LIFT is a multi-donor trust fund focused on improving the lives and prospects of smallholder farming families and the landless rural poor, funding projects that help them to raise their incomes, improve their nutrition and food security, and their ability to cope with shocks and setbacks. We are generously funded by Australia, Denmark, the European Union, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, 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.
For #LIFTDonorProfiles, we’ve interviewed members of our Donor Consortium so that you can learn more about our donors, their development goals in Myanmar and get a better understanding of where LIFT fits in.
We invite you to meet Mr Nicholas Coppel, Australian Ambassador to Myanmar, representing the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
LIFT: Please tell us a little bit about yourself
I am the Australian Ambassador to Myanmar and have been living here for around two years. I have previously served overseas as Special Coordinator of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands; Deputy High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea; and Deputy Head of Mission in Manila, with an earlier posting to Washington DC. I have a Bachelor of Economics degree from the Australian National University and a Master of Business Administration from London Business School.
LIFT: Please tell us about your organisation’s relationship and goals with respect to Myanmar?
Australia has had diplomatic relations with Myanmar for more than sixty years – since 1952. We are looking forward to building on our relationship as we work with the new government. I think there are new opportunities. The economy is growing, we are strengthening our ties with the civilian government, growing trade and investment and increasing people-to-people links.
Australia’s aid programme is focused on our neighbourhood – including Myanmar, where we have a fairly large programme. We are focused on improving education, supporting peace and stability; and promoting inclusive economic growth and governance. We also have a humanitarian programme that provides assistance to people in conflict and disaster affected areas in Myanmar and on the border with Thailand.
LIFT: Where does LIFT fit in?
Globally, Australia’s aid programme aims to promote inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction by strengthening private sector development and enabling human development, including through building a skilled and competitive workforce and lifting living standards.
Our support to LIFT in Myanmar is closely aligned with this objective. Australia was a founding member of LIFT, and has committed over USD 20 million to LIFT overall. It is great to see LIFT providing new opportunities for people in rural Myanmar to benefit from Myanmar’s economic growth – by building skills, connecting people to markets, and promoting access to finance.
Rural development has been identified as a priority by Myanmar’s government, and I am pleased Australia is able to contribute to new opportunities for people across Myanmar through our engagement with LIFT.
LIFT: What particular challenges do you see for livelihoods development in Myanmar? How do you think these can be overcome?
Myanmar has enormous potential for livelihoods development, but also faces some enormous challenges. Human capacity is one constraint – this is why Australia has such a strong focus on education in our development program here. I am really pleased to see to see the work LIFT is doing to build people’s skills. It’s great to hear of farmers who are doing the same amount of labour each day, but receiving far greater profits thanks to improved farming practices.
We are also pleased to support LIFT’s work to address barriers to growth. Barriers include access to land and water, access to jobs and markets, and access to finance and agricultural inputs. LIFT is working to address many of these constraints, expanding financial services, improving linkages between smallholders and value chains, and providing agricultural inputs such as seeds and machinery. But these challenges are also linked to broader processes of transformation in Myanmar – including the development of policies and regulations frameworks, peace negotiations and political dialogue with Myanmar’s many ethnic groups, and Myanmar’s increasing engagement with the international community.
I know it will take time for Myanmar to overcome these challenges, but the will is there. We are seeing leadership from the government, cooperation from all sides and commitment from the international community to support this process.
LIFT: What legacy would you like LIFT to have?
LIFT has the potential to leave a strong legacy at a number of levels.
For individuals, I would like to see LIFT leave a legacy of increased incomes, resilience and nutrition. This will look different for different people. For some it will simply mean the ability to provide nutritional food for themselves and their family all year round. For others it will mean developing new skills and entering new areas of employment. In different parts of the country it will mean expanding businesses, increasing productivity and linking to larger markets.
I would also like to see LIFT feeding into political and economic reform. LIFT is in a unique position to do this. LIFT has a wealth of experience gathered over years of implementation, significant convening power, and provides a valuable coordination mechanism for actors working in the rural development sector. LIFT is already working with Myanmar’s Government and I would like this to increase, to strengthen government capacity and support reforms that are evidence-based, inclusive and benefit the rural poor.
LIFT: How do you see Myanmar ten years down the line?
I think Myanmar will change dramatically in the next ten years. Since my arrival (only two years ago) I have been fortunate to witness a democratic election, Myanmar’s increasing engagement with the international community, significant economic growth, and substantial progress on peace negotiations. I would like to see this progress continue.
In ten years, I would like to see a Myanmar that is prosperous, stable and inclusive. I would also like to see a Myanmar that is integrated in our region through a strong ASEAN, trade, investment and people-to-people links.
LIFT: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Living in Yangon and spending a lot of time in Nay Pyi Daw it is easy to forget what life is like for the majority of Myanmar people living in rural areas. I always enjoy traveling in other parts of the country where I have the opportunity to meet people whose lives have been improved through the work of LIFT.
