News and Events

Training of Trainers Workshop - REDEFINE Project

A four-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop was successfully conducted under the REDEFINE Project, bringing together 37 Civil Society Organization (CSO) leaders from Sri Lanka and the Maldives at MAS Thulhiriya. The workshop provided a unique platform for participants to strengthen their knowledge and facilitation skills in areas including natural resource-based conflict prevention, climate resilience, CSO management, gender equality, and community engagement.

Designed to enhance the capacity of community leaders and practitioners, the programme combined technical learning, practical exercises, and cross-country knowledge exchange. Participants explored strategies for facilitating dialogue, empowering communities, and developing locally driven solutions to emerging environmental and social challenges.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in interactive discussions on climate-related conflicts and the increasing pressures placed on natural resources due to climate change. Sessions encouraged participants to examine how resource scarcity, unequal access to resources, and environmental degradation can contribute to conflict within communities, while also identifying opportunities for collaborative and sustainable responses.

The workshop created a dynamic learning environment where participants from both countries exchanged experiences, shared perspectives, and worked together to develop innovative approaches to conflict prevention and resilience building. Through group exercises, brainstorming sessions, and practical case studies, participants explored context-specific solutions that can be adapted to diverse community settings.

A key focus of the training was understanding the relationship between climate change and community vulnerability. Discussions covered themes related to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including the impacts of climate change on land resources, forests, water systems, fisheries, and local livelihoods. Participants also examined conflict-sensitive approaches to sustainable resource management and pathways toward ensuring equitable access to resources for all community members.

Beyond technical knowledge, the workshop fostered meaningful partnerships and strengthened regional collaboration between CSO leaders from Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The programme encouraged participants to learn from one another’s experiences, build professional networks, and develop a shared commitment to promoting peace, resilience, and sustainable development within their communities.

More than a training programme, the workshop served as a space for collective learning, reflection, and leadership development. Equipped with new knowledge, practical tools, and strengthened regional connections, participants are now better positioned to support community-driven initiatives that address environmental challenges, prevent resource-based conflicts, and contribute to long-term resilience.

The REDEFINE Project is funded by the European Union in Sri Lanka and the Maldives and implemented by Chrysalis in collaboration with the Small Island Geographic Society (SIGS) Maldives.