international markets, promoting inclusive and gender-responsive business models, and encouraging environmentally responsible practices, DevPro enables communities not only to adapt to change but to thrive within it.
Across diverse sectors and regions, DevPro’s interventions have delivered measurable, long-term impact, enhancing incomes, improving resilience, and fostering equitable growth, contributing to a more just, sustainable, and climate-resilient society.
Details on Innovations and Methodologies
Catalyzing Climate-smart Sustainable Practices
- Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certification
- Drought-resilient dairy farming
Introducing Innovative Digital Solutions
- Automated Reservoir Water Management Systems
- Farmer Information Management Systems
- Blockchain-based Agriculture Weather Insurance
Promoting Innovative Participatory Approaches
- Dairy Leader Farmer (LF) Model
- Market based Vocational Skills Development for Youth
- Gender-responsive Market Systems Development
Case Studies
Key Projects
The Resilience & Gender Inclusive Enterprise System (RIES) Project 2022 - 2025
The RIES Project focused on building a more inclusive and climate-resilient ecosystem for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The project supported over 6,000 farmers and 500 value chain actors including 270 women led MSMEs across multiple sectors including fruits and vegetables, spices, cocoa, dairy, seed potato and handloom in the Eastern, Northern, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, and Central Provinces.
RIES supported MSMEs, especially women-led enterprises, to increase income, profitability, and resilience. It improved access to local and international markets, connected small producers to larger value chains, and promoted changes within both formal and informal systems.
Enhancing Gender Inclusive Socio-Economic Development (GISED) Project 2022 - 2023
GISED project Implemented in the Badulla, Monaragala, and Nuwara Eliya districts of the Uva and Central Provincest strengthened sustainable livelihoods among vulnerable rural and estate communities through gender-sensitive and inclusive development processes. The project worked with both private and public sector partners and enhanced the productivity and profitability of the dairy, potato seed, cinnamon, and cocoa value chains.
Through improved income levels, equitable opportunities, and reduced poverty, GISED contributed to more resilient and inclusive local economies that benefited entire communities.
Consultancies and Expert Advisory Services
2026 – Consultancy on Shared Infrastructure and Resource Assessment, Setup Plan, and Policy for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Knuckles Project implemented by the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA).
The consultancy supports the design of climate-resilient shared infrastructure and digital resource systems to strengthen smallholder farmers and MSMEs across Matale, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, and Puttalam districts. The assignment involves assessing existing physical and digital infrastructure, identifying resource gaps, and developing investment and operational plans for shared processing facilities, training hubs, and digital platforms integrated with national systems such as SME Connect. Through stakeholder consultations, infrastructure assessments, and policy analysis, the consultancy will produce governance frameworks, PPP-based sustainability models, and operational guidelines to support long-term management. The outcomes are expected to contribute to strengthening climate-resilient value chains, improving market access, and enabling inclusive and sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities in the Knuckles region.
2026 – Baseline Assessment for the “Promoting Economic Justice for Women (PEJW)” Project funded by the Co-Impact Gender Fund and implemented by Chrysalis (CARE Sri Lanka).
The assignment aims to establish a comprehensive baseline on the status of women-led MSMEs in selected districts of Sri Lanka, identifying systemic barriers that limit women’s economic participation. Through quantitative surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and government stakeholders, the assessment will generate evidence on gender norms, access to finance, market participation, and policy constraints affecting women entrepreneurs. The study will produce benchmark indicators aligned with CARE’s Gender Equality Framework and conflict-sensitive approaches, providing actionable insights and recommendations to guide project implementation, advocacy, and monitoring systems. The baseline findings will support efforts to strengthen the enabling environment for women-led MSMEs and advance economic justice and inclusive economic development in Sri Lanka.
2025 – Consultancy to Adapt and Contextualize WE-R Training Materials for Women Entrepreneurs in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, funded by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the GROW Project and implemented by DevPro.
The consultancy aims to adapt and contextualize the ILO’s ‘Women Entrepreneurs are Resilient’ (WE-R) training materials to suit the socio-economic and cultural context of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The assignment integrates financial inclusion modules developed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to strengthen women entrepreneurs’ knowledge on budgeting, savings, credit management, and digital finance. Through stakeholder consultations, contextual analysis, and validation workshops, the consultancy aims to develop a gender-responsive and culturally relevant training toolkit and facilitator’s guide in English and Tamil. The final training package will support women entrepreneurs, particularly women-headed households and marginalized groups, to strengthen their resilience, business management skills, and access to financial services, contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic empowerment in the region.
2025 - Baseline Assessment for ‘Promoting Economic Justice for Women (PEJW) Project’ funded by the Co-Impact Gender Fund and implemented by Chrysalis in Badulla, Moneragala, Nuwara Eliya and Matale
Baseline will generate robust evidence base on the current status of women-led MSMEs in Sri Lanka, elucidate structural and systemic barriers they face, and establish benchmark values to track progress against project objectives over time.
2025 - Advisory Services provided to DVV International to determine economic opportunities for NEETs (Youth and Adults Not in Education, Employment or Training) in the Eastern Province (Ampara District) of Sri Lanka through Market Dialogue Forums (MDF)
The assignment aimed to strengthen the responsiveness of Adult Learning Education (ALE) systems in Ampara by aligning skills training with market-relevant value chains, thereby enhancing economic participation among NEET youth and underserved adults. The expert services identified and prioritized economic sectors in Ampara that offer the highest potential for NEET inclusion facilitated participatory MDFs at the district level to validate opportunities and co-design skills pathways, conducted a review and gap analysis of existing ALE programmes, highlighting areas where curricula require adaptation and provided actionable recommendations for curriculum reform and programme alignment to market realities.
2024 - Final Evaluation of the Project “Support for an Enabled Environment of Rights of Children with Disability and to Empower their Standard of Living with Sustainability” funded by KNH and implemented by Puhalidam in Batticaloa
2023 - Technical Services on Kobo Toolbox Administration for the "Ilanthalir" Project funded by KNH and implemented by Viluthu
The exercise facilitated the selection of the most vulnerable children for the “Ilanthalir” project, aimed at protecting and promoting child rights in conflict-affected communities in Sri Lanka.