LIFT: How did you first get involved with development?
I have been involved in the development and emergency aid sector for over 15 years. I worked with UNDP, UNICEF and WHO with HIV/AIDS projects for over eight years. I also volunteer with the Myanmar Red Cross Society as a trainer and life member. I then decided I wanted to work directly with people affected by hunger and poverty. In 2008 I joined Save the Children’s 3HL programme (Health, Hunger, HIV and Livelihoods), I have also worked with DCA.
LIFT: Which organisation do you work with now and how long have you worked there?
After Cyclone Nargis struck the Delta region in 2010, A few of my colleagues and I founded Radanar Ayar Rural Development Association. We first started our philanthropy mobilization with our own funds helping Delta farmers to ensure poverty reduction and food security. Later, we received funding from the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT), from 2012 to date. We works across three projects focusing on food and livelihoods security by enabling access to seeds, advance know-how technology which are climate resilience and resource efficiency. We are partnering with the public and private sector to ensure sustainability. I am currently working as the Executive Director and Head of Programme for Radanar Ayar working alongside more than 50 full time staff, operating four local offices under a headquarters based in Bogalay. We work in six townships concentrating on agricultural research, agricultural business, agricultural development and also HIV/AIDS care and support programmes in the Yangon region.
LIFT: Give a brief introduction of your organisation (including values)?
Radanar Ayar Rural Development Association is a Myanmar not-for-profit organisation working on the ground for rural development and emergency aid. Radanar Ayar is funded by voluntary donations which go directly to rural poor with humanitarian needs and to advance modelling ways of sustainable solutions with food security, free from hunger, health services and rights. Our mandate is to be an independent, neutral organisation ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims and rural poor and other situations of violence. We respond to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for human rights. We invest in rural people – every day, in times of crisis and for the future. We provide a good start, an opportunity to learn and protection from harm as we are the country’s focal point of the Sphere Project, Governing Organisation of Accountability and Learning Working Group. We are also a signatory and member of UN Global Compact, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Agriculture and Rural Convention (ARC2020) and support the UN Secretary-General initiated Every Women Every Child Campaign in Global, Regional, and Sub-Regional and at the national levels.
LIFT: How long has your organisation partnered with LIFT?
Since 2012, we worked together on the Socio-economic and Environmental Development (SEED) project over a four year period in the Delta. Now we work on two projects under the Delta 3 programme.
What was your first impression of LIFT?
My personal impression of LIFT was inclusion, a wide consideration of each implementation partner and a work-together approach (we work together to achieve common interest for the food security at the household levels of rural communities) that also matches with our organisation’s mandate. We have cross learning opportunities as one community of different practices under overall programme implementation, lesson learned and good practices in the field.
LIFT: What has surprised you most about working with LIFT?
I was surprise how down-to-earth and truly practical the LIFT community is. Despite diverse practices, we learn from each other for better programme implementation through tools such as regular meetings and research studies.
LIFT: What do you wish other people knew about LIFT?
LIFT plays an important role in achieving food security of rural people in Myanmar (both for individuals and households). LIFT acknowledges the different levels of rural development in Myanmar through their strategy hang-in, step up and step out.
LIFT: Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working with LIFT?
Since Radanar Ayar started, working closely with LIFT we have met Andrew Kirkwood, Fund Director and Harald Kreuscher both very talented and kind-hearted international staff. We also worked with Myint Kyaw, Win Win Myint and Antoine. It was a good opportunity to learn from them. Currently we are working with the Delta team and work with mutual respect and learn from each other. Also Thu Thu from civil society partnerships and Ko Ye Win is very helpful. We also acknowledge the enormous support from Ko Nyi, Aunty San, Ma Yee Yee Thant and everybody who currently working with LIFT FMO or who already left. We also had the opportunity to work with Steve Dowall who was LIFT’s Lead Technical Officer from 2013 until his untimely death in a mountaineering accident in November 2015. His professionalism and good nature were noted by all. I have mentioned this to LIFT before, Steve always made time for us. He was knowledgeable, thorough, and considerate and an admirable person.
LIFT: Do you think that LIFT provides enough engagement/interactive events?
Yes, we feel that we have good engagement with LIFT with different events over the past seven years.
LIFT: What challenges will LIFT face over the next two years?
LIFT may face some challenges concerning scope and changing policy as well as the dynamics of institutions at the country level that are rapidly changing. LIFT should consider the “Adaptability” and “Flexibility Management” strategies.
LIFT: What might someone be surprised to know about you?
I am one of the youngest leaders in the development sector, a local trainer and no one really knows that I am also an activist promoting the SDGs under UN General Assembly’s Open Working Group (OWG). I am also involved in the health sector reform for right based approaches because of my professionalism and commitments “I wish I am a voice for the voiceless people”. I have several goals which I am mindful of as I sit as a Member of Myanmar Health Sector Coordinating Committee, country level focal to several initiatives in different areas of health, human rights, emergency, climate change, food security and HIV/AIDS for affected populations. I consider myself a generalist and I enjoy engaging in advocacy work through social media, or through networking.
LIFT: What do you do when you aren’t working?
I spend most of my free time learning, reading and policy advocacy. I am also interested to explore history critically through strategic thinking.
