On 23 August, LIFT programme officers departed Yangon for a two-day drive to Lashio in northern Shan State, a focus area for LIFT. With the help of our Lashio-based coordinator, LIFT programme partners in northern Shan assembled to discuss how to coordinate and advance programmes in agriculture, nutrition, decent work, and financial inclusion. The team further met with mothers, young people, and community leaders in some of the northern Shan villages. While such trips are usually routine for LIFT, this was different from the very beginning - the team left Yangon with face masks on and a bottle of hand sanitizer in the car, everyone disinfected their hands every time they returned to the vehicle and stayed six feet apart from others throughout the trip. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed LIFT to focus not only on ensuring projects run smoothly and we listen to the voices of our partners and the community, but also that we follow and promote prevention measures such as physical distancing while meeting and protecting the most vulnerable.
In Lashio, LIFT’s 12 partners convened to define strategies to coordinate and share knowledge and work effectively while implementing programmes, learning from each others’ experiences on how to reach those in need and how to overcome challenges working in remote, conflict-affected areas amidst a global pandemic.
LIFT partners meet to define strategies to coordinate and share knowledge and work effectively Meeting participants had temperature checks, entered a spacious conference room wearing face masks, remained physically distant several meters apart during the meeting, and lunch was served in small groups. Even typical communication tools such as microphones and pens were absent from the room to curb the spread of viral particles in the air and on surfaces. Avoiding hand contact was also crucial to a safe coordination meeting as handshakes can be dangerous transmitters of the virus, so to protect themselves and others participants there was regular hand-washing and hand-sanitising!
Following the meeting, LIFT’s implementing partner said: “The coordination meeting was useful for my organization as I learnt about my colleagues' work and the resources they have. It felt safe to join the meeting because the LIFT team informed me in advance how they would be following COVID-19 prevention measures.”
The LIFT team then visited villages where Karuna Mission Social Solidarity and Save the Children support nutrition, livelihoods and social protection activities, to see the good work already underway. Meeting with local partners and the community provided valuable insight into delivering results in challenging times and confirmed that local organizations are essential partners in keeping projects going - they are highly motivated to work in tough conditions and are well positioned to establish trusting and long-lasting relationships with the communities.
LIFT team visits villages where partners support nutrition, livelihoods and social protection LIFT staff then accompanied partners to visit the community where they support pregnant women, mothers and young people; everyone wore face masks, kept a safe distance and disinfected hands. Small group meetings with women and youth provided a good setting to hear their concerns about COVID-19 and other issues while following precautionary measures to protect the health of the villagers. The team cancelled visits to the camps for internally displaced persons and households visits altogether, following advice and in order not to place further risk on those already living in crowded places and at higher risk of catching the coronavirus.
LIFT team meets with mothers to hear about their concerns during the COVID-19 crisis As the team returned to Yangon via Mandalay, several COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Mandalay so the team decided to stop for the night outside Mandalay in an uncrowded area, and on return to Yangon they will work from home for two weeks.
Reflecting on this new style of field visit, the LIFT team concluded that necessary work trips are possible if we effectively adopt COVID-19 prevention measures, cooperate closely and regularly with LIFT partners, local authorities and other development actors. We can continue to place the concerns of local communities first and promote best practice in tackling the crisis for the most vulnerable in Myanmar.
NB: The trip took place before the Government imposed travel restrictions in and out of Yangon.
