Our Capacity

IDEA is a registered non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Kandy, established in March 1990. The professionally qualified multidisciplinary Board, comprising six non-related members, contributes its knowledge and experiences to sustainable development in natural resource management and conservation.

The major initiatives of IDEA include commercializing improved wood stoves, micro-hydro electricity, biomass energy solutions, and afforcing community-based organizations (CBOs) through technical assistance. IDEA has collaborated and worked with international partners such as the UNDP, Netherlands Government, and ITDG to implement numerous projects in various districts in Sri Lanka.  Furthermore, IDEA’s work includes providing training, workshops, and capacity building for NGOs and CBOs to ensure sustainable community development. Through partnerships and funding, IDEA continues to play a vital role in improving rural livelihoods and promoting environmental conservation in Sri Lanka.

In the initial stage, the projects of IDEA consisted of activities covering four components: Namely, Production, Marketing and Promotion, Training and Quality Control and Monitoring. Lately, the projects have been focused on training new and look-alike producers. In particular, capacity building of CBOs will help to develop improved stove programs, to reach poor users who have limited access to commercial networks. Through the various projects, IDEA expects to address indoor air pollution and environmental and ergonomic issues.  The broad-basing activities aim to cover large-scale domestic and institutional cooking, firewood substitution in rural bakeries, and brick making. Furthermore, IDEA influences policymakers and creates awareness through seminars, workshops, and publicity to uplift the economic and social status of an underprivileged sector of society.