Myanmar

Project country

Introduction

During 2019, negotiations for a general cooperation agreement between the Luxembourg government and Myanmar resumed, but no final decision was reached on Myanmar becoming a partner country. This was due, in particular, to the many ongoing conflicts between the Burmese army and armed ethnic groups, especially in Rakhine State, giving rise to significant humanitarian needs.

In terms of development cooperation, in 2019 Luxembourg continued to support the implementation of two bilateral projects in Myanmar, including one concerning human resources development in the hospitality and tourism sector and the other in rural development in Eastern Shan State, where several ethnic minorities live. In order to strengthen respect for the rule of law and human rights, and in particular the rights of minorities, Luxembourg has continued its support for a second phase of the ‘My Constitution’ project, implemented by the IDEA foundation (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance). This project aims to support constitutional reform and capacity-building for parliament and other stakeholders involved in this process. Luxembourg is also involved in multilateral financial assistance, and is currently contributing, together with other donors, to a trust fund administered by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), relating to food security and livelihoods (Livelihood and Food Security multi-donor Trust Fund - LIFT).

Finally, in 2019, four Luxembourgish NGDOs were working in Myanmar, funded by the MFA. Thus, CARE-Luxembourg has implemented activities in sectors linked to basic nutrition, health education and rural development. The ADA association has continued its work in partnership with the Myanmar Microfinance Association (MMFA). Through this support, the newly-established association has been able to embed itself within the inclusive finance sector of Myanmar. It has made significant progress in terms of representation and advocacy vis-a-vis the regulator. With its support to IDEA International, Luxembourg is providing technical assistance to the national debate on constitutional change.

Highlighted project

Eastern Shan State rural development and inclusion

In the Eastern Shan State, where the population, coming from ethnic minorities, faces numerous cultural, economic, political and environmental challenges, Luxembourg’s development cooperation supports 89 villages and 16,700 beneficiaries through the development committees and local management mechanisms. To date, the results have been remarkable:

7,200 people have access to running water in their homes;
256 households have been connected to the electricity grid;
44 community tea plantations and 171 individual coffee farms have been set up;
5 model pig farms have been implemented;
nearly 4,000 people have benefited from training in the operation and maintenance of the village water and electricity networks, the production of drinking water, the management of solid waste, basic animal health care, livestock raising, agricultural production and village development, and have attended vocational training courses (sewing classes).

Priority areas of intervention

Zero hunger
Quality education

Reference data

Population: 54,045,420
GNI (per resident): USD 1,390
Human Development Index (HDI): 147/189
Life expectancy: 67
Indicative Cooperation Programme: project country

Key achievements 2019

125 students completed a tourism or hospitality certificate programmes at the new Tourism Development Centre that has recently been created in Yangon as part of a skills development project aiming to build human resources capacity and promote service quality in the tourism sector.
526 additional households now have access to clean water and 222 households now have a sustainable electricity supply for domestic lighting and small electrical appliances through a pico hydro system.
Close coordination and cooperation with other initiatives. Luxembourg’s support, alongside a dozen other partners, for the Livelihood and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) which supports rural development projects throughout Myanmar, including in Eastern Shan State.
In 2019, four Luxembourgish NGDOs were working in Myanmar, funded by the MFA, in the following sectors: nutrition, health education, rural development, inclusive finance and rehabilitation, designed to improve individual rehabilitation needs.

Sector breakdown

2019