As COVID-19 struck, LIFT moved in step with the context, adapting and adjusting to the needs of vulnerable people in Myanmar. This report reviews six months of LIFT’s response, reflects on our learning, and looks forward to a recovery for Myanmar.
At the onset of COVID-19, LIFT quickly responded to deliver immediate preparedness and prevention activities in support of the most vulnerable. LIFT’s Fund Board met on 17 March to provide a steer for LIFT’s actions in response to COVID-19. Eight days later, just two days after the first COVID-19 case was detected in Myanmar, more than 30 of LIFT’s partners had pivoted and repurposed USD 2.3 million of their existing project budgets to respond to COVID-19. LIFT provided additional funding for civil society, social protection, migration, Rakhine and communication at the end of March; and in May, LIFT, with the Department of Social Welfare announced USD 9 million in COVID-19 cash payments to pregnant women, children aged under two and the elderly. A further USD 3.2 million was allocated in June to support internally displaced people affected by COVID-19.
LIFT’s Fund Board steered and resourced. LIFT’s partners acted. To date, LIFT has committed a total of USD 27.8 million for an immediate frontline response, a medium-term response in areas of high need, and a longer-term response to the socio-economic impact of the virus.
Through collaboration with the Government and partners, LIFT provided crucial humanitarian assistance, information and livelihood support to internal and international migrants. LIFT mobilised funds to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on the microfinance sector and distributed COVID-19 social protection cash payments to mothers, the elderly and people with disabilities. LIFT further developed a cash-for-work pilot project to support employment opportunities in the rice seed sector in the Ayeyarwady Region and has adapted and scaled up nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive activities that address underlying causes of malnutrition. These programmes, and more, are reviewed and analysed in this six-month report.
To date, LIFT’s COVID-19 response has reached 2.8 million people across the country.
Our 6-month report presents LIFT’s response and impact on frontline response, social protection, civil society, migration and financial inclusion. Reflections and learnings are presented as well as recommendations for the road ahead.
COVID-19 has hit the world’s poorest, most disadvantaged and most vulnerable the hardest, and the impact is likely to be intergenerational. Myanmar can only rebound with a rebuilding of livelihoods, ensuring jobs, income and an inclusive recovery.
Please read the full report : Here
