2^ndOctober 2019 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Myanmar completed its annual Programme Board meeting and review of the programmes implemented by UNDP during 2019 as part of the UNDP Country Programme 2018-2022. The meeting acknowledged the concrete progress achieved in the first two year of the Country Programme, and provided guidance and direction for the coming years.

The high-level meeting noted that UNDP was able to make significant contributions in support of the Government to address many of Myamnar’s complex development challenges and contributing meaningfully to the implementation of the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP).

In 2018, UNDP Myanmar initiated its new Country Programme for the period 2018-22, with a focus  on two main priority areas: sustaining peace through national reconciliation and building an effective democratic state; and promoting inclusive, resilient and sustainable development and environmental management. The programme is aligned with the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, the MSDP (2018-2030), and the UNDP Global Strategic Plan (2018-2021).

The Programme Board meeting held   in Nay Pyi Taw on 2 October, took stock of the progress made during the first two years of the country programme, which included projects implemented at the national level and in 56 townships across states and regions. It noted that nearly $100 milliion (out of a total of $170 million  five year target) of funding has already been mobilised in less than two years. The meeting brought together representatives of the Myanmar Government, parliament, state and regional governments, development partners and UN Agencies.

Co-chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and the UNDP Resident Representative, the Board is the highest country-level body to provide UNDP’s country programme with strategic guidance, quality assurance and oversight.

U Aung Naing Oo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations expressed his appreciation to UNDP for the first two years of achievements of its Country Programme. “As stakeholders, we must keep the accountability for the country’s ownership of this country programme. We must continue dialogues such as today’s meeting to ensure efficient and effective cooperation,” he said.

Mr. Peter Batchelor, Resident Representative of UNDP said, “We are delighted to reflect together on our work, and on how it is contributing to the implementation of Myanmar’s national priorities and the MSDP.”

“With our local and international partners, and with the support of our donors, and based on our history of more than 50 years in Myanmar, we intend to keep playing our part in moving Myanmar forward, towards a more peaceful and sustainable future for all,” he added.

During 2018 and 2019 UNDP has supported the Government of Myanmar in its efforts to improve and strengthen its key public institutions at both union and sub-national level to make them more democratic, transparent and responsive to people’s needs. Special interventions were made to establish and institutionalize effective mechanisms to consolidate and sustain peace and social cohesion, and improve access to justice and human rights.

Addressing the complex development challenges facing Rakhine was a key priority for UNDP in 2018 and 2019. Jointly with UN Women and UNHCR, and with funding from the governments of Japan and Canada, UNDP launched and implemented a new area-based programme in Rakhine in 2018, which focused on addressing some of the key causes of the State’s underdevelopment, the marginalization and exclusion felt by its people, and the intercommunal tensions and conflicts experienced in recent years. Within one year, over 225,000 people of different communities have directly benefitted from the implementation of the projects across Rakhine State.

Promoting inclusive, resilient and sustainable development was another major focus of UNDP’s programming in 2018 and 2019. Significant milestones were achieved in strengthening Myanmar’s ability to prevent and respond to disaster risks and the impacts of climate change, manage natural resources and promote inclusive economic growth. With technical support from UNDP, Myanmar was able to launch a new National Environmental Policy in 2019. UNDP has also supported the preparation of township disaster management plans in 75 villages in 5 townships in the Dry Zone.

Within the framework of its Country Programme, UNDP will continue to provide support to the Government of Myanmar’s efforts to develop and implement a broad range of policies, programmes and projects which are in line with the MSDP, thereby promoting more inclusive and sustainable development for all people in Myanmar with the help of UNDP’s donors Australia, Canada, Denmark, European Union, Finland, Germany, GFATM, Global Environment Facility, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,Netherlands, Norway, Peace Building Fund, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and UN Agencies.