Introduction

2014 marks the completion of thirteen years of work in Sri Lanka for CEPA. Recently declared as a Middle Income Country, Sri Lanka has recorded an increase in GDP per capita and a reduction in income poverty from 26% in 1990/91 to 6.7% in 2012/13. While positive, this statistic overlooks the widening inequalities that have become the underbelly of national prosperity. Social investment which contributed to Sri Lanka’s high human development index has been reduced in favour of investments in physical infrastructure. Consequently, there is a need to generate evidence on how the country’s shift in income status and the decreasing proportion of state investment in the social sectors impact on different people, particularly the poor. This changing context encouraged CEPA to assess its strategy and work in 2014.  Ten reviews conducted by external resource persons probed CEPA’s three skill-based programmes and five thematics, as well as finances and human resources. Following this self reflection, we revisited the core functions that enable us to realise our vision.  These core functions  Knowledge Generation (research), Knowledge-Practice Mobilisation (advisory and consultancy) and Knowledge-Policy Engagement (influencing policy), were realigned  to fall under our overarching research agenda that spans from a Poverty Plus perspective (i.e. the facets of poverty - vulnerability, inequality, exclusion, discrimination - as well as prosperity which reproduces the same), and ultimately extend to a Reimagining Development perspective.  The new strategic focus, therefore envisions that the realities of the ground informs and inspires a creative imagination of an alternative development discourse and practice.

In September, we hosted our Annual Symposium, Post-war Development in Asia and Africa, in collaboration with the Secure Livelihood Research Consortium which brought together academics and stakeholders from around the world.  CEPA’s ‘space for interaction’ has continued to be a dynamic forum for the exchange of ideas and remained the focal point of our communication and policy influencing activities. 

As 2014 drew to a close, CEPA was admitted to a second phase of institutional collaboration with the Think Tank Initiative (TTI) after a meticulous assessment process.   We consider it a privilege to continue our collaboration with TTI, which provides us institutional stability and an opportunity to grow with a cohort of forty three Think Tanks from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Financially, CEPA recorded its highest revenue in 2014, reflecting the increasing body of work and scale of operations.  While, CEPA's profit margins were adversely affected due to high direct costs we still recorded a small profit margin. However, an operational loss has been incurred due to losses incurred by the changing exchange rates.  The financial strategy continues to focus on building sustainability and independence, so that CEPA can continue with high quality research and creative dialogue and exchange initiatives.

The ensuing sections present CEPA’s work under its three core functions – Knowledge Generation, Knowledge-Practice Mobilisation and Knowledge-Policy Engagement – as well as in Reimagining Development and Communications, Finance and finally, Governance and Management.