NAY PYI TAW – The Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU) met via videoconference with Myanmar’s Partners in Partners to discuss how best to coordinate the financing and implementation of the newly launched Overcoming as One: COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP), which observers have valued at over US$2 billion [MMK2.8 trillion].
Delivering opening remarks, Union Minister of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Thaung Tun noted that, “Guided by CERP, the Government of Myanmar is working in partnership with the international community to unlock support that will prevent the loss of lives, contain the risk of aftershocks, and further our investment in a sustainable recovery.”
Deputy Minister of Planning, Finance and Industry U Set Aung provided an overview of the CERP’s key Goals and Actions, including an account of actions taken to fast-track CERP Action Plan implementation. Deputy Minister of Planning, Finance and Industry U Min Ye Paing Hein stressed the importance of using a data-driven approach to ensure development finance targeted those most vulnerable.
Members of the Cooperation Partners Group (CPG) joined with representatives of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), the Myanmar CSO Partnership for Aid and Development Effectiveness (MCPAD) and the INGO Forum to express their full support to the CERP, and to working closely with the DACU to contribute to the CERP’s implementation and Myanmar’s longer-term national development priorities as expressed within the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP). Topics discussed also included finalisation of an updated Development Assistance Policy (DAP), and the launch of a revised set of MSDP-aligned Strategic Coordination Groups (SCG) within the coming weeks. Established based upon internationally accepted principles of effective development cooperation, the DACU is the Government-led body responsible for ensuring development assistance to Myanmar is efficient, effective, coordinated, and nationally owned.
With USAID and the UN Resident Coordinators Office serving as Co-facilitator’s, the CPG provides Myanmar’s development partners with a forum for information sharing on development effectiveness and coordination issues.
In providing concluding remarks, Union Minister U Thaung Tun took the opportunity to encourage both the DACU and partners to continue to take full advantage of meetings such as all sides work together to help transform Myanmar’s development aspirations into realities.
Meeting participants included ADB, EU, DFID, Canada, Denmark, France, Israel, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Philippines, FAO,ILO, IMF, INGO Forum, Japan/JICA, MCPAD, the Netherlands, Norway, Thailand, UMFCCI, UN Women, UNCDF, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNIDO, UNOPS, UNRCO, USAID, and World Bank.
