Development cooperation in Myanmar
NPA’s support to civil society in Myanmar focuses on two pillars: Democratisation and Peace. Throughout out all our work, we strive to support partners’ capacity to implement programmes that they have designed, according to their own political agenda, while strengthening their capacities and organizational development.
NPA is supporting various civil society organizations and networks that promote a peaceful and democratic society. Our partners’ projects wide range includes: peace and interim arrangements, accountability and transparency, local governance, Human Rights, women’s political empowerment, and social harmony. In various ways, they contribute to Myanmar becoming a more efficient, inclusive and accountable democracy.
The armed conflicts between various ethnic armed organisations and the Myanmar military started soon after the country’s Independence, in 1948. To date, stakeholders still struggle to find sustainable solutions to the deeply rooted cultural, religious, economic and political grievances. Some of the recently pacified regions are faced with the challenging implementation of interim arrangements, while some other regions are still affected by armed conflict.
An increasing anti-muslim sentiment, fueled by ethno-nationalist movements depicting them as a threat to national security, has led to the marginalization of some minority groups. The most dramatic illustration of this institutionalized use of violence and discrimination resulted in the Rohingya humanitarian disaster. Over 700,000 of them had to flee to the neighboring Bangladesh Myanmar to save their lives in 2017.
NPA is one of the longest supporter to civil society in Myanmar, we opened our office in 2004 in Yangon, at the time of the military regime
NPA in Myanmar is among the very few international organizations with an explicit mandate to support civil society organisations and people’s movements.
NPA’s partners are present and/or operating in all States and Regions of Myanmar
Advancing Life and Regenerating Motherland
Association for Human Rights Defender and Promoters
Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People
Humanity Institute
Gaia Sustainable Management Institute
Kachin State CSO network
Karenni National Women’s Organisation (KNWO)
Mon National Education Committee
Mon Women's Organization (MWO)
Myanmar China Pipeline Watch Consortium
Myanmar Fifth Estate / Open Hluttaw
Myanmar Legal Aid Network
Research Institute for Society and Ecology
The Wings Institute
The landmine problem in Myanmar is the result of decades of post-independence struggles for autonomy by ethnic minorities.