CEPA
The Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) is an independent, Sri Lankan think-tank promoting better understanding of poverty-related development issues. CEPA believes that poverty is an injustice that should be alleviated by changing policies and practices nationally and internationally, and working with people in poverty. CEPA contributes to influencing poverty-related development policy at national, regional, sectoral, programme and project levels.
A world in which decision-making, especially where it affects the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable women, men and children, is based on non-partisan, robust evidence.
To be a leading organisation providing independent analysis of poverty, with a view to shaping policy that affects the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable women, men and children in Sri Lanka and the region.
Poverty is an injustice that should be overcome. Overcoming poverty involves changing policies and practices nationally and internationally, as well as working with people in poverty.
CEPA’s work is guided by basic principles based on five core values.
CEPA values the contribution of all those who participate in and contribute to CEPA’s work: we respect the rights, dignity, and potential of all those involved in our work.
CEPA acts according to its mission: we are honest and transparent in what we do and say, and accountable for our collective and individual actions. Our work will always be guided by the principles of balance, independence and impartiality.
At CEPA, we constantly challenge ourselves to achieve the highest levels of learning and performance to achieve greater impact and make a real difference.
At CEPA, we are committed to share our knowledge and engage with a wide range of people and institutions to achieve our goals.
CEPA strives to be flexible and adapt to and accommodate changing circumstances to meet its mission and objectives.
The Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) was established in May 2001 by nine Sri Lankan professionals working on poverty related issues. The intention was to institutionalise poverty-impact monitoring and poverty analysis within the Sri Lankan institutional landscape. CEPA was incorporated on 24th April 2001under Section 21 of the Companies Act as a non-profit company.
The catalyst for founding CEPA came from an assessment of the need for special emphasis on applied policy relevant advice. CEPA sought to fill this void by providing practice-oriented services that were grounded on sound empirical research and oriented for policy making in the development field.
The establishment of CEPA was facilitated by the Poverty Impact Monitoring Unit (PIMU) which was supported by the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ).
In the past decade, CEPA has succeeded in developing a body of knowledge on poverty to become the leading institution on poverty and poverty-related research in Sri Lanka.
We have developed fresh and challenging perspectives on poverty; explored alternative dimensions; conducted in-depth analyses of specific poverty conditions; contributed to a better understanding of poverty in Sri Lanka; and formulated policy initiatives to alleviate the multi-dimensional facets of poverty.
We have been at the cutting edge of poverty research, contributing to the development of ideas on poverty-related issues and the formulation of conceptual frameworks for poverty analysis and context-specific issues. One of our most important contributions is the multi-faceted approach to poverty research.
Our research encompasses inter alia, health, education and socio-cultural dimensions of poverty, as well as political, conflict and traumatic poverty conditions.
CEPA’s young researchers have an open mind, and are keen to discover new information and data, give novel interpretations and develop new theories and methods of resolving the problems of poverty.
We have has developed a research capacity with innovative research methodologies and practices.
We have has also contributed to transfer of technology via the global expertise of our researchers as well as our deep engagements with national and international organisations.
Our research has been funded by international organisations, foreign donor agencies, NGOs and government agencies.
Regardless of the funding body, we have not compromised on the integrity of our research.
Further, we have created our own Development Fund to generate capacity to carry out our own research.