Promoting Inter-Community Dialogues Through Economic Engagement

Inter-ethnic engagement through the economic domain has proven effective in many countries since it leverages a natural motivation to improve livelihoods and promotes shared space to foster interdependence and generate tangible outcomes for participants. The Asia Foundation in Sri Lanka works to promote inter-community dialogue through economic engagement. The Initiative for Sustained Peaceful Inter-ethnic Relations for Economic Development (INSPIRED) aims to promote social cohesion through inter-community engagement in the business sector and advocacy for institutionalization and replication of successful inter-community reconciliation pilot initiatives.