Today was the first day of the LIFT Forum 2019 in Nay Pyi Taw to mark the fund’s tenth anniversary working for poverty reduction and improved livelihoods in Myanmar. LIFT is proud to bring together development actors, leading thinkers and field experts to reflect upon and discuss LIFT’s mission in Myanmar, as well as the country’s past, present and future.
 
The event started in the afternoon with a marketplace showcasing some of our partners’ work in a myriad of domains such as nutrition, agriculture, gender equality, migration and social and financial inclusion. Featured projects ranged from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations strengthening the adaptive capacity and resilience of fisheries to Mercy Corps restoring and invigorating the rice sector in Laputta.
 

Following the marketplace tour, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation H.E. Dr Aung Thu and Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations H.E. U Thaung Tun officially opened the Forum with uplifting speeches about the collaborations between the Government and LIFT that have helped pave the way for many of our achievements. H.E. Andrea Faulkner, the Australian Ambassador to Myanmar, then spoke of LIFT’s accomplishments and how LIFT is transforming the face of Myanmar.

 
Evening come, the representatives of donors to LIFT – namely, H.E. Karen MacArthur, Canadian Ambassador to Myanmar; Mr Giacomo Solari, Head of Cooperation & Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland; Dr Johann Hesse, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar; Dr Joanne Raisin, Team Leader & Senior Livelihoods and Nutrition Advisor to the UK; and Dr Pamela Fessenden, Deputy Mission Director to the United States Agency for International Development – came together to toast LIFT’s achievements and priorities.
 
 
WRITER: Sandra Vedeld