The second day at the LIFT Forum 2019 welcomed speakers representing some of LIFT’s most influential local and international partners and hosted panels, discussions and group work to explore LIFT’s accomplishments over the last ten years. The key takeaway points from the talks about the fund’s success were LIFT’s ability and willingness to adapt to Myanmar’s changing landscape, as well as to form enduring relationships with the government, the private sector, the UN and NGOs to achieve impactful results. Some of today’s highlights included:
The promotion of healthy nutrition as essential for successful development
Dr San San Aye, Director General of the Department of Social Welfare passionately spoke of the problems of stunting in Myanmar due to chronic malnutrition during a child’s first 1,000 days. With initial funding from LIFT but with expansion and funding from Government to roll out across the country, Maternal and Child Cash Transfer programmes (MCCTs) are implemented in 2017 in the states of Chin, Rakhine and Naga, expanding to the states of Kayin and Kayah in 2018, with as many as 171,373 women and children benefitting from this policy.
Expanding protection for the population and strengthening civil societies
There are deep-rooted issues inherent in many aspects of society in Myanmar; whether it be through a lack of care for vulnerable populations or for civil societies. In this respect, Mr. Godfred Paul, Country Director of HelpAge Myanmar, spoke of recent reforms such as the Elderly Law (2016) or the Universal Social Pension (2017).. Ms Jackie Pollock, Chief Technical Adviser for Migration at the International Labour Organization, delved into the abuse to which migrants are vulnerable, and the importance to have policies in place to support them. U Gum Sha Awng, Incoming Executive Director of the Metta Development Foundation, then described Metta’s efforts to provide leadership, resourcing and capacity for civil society groups and networks in order for them to implement their own community-centred strategies.Increasing agricultural and rural transformation along with financial inclusion
Dr Duncan Boughton, Country Director of the Michigan State University Myanmar Program, in partnership with the International Food Policy and Research Institute, spoke of the need to raise awareness about the ways in which migration is changing the rural landscape and increasing the need for mechanisation. In response to this problem, Daw Kalya Myint, Project Coordinator at the Yoma Bank Agribusiness Finance Programme, gave a presentation on how Yoma Bank, in partnership with LIFT, has started granting increasingly more loans for agricultural machinery and equipment aimed at both small-scale and large-scale farmers.Devising a comprehensive strategy for 2019-2023
In an effort to further develop an extensive strategy for the coming period, LIFT and its partner representatives came together today in six different groups to discuss nutrition; financial inclusion; agriculture, markets and food systems; decent work and labour mobility; civil society; and gender, disability and inclusion.As LIFT’s Fund Director Katy Webley said, “LIFT is many things to many people, but at its core it’s clear: LIFT is a partnership”. Following the Forum therefore, LIFT will continue its work in Myanmar to “empower people, build resilience, further inclusion”.
WRITER: Sandra Vedeld
