We advance research and advocacy to influence better public policies, centered around people and nature.
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OUR WORK AND FOCUS
A JUST AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
CSF is an interdisciplinary public policy think tank with researchers, advisors, practitioners and partners around the world. We conduct high quality research, promote collaboration across disciplines, and generate innovative and actionable ideas. We believe that Sri Lanka’s economic recovery must be a just recovery - just by people, and just by nature. Through our work we influence policies to shape this.
CENTER FOR A SMART FUTURE
HOW WE APPROACH OUR WORK
Promoting greater imagination and diversity in public policy ideas, ensuring they are rooted in the lived realities of people and the urgency of environmental action.
Leveraging our diverse team of researchers and practitioners to explore complex issues from a variety of angles, leading to more comprehensive and nuanced research.
Engaging with a spectrum of stakeholders - from local communities to policymakers - ensuring our research is relevant, and accessible, to a broad audience.
Prioritising primary and specialised research, so we can offer unique insights that are not readily available elsewhere, making them a valuable resource for our stakeholders.
Understanding stakeholder sensitivities and navigating complex political-economy landscapes, drawing from our team’s experience in the public sector, international organizations, and civil society.
EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES
COLOMBO URBAN LAB
Our interdisciplinary work on equitable cities and urban development connects research, practice and public policy.
OUR FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES
WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON
Read about our flagship research and policy initiatives
Colombo Urban Lab
CUL works towards equitable and sustainable cities in Sri Lanka. It is a collaborative and interdisciplinary space, enabling connections between research, practice and public policy.
NCF works on putting nature at the heart of Sri Lanka’s economic growth, with stakeholders in economics, business and finance, and in conservation, ecology and environmental science.
YPPP is a platform to provide learning and networking opportunities for Sri Lankan young professionals engaged in diverse public policy roles based in Sri Lanka and overseas.
Inclusive Technology & Innovation
Recent work includes a study on platform-based gig work, a paper on governance of digital policies in South Asia, and advocacy on an inclusive technology transition in Sri Lanka.
CENTER FOR A SMART FUTURE
LATEST KNOWLEDGE INSIGHTS
Read our latest research insights, op-ed articles, interviews, and more
JULY 15, 2023
Circuits of Semiconductors and Affiliation: a Shallow Dive into the Small-Scale Mobile Phone Repair Sector
In Sri Lanka, the way telecommunication technologies have embedded themselves into people’s lives cannot be ignored. However, within this sector, the roles played by states and larger enterprises tend to overshadow ancillary roles played by people organised at smaller scales.
Breaking Point: Impact of Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis on Colombo’s Working Class Poor
The economic crisis in Colombo has significantly impacted the working class poor, who were already struggling due to lockdowns and loss of daily wage work. The April 2023 policy brief updates the situation, discussing electricity tariff hikes, Welfare Benefits Board enumeration, and recommendations for State and policy support.
Involuntary Resettlement in Sri Lanka – Urgent Need for Reform
Dispossession can have generational impacts on communities, causing loss of home, land, livelihood, and way of life. Involuntary resettlement is not fair, and it's crucial to ensure communities are not worse off post relocation.