This morning Italy joined LIFT's donor consortium, providing funding to improve food security and the livelihoods of poor rural communities in Myanmar.
An agreement, signed by Regional Director UNOPS Asia Region, Mr Sanjay Mathur, and the Italian Ambassador to Myanmar, His Excellency Pier Giorgio Aliberti, confirms Italy on the growing list of LIFT’s distinguished country donors. LIFT has been working in Myanmar since 2009 to assist the country in its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. LIFT is managed by UNOPS.
“We are delighted to welcome Italy as a donor to LIFT,” said Mr Mathur, at the signing event. “Italy’s contribution comes at a time when LIFT is further extending its reach to improve food security and nutrition, and facilitating small holder farmers to be part of Myanmar’s economic growth. Italy will help LIFT continue its crucial work to improve the lives and prospects of rural poor people in Myanmar."
”We are very pleased to join LIFT and take part in this common effort to improve the lives of people in rural Myanmar through promotion of actions aimed at supporting livelihood and food security,” said Ambassador Aliberti. ”The Italian Development Cooperation strategy in Myanmar for 2015-2017 is mainly focused on three sectors, among which rural development is one of our absolute priorities."
With a contribution of €700,000, Italy joins LIFT donors the European Union and the governments of Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. From the private sector, the Mitsubishi Corporation is a donor. To date, the donors have committed $206 million to LIFT. In the spirit of aid effectiveness, funds are pooled to allow for better programme coherence.
Since 2009, LIFT has reached over three million people, or roughly six per cent of Myanmar’s population, markedly improving the food security of more than 1.1 million people. Working in 138 of the country’s 330 townships, over 788,000 people have seen an increase in their ability to cope with shocks and setbacks as a result of LIFT action. LIFT-funded microfinance loans have reached 243,000 families, for both farming and non-farming purposes. Women represent 75% of LIFT-funded microfinance clients.
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