Community Business and Technology Developers (Gte) Ltd is an organization registered with the Registrar of Companies as a non profit sharing company. CBTD was founded in 2001 by a group of like-minded professionals from various disciplines, who have a long track record of contributing to the socio-economic development of disadvantaged groups in Sri Lanka. CBTD works independently, irrespective of race, religion, caste, and party politics. CBTD operates in all districts in Sri Lanka except Northern Province, but plans to expand its activities to those areas in the near future.
Since 2005, CBTD (in partnership with APT Enterprise Development - UK) has led a consortium of 4 local NGOs and two Disabled People's Organisations in the implementation of "Enabling Participation: Business Development as a Tool to Promote Disabled People’s Rights’, a five and half year project funded by Department of International Development (DfID), UK. This project was implemented in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.
The main purpose of this project was to empower persons with disability through developing practical approaches for accessing their right to improve their livelihoods, to participate in decisions which affect their lives and to enhance their inclusion by policy makers. Impact included DP from 384 families were engaged in economic activities compared to the original target of 180 families; 34% of the DP engaged in livelihoods are earning more than $1.5 per day as individuals, contributing to their family economy while maintaining savings as well; 264 DP approached duty-bearers/ service providers for their services required; more than 10 BDS providers, MFIs, private and public sector organisations were working to become accessible to, and inclusive of, disabled people; partners working for DP adapted a rights based approach to livelihood development; DP/ Consumer organisations learned and led community education programmes on disability rights.
CBTD has also worked in post-tsunami reconstruction programmes - again within a consortium of local service providers and policy makers - and is a partner of ILO's Start and Improve Your Business programme. Other relevant work has been through the following collaborations: FCCISL - Women entrepreneurship Development (Southern Province), Post-tsunami fish vendor development programme in Batticalao (Eastern Province), NIE - National Curriculum Development on Entrepreneurship Development, World Bank - Mapping Disability Service Providers to develop an inclusion strategy for Wrold Bank Funded Gemidiriya Project (Rathnapura and Hambantota districts), Sarvodaya SEEDS and Business Creations (Tangalle) - Training of Business Counsellors (With APT - UK). Chief Executive of CBTD is a Master Trainer of Start and Improve Your Business programme and a National Facilitator for Know About Business programme of ILO, and a certified trainer of World Bank/ IFCs Business Edge programme. He also worked closely with USAid CORE project in enterpreneurship development of entrepreneur and farmer groups in Trincomalee, Anuradhapura and Moneragala.