7 March 2012 – A day prior to International Women’s Day, UNOPS Executive Director Jan Mattsson congratulated the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust (LIFT) Fund and partners in Myanmar for ensuring that 50 percent of all direct beneficiaries assisted since 2010 are women.
Mattsson, who spoke at the UNOPS Town Hall Staff Meeting in Yangon, said “Ensuring that women actively participate in livelihood activities – whether cash-for-work or financial management – will pave the way for growth to be more inclusive.” Mattsson added, “Benefitting not only the household but the entire community”.
Cumulatively, including activities in 2010, LIFT, has provided assistance to an estimated 222,000 households or 1,110,000 people as direct beneficiaries out of which 550,000 are women.
LIFT’s partner’s cash-for-work activities has targeted poor and vulnerable female headed households, creating more than 100,000 person-days of work and constructing or repairing important village infrastructure including ponds, embankments, jetties, footpaths, bridges and culverts. Additionally, over 3,726 community-based groups, with more than 70,447 members, (41% of which were women) have been trained in management, livelihood and vocational skills
With its abundant arable land, water resources and favourable climate, Myanmar has great potential for expanding and agricultural production, Mattsson pointed out. LIFT’s purpose is to increase food availability and incomes of 1.5 million target beneficiaries is achievable as it is in line with the Government’s emphasis on ensuring self-sufficiency in rice, expanding the cultivation of pulses, beans and culinary crops.
He added that as the world mark’s International Women’s Day it is important to stress the critical importance women farmers’ play in ensuring food security for their families and the importance of ensuring they have knowledge and capital. LIFT’s microfinance activities currently covering 2,613 villages, providing services to over 50,000 poor and vulnerable households ensures that the majority of these loans go to women, including agricultural loans (roughly 60%).
LIFT’s partners are assisting women to organize self-help groups, as well as, increase women’s participation in community projects. Poor rural women have received technical trainings, cash and in-kind assistance as well. Results have shown that women are more confident in managing their finances, and have begun taking leadership roles in village groups.
Jan Mattsson, who is currently on his second visit to Myanmar since the establishment of LIFT in 2009, met with the Minister of Agriculture & Irrigation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Minister of National Planning and Economic Development. He also met several donors in Myanmar to further strengthen ties with them.
Please contact LIFT Communications team at lift@unops.org for more information
