At the start of November, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MoALI) held a workshop on ‘Resilient Communities’. This workshop brought together government officials from different ministries and departments with stakeholders in the international development and humanitarian community. The event featured presentations and speeches from the Department of Rural Development, the Department of Social Welfare, LIFT and the Social Policy and Poverty Research Group (SPPRG).
Building resilience underscores the importance of having a collective and holistic approach to development. This workshop was an important step towards coming together across disciplines, government ministries and humanitarian and development organisations to tackle Myanmar’s complex problems with more holistic interventions.
Dr Khin Zaw, the Permanent Secretary for MoALI gave the opening speech highlighting the importance of tackling climate change and reducing vulnerabilities. He also emphasised the need to go to the root of problems stating that “prevention is better than cure.”
LIFT Fund Director, Andrew Kirkwood then spoke highlighting how LIFT’s primary purpose is to strengthen the resilience and sustainable livelihoods of poor people in Myanmar. On the ground and through their implementing partners LIFT builds resilience by supporting rural households and people step up the value ladder and out of poverty; step out of agriculture, and into more productive sectors of the economy over time; and hang in by using agriculture as a safety net, and improving their food security and nutrition. LIFT also works together with the government and contributes towards the discussions on resilience in Myanmar across government ministries and development agencies. Mr Kirkwood explained the understanding of resilience within LIFT as the increased capacity of individuals, households and communities to cope with and recover from various shocks and stresses.
This was followed by a presentation from Dr Mike Griffiths, from SPPRG. Dr Griffiths is carrying out large scale research into resilience in Myanmar and focuses on evidence-based development. He discussed how growth and development can be undermined by risks. He also emphasised the importance of social protection for overcoming poverty and improving resilience.
“Resilience must be defined by the local context and interventions should address specific vulnerabilities in order to build the capacity at the household level.” : Dr Mike Griffiths.
The Deputy Director for the Department of Social Welfare (DSW), Dr San San Aye then spoke on the role of nutrition in building resilience and the importance of government investment in future generations and social protection.
Dr San San Aye also spoke about the maternal and child cash transfer initiative between the DSW and LIFT in Chin State and how it will build resilience by improving nutrition and preventing stunting.
“We need to work together to prioritise poor people. What are the root causes of poverty and how can people become more resilient? We need improved nutrition and food security. Good nutrition within the first 1,000 days of a child’s life will increase chances of resilience in the future.” Dr San San Aye.
Dr Zarni Minn, Deputy Director of the Department for Rural Development (DRD) rounded up the discussions highlighting how Myanmar was one of the most vulnerable and at-risk countries for climate change and disasters leading to high demands from communities for government assistance. He explained how the DRD is responding to these needs with projects carried out in collaboration with stakeholders like LIFT and SPPRG.
Dr Zarni Minn defines resilience as: “the capacity to endure shocks and stresses and bounce back.”
All the speakers agreed that building resilience should be a high priority across ministries and addressed in an integrated manner that also involves community organisations. The need for further cross-disciplinary research on resilience was also emphasised throughout the event.
The chair of the LIFT Fund Board Claudia Antonelli offered the closing remarks which were followed by a dynamic discussion with all participants. This discussion further emphasised the diversity of stakeholders in the room and how different disciplines and ministries tackle the same problems of poverty and inequality.
The event demonstrated how, with some support, resilience can be a unifying concept to enable an integrated, pro-poor and inclusive approach to Myanmar’s rural transformation.
See Dr Griffith’s PowerPoint presentation here.
See Dr San San Aye’s PowerPoint presentation here.
See Dr Zarni Minn’s PowerPoint presentation here.
Read the ‘Resilient Communities’ Volume 1, No 10 brief (MM) by SPPRG here.
Read the ‘Resilient Communities’ Volume 1, No 10 brief (EN) by SPPRG here.
Read the ‘Resilient Communities’ Volume 1, No 13 brief (MM) by SPPRG here.
Read the ‘Resilient Communities’ Volume 1 No 13 brief (EN) by SPPRG here.
You can also read Dr Griffith's blog post here.
