What is ESPD
- The project is officially titled the “Project for Promoting Employment Support of Persons with Disabilities in Sri Lanka” (abbreviated “ESPD”).
- It is implemented in partnership between the Sri Lankan Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency as the technical cooperation partner.
- Key Sri Lankan institutions involved include the Department of Social Services (DSS) or via social welfare structures, and the Department of Manpower and Employment (DME) (or equivalent labour/employment authorities) .
- The project has a major focus on creating linkages between PWD job-seekers and private sector employers, building HR capacity in companies (e.g., “job-coach training for HR managers”), strengthening institutional systems, and addressing attitudinal/structural barriers to employment for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
- It began around 2021.
- It is being considered or has been incorporated as a national programme in 2024 via a newly‐established Employment Support Unit.
Key features & components
- Linkage Creation Programme (LCP): This component links Social Service Officers (SSOs), HR Development Officers (HRDOs) and companies, aiming to place PWDs into private-sector companies.
- Job Coach Training: To build capacity of company HR managers and other staff to support PWDs in the workplace. E.g., first job coach training held September 2023.
- Attitude / Mindset Change & Workplace Adaptation: The project emphasises adjusting job content, workplace environment, and support rather than expecting PWDs to simply conform.
Some observations / further points
- The project addresses both job entry (placement) and job retention/sustainability, which is important and often neglected.
- The “linkage” mechanism (between welfare/social services officers + companies + private sector) is a key feature worth studying more.
- There is still a strong challenge of attitudinal and structural barriers in Sri Lanka (e.g., lack of accessibility, employer uncertainty, lack of support systems) which the project acknowledges.
- The rollout seems still underway; while there are initial placements and recognition events, scaling remains in progress.
- It may be beneficial to look at how the private sector is being engaged, what incentives/recognition mechanisms are used
- Also it appears that the project aims to support company capacity not just placement: job-coach training for HR managers (Sept 2023).
- JICA officially withdrew from the project in November 2025, as originally planned, after achieving remarkable progress.
