Abstract
In this study, the aim was to assess the effectiveness of the Community Governance Approach (CGA) implemented through newly established two community governance structures - Village Operating Units (VOUs) and Rural coordinating Committees (RCCs) - through the Local Efforts for Empowerment and Development (LEaD) Project of CARE International Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Data for the study comes from deferent sources by integrating quantitative and qualitative tools including household survey of 104 beneficiary households in 2013. This study has highlighted the central importance of creating social capital and local community governance structure among rural community as a poverty reduction effort in terms of improving their human condition, social position and enabling environment. The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that CARE International Hambantota Sri Lanka has strikingly benefited the communities in the project areas, strengthening most of the social capital dimensions such as improving social network, initiating and strengthening collective action and cohesion, capabilities and capacity. With this understanding, we recommend that the participatory community governance approach implemented through VOUs and RCCs with the LEaD Project is desirable for replication as an effective model for reducing rural poverty elsewhere in Sri Lanka.