The civil society organisations that have worked with LIFT across Myanmar gathered on 5 December in Yangon in order to learn together and better work towards the following objectives: (1) understanding development trends of local CSOs that LIFT has supported or is supporting, in order to successfully design the future civil society partnership programme; (2) discussing the kind of support that CSOs would require from LIFT after 2019; and (3) getting feedback from CSO partners on LIFT’s programmes. Through the attendance of more than 170 participants representing 97 CSOs, the workshop brought about strategic discussions on how LIFT and CSOs can strengthen their existing partnerships in thematic areas guided by the 2019-2023 LIFT strategy.
“Through this workshop, we want to strengthen our understanding of LIFT’s support to civil society organisations in Myanmar as we move forward with the refreshed LIFT strategy. We wish to explore how partnerships with donors on direct or indirect financing opportunities can help CSOs step up, as well as discuss any challenges partners have faced along the road. Going through all these topics will help LIFT develop better approaches to work with CSOs in our programming…”, said LIFT Fund Director Katy Webley in her opening remarks.
Civil society organisations play a critical role in the sustainability of the development programmes LIFT is working on. Through solid understanding of local context, CSOs are often early birds in reaching out to needy communities in an efficient and timely manner. CSOs have for example proved to be particularly capable in the aftermaths of natural disasters, or in introducing social and behavioural change activities in affected areas. Since the fund was established in 2009, LIFT has been working with CSOs through various funding mechanisms. From strategic partnerships to small grants windows, long-term partnerships have demonstrated how CSOs are vital in supporting sustainable development goals in Myanmar.
Claudia Api, Programme Manager for KMSS noted and appreciated, “It was not an easy journey to be a LIFT implementing partner. In the beginning, we had to work with technical experts to understand the concept behind terminologies stated in the LIFT Strategy such as step up, step out, and hang in. LIFT helped us a lot – from the proposal revision to the Monitoring and Evaluation for Accountability and Learning (MEAL) plan. All these led us to strengthen our capacity on organisational development as well as programme approaches. Today, Karuna Mission Social Solidarity (KMSS) would not have grown bigger without the support of LIFT”. The Karen Development Network (KDN) also shared their experience of working with LIFT – going from a sub grantee to a direct partner within only a year.
The learning workshop assessed the essential needs of CSOs in the coming three years in areas such as financing, advocacy and capacity building, as well as explored the long-term vision of CSOs in line with Myanmar’s reform processes. The workshop delved into how CSOs have evolved from their establishment by analysing notable turning points over their life spans. Through group work, participants also reflected on learning opportunities and the various challenges of working with different donors. The analysis report of the workshop is in English. Myanmar version will follow in February 2020.
