NAY PYI TAW, 7 August –U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Development Assistance Coordination Unit Vice-Chair today met with the UN Country Team to discuss the new UN Framework for the Immediate Socio-Economic Response to COVID-19 in Myanmar (UN-SERF).

In his welcoming remarks at the meeting held via video conference, Union Minister, U Thaung Tun stated, “…we greatly appreciate the time, effort, and expertise invested into this comprehensive and strategic document” while noting “…the Framework aligns closely with our COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan.”

Ms. June Kunugi, UN Resident Coordinator ad interim and UNICEF Representative introduced the UN-SERF in greater detail, highlighting how the Framework was developed in coordination with the UN Country Team and major international financial institutions present in Myanmar, and how Framework is firmly aligned both with Myanmar’s country context and the UN’s broader COVID-19 Global Response Framework.

Ms. Dawn Del Rio, Officer-In-Charge, and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative provided a comprehensive briefing on the UN-SERF’s various pillars and thematic areas, funding status, monitoring, and evaluation arrangements, and actions covered within the Framework’s detailed Action Plan Matrix.

U Set Aung, Deputy Minister of Planning, Finance, and Industry noted the need to ensure continued alignment and complementarity between action plans included within the Myanmar COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP), the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP), and the UN-SERF.

U Min Ye Paing Hein, Deputy Minister of Planning, Finance, and Industry drew attention to the government’s progress-to-date concerning maternal cash transfers and lending to agricultural workers and highlighted the need to further mainstream gender equality into COVID-19 related efforts to ensure a truly representative whole-of-nation response.

Union Minister U Thaung Tun concluded the meeting stating that the UN-SERF offers a timely example of effective multilateral cooperation, needed now more than ever, and that, if fully funded and well implemented, would no doubt save lives, control transmission, and ease economic fallout.

The meeting was also attended by U Bharat Singh, Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Dr. Mya Lay Sein, Deputy Minister of Health and Sports.

DACU and Partners Review Progress toward Finalised Revised Myanmar Development Assistance Policy and Other Key Matters

NAY PYI TAW, 7 August –U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU) Vice-Chair today chaired a meeting between the DACU, Cooperation Partners Group (CPG) representatives, and representatives from domestic and international civil society.

The Union Minister noted that Myanmar’s development progress had continued notwithstanding COVID-19, citing recent analysis by the Oxford Business Group predicting Myanmar’s economy will recover faster than both global and regional averages, and the Purchasers Manufacturing Index (PMI)rising for a third successive month - a clear sign that the sector is starting to recover.

The Union Minister also cited further examples of progressincluding the government’s recent announcement of a new 100 billion MMK loan fundfocused on the country’s agriculture and livestock sector, and the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) having approved over US$5 billion in foreign investment this fiscal year.

Speaking on behalf of the CPG, Mr. Rurik Marsden, Head of DFID Myanmar expressed appreciation for continued progress toward finalization of the revised Myanmar Development Assistance Policy (DAP), that the revised draft has incorporated many of the suggestions offered to date, and how this important piece of work would assist all Myanmar’s partners strengthen their engagement.

Ms. Pancy Tun Thein, Director of the Local Resource Centre and Myanmar Civil Society Organisations Partnership for Aid and Development Effectiveness (MCPAD) Representative also expressed appreciation for the consultative revision process and the DAP’s recognition of the valuable role played by Myanmar’s vibrant and diverse CSOs.

Ms. Irene Fraser, INGO Forum Director echoed comments expressed by others whilenothing the inclusion of additional cross-cutting Strategic Coordination Groups (SCG) covering gender equality, disability, and statistical quality development.

A broad-ranging discussing followed with Deputy Ministers for Planning, Finance and Industry U Set Aung and U Min Ye Paing Hein, providing clarity on the rationale behind the identification of SCGs, while noting the need to ensure continued progress in moving from sector-level-planning to strategic-level planning, and how SCGs will be used to further this shift.

In his concluding remarks, Union Minister U Thaung Tun encouraged all present to continue to push forward with the finalization of the DAP and to ensure that development assistance to Myanmar continues to deliver results in the coming months and years ahead, with the greatest possible transparency.