Evaluation Report: U FIND Project (Sri Lanka, 2025)

The U FIND project, implemented by Save the Children Sri Lanka in partnership with the Welfare Benefits Board (WBB) and supported by the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), piloted an inclusive digital platform to modernize Sri Lanka’s welfare recertification process. The initiative aimed to reduce systemic barriers to welfare access—particularly for women-headed households, persons with disabilities, and marginalized families—through multiple access points (smartphones, smartboard kiosks, and volunteer-assisted registration) and behavioural science-informed design.

The endline evaluation employed a mixed-methods approach, combining household surveys, platform log analysis, Propensity Score Matching (PSM), focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and document reviews. Analysis was framed against OECD-DAC evaluation criteria and applied a strong Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) lens.

Findings demonstrate that U FIND significantly improved accessibility, convenience, efficiency, and data accuracy compared to manual recertification processes. On average, digital submissions required 53 minutes versus 1.5–2 hours manually, with 86% accuracy rates and higher user trust in government data use. Vulnerable households, particularly women-headed families and those with self-care difficulties, reported the greatest benefits when digital delivery was paired with human facilitation. Government officials rated the system highly (4.25/5), citing reduced workloads and faster verification.

The evaluation concludes that U FIND offers a feasible, scalable model for inclusive digital welfare recertification, while highlighting the need to sustain facilitation networks, simplify design for low-literacy users, and embed universal accessibility standards. Sustainable national scale-up will require strong government ownership, policy alignment, and investment in inclusive practices.