Communities and local authorities in Mullaitivu District, Northern Sri Lanka, were trained to develop Grassroots Development Plans through an inclusive and participatory process, with the support of the EU. Each plan served as a roadmap to identify the resources, constraints and root problems faced by communities, and outlined a clear action to address these issues. The Grassroots Development Plan process served to empower communities to identify their main needs and priorities in a representative, democratic and unified manner, while giving them a clear written document to advocate their needs to external service providers.