The Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT) hosted its formal launch of the 2019-2023 strategy at the LIFT Forum 2019 that took place in Nay Pyi Taw 11-13 June 2019. The launch marked the grand closure of the 3-Day LIFT Forum 2019 that brought together 250 key stakeholders in Myanmar to reflect, share and celebrate key achievements and learnings from ten years of LIFT. Among the participants were recognised global and Myanmar experts, guest speakers, government ministers and officials, civil society organisations, INGOs, private sector, UN agencies and donor representatives.
The strategy session started with an introduction video screening and was followed by perspectives shared by donor representatives on a panel about LIFT’s strategy and future, chaired by Katy Webley, LIFT Fund Director.
“LIFT started off in 2009 in a very specific context, but things change all the time, and LIFT has adapted to changes”, said Dr Johann Hesse, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar.
Ms Heather McBride, First Secretary, Global Affairs Canada, Embassy of Canada remarked: “It has been a very exciting three days and this is an exciting moment to be watching this next five-year strategy – but we should note this is a contribution to a much longer term planning,” and emphasised the role of LIFT partners. “We know that LIFT’s cumulative successes are really about the work that all of you have carried out – it’s about all of you in the room and beyond.”
The donor representative panellists then took questions from the participants ranging from topics on civil society organisations, role of research, the private sector, microfinance to monitoring.
Katy Webley wrapped up the session marking the end of the three-day forum by saying: “My closing remarks are actually opening remarks, because the whole point of this session today was to launch the five-year strategy as we enter into a five-year future with you, and I see LIFT’s work with its partners is very much a continuing conversation.”
The 2019-2023 strategy is a refreshed approach to LIFT’s work in the rapidly changing context of Myanmar, aiming to ensure LIFT maximises its impact for the next five years.
The 2019-2023 phase is marked by a series of strategic shifts to:
- Focus further on inclusion and social cohesion
- Intensify efforts on gender equality and women's empowerment
- Have an increased geographical focus on the ethnic/border states and conflict-affected areas
- Bring internally displaced persons and returnees into its development programmes
- Increasingly programme in underserved urban and peri-urban areas
- Work with government at different levels on targeted policies and policy reforms
Under the new strategy, programming and policy work will be structured around the four main thematic areas: agriculture, markets and food systems; financial inclusion; decent work and labour mobility; and nutrition.
