The following is a selection of the UNOPS Applied Research Unit's current projects.

Impact Monitoring for the Livelihood Stabilization Project, Jaffna District
Funded by the European Union (EU)

A baseline and impact assessment of the EU-funded Livelihood Stabilization Project in Jaffna. 

The ARU assessment is a component of a EUR 2,579,000 Livelihood Stabilization Project in Jaffna and Mannar Districts, funded by the EU and implemented by UNOPS.  The project aimed to rehabilitate physical socio-economic assets and encourage dignity among local communities through the provision of income opportunities, skills development and increased access to basic needs and services. A number of recommendations were put forward, highlighting key accomplishments and identifying areas that could be addressed in future programs. The assessment included a follow-up visit to the project sites to measure the longer-term impact that the project has had on local communities and their traditional livelihoods.

Needs Assessment of Vanni IDPs Returning to the Northern Province
Funded by UK Department for International Development (DFID)

A needs assessment of returnees to the Northern Province, who were displaced from their places of origin during the last stages of Sri Lanka’s military conflict.

The assessment was conducted in four selected Northern districts in the former conflict area (Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi). The aims of the assessment were to understand the perceptions and priorities of returnee families concerning their humanitarian and recovery assistance needs and to facilitate, where relevant, decision-making processes in support of local communities while maximising opportunities for building reconciliation and sustainable peace.  A total of 709 household surveys and over 100 key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with returnee families in the four districts.

Socio-Economic Baseline for the 11 Conflict-Affected Districts in the North and East of Sri Lanka
Funded by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)