Contribution to Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT)
The military coup in February 2021 and the escalating violence and conflict increased poverty and food insecurity among vulnerable populations, and decreased livelihood opportunities and agricultural production. The LIFT Strategy 2024-2028 tackles Myanmar’s food security and poverty crisis and aims to strengthen the resilience and the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable groups to withstand climate and other shocks. Switzerland adds value through its extensive experience in steering multi-donor funds, thematic expertise and its nexus expertise.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Myanmar |
Agriculture & food security Employment & economic development Climate change and environment
Household food security
Rural development Biodiversity |
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2028 |
CHF 10’000’000
|
- Conflict-affected people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host-communities
- Certain ethnic and religious minorities, including Rohingya
- Small-scale producers and landless people
- Women and children within the first 1,000 days
- Youth, in particular adolescent girls
- Internal and international migrants
- People with disabilities or households with people with disabilities
- Contribution to UNOPS (as Fund Management Office)
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation OTHER MULTISECTOR
OTHER MULTISECTOR
GENERAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Household food security programmes
Rural development
Bio-diversity
Cross-cutting topics The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Aid Type Basketpooled multi-donor fund
Project number 7F11189
| Background | The military coup in February 2021 brought an end to a decade of political and economic opening and reform. Since the coup, the political, social, economic and humanitarian crisis has continuously deepened. In various parts of the country, armed resistance troops are fighting an intensive guerrilla war against the military. The impact of the military coup and the increased conflict and violence on the civilian population has been catastrophic: The economy collapsed and poverty has doubled with more than 40% of the population falling below the national poverty line. After the coup, more than 1.4 million people have been internally displaced. An estimated 1.6 million jobs have been lost in 2021 alone and household income has significantly decreased due to increased unemployment, inflation and the depreciation of the national currency. The number of people facing acute food insecurity in 2023 is estimated at 15.2 million (roughly a quarter of the population) and agricultural production has dropped significantly. In this difficult context, LIFT remains a central player in addressing the deteriorating food security and livelihood situation among vulnerable communities, capable of operating and delivering services throughout the country with its extensive network of partners. Switzerland contributes to this fund since 2009. |
| Objectives | The overall goal of the LIFT strategy (2024-2028) is to contribute to the reduction of the number of people who are food insecure and live in poverty, with particular emphasis on vulnerable households. The purpose is to strengthen the resilience and the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable groups to withstand variable shocks and stressors, including climatic, political, social, and economic shocks and stressors. |
| Target groups |
The ambition of LIFT is to reach approximately 10 million beneficiaries, corresponding to 17.2 percent of the total population. Target groups include: |
| Medium-term outcomes |
Outcome 1: Increase production of nutritious food that is resilient to climate and other shocks (availability of food) Outcome 2: Maintain household incomes and assets with greater control by women, and increase as opportunity allows (access to food) Outcome 3: Improve nutritional status of vulnerable households and notably women and children (utilization of food) Outcome 4: Maintain and enhance conditions to ensure that vulnerable households have access to sufficient nutritious food at all times (stability of food) |
| Results |
Expected results: 1.1 Support the adoption of resilient integrated crop-livestock-fish systems 1.2 Facilitate access to climate adapted crops, livestock and aquatic resources 1.3 Develop sustainable value chains, investments and viable off-farm activities 1.4 Rehabilitate degraded landscapes to support ecosystem services 2.1 Improve income opportunities enabling greater access to food, decent work and safe migration 2.2 Enhance social safety nets 2.3 Improve access to finance for agricultural production 2.4 Support micro and small enterprise development 3.1 Expand and sustain cash transfers complemented with social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) 3.2 Improve access to nutrition services for women and children 3.3 Strengthen capacity of service providers, civil society organisations (CSOs), women organisations to provide gender responsive services 4.1 Enhance resilience to climate change through adaption and community driven approaches to ecosystem management 4.2 Strengthen leadership and enhance capacities of civil society 4.3 Improve gender equality, participation and leadership of women in decision making Results from previous phases: LIFT has been a significant actor in Myanmar’s development since its establishment in 2009. Before the coup, LIFT and its Implementing Partners (IPs) made significant progress in policy engagement at the national and sub-national level. Throughout the post-coup period, from 2021 to 2022, LIFT played a key role in assisting vulnerable groups, ensuring emergency responses, protecting livelihoods, increasing access to essential services, and developing community resilience - all while confronting significant constraints and risks. Despite the many operational, safety, and security challenges in 2022, LIFT reached 3 million households, benefiting 13 million people throughout all 14 states and regions. LIFT has proven to be adaptive to the context changes and has been able to effectively deliver. |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner United Nations Organization (UNO) |
| Coordination with other projects and actors | Synergies within Swiss Portfolio outcome 2 “Food security and Livelihood”: WFP, FOSTER, and VSDP phase 3. Coordination with multilateral partners, such as ICRC, UNICEF and Myanmar Humanitarian Fund. Switzerland will promote coordination among UNOPS funds and between LIFT and humanitarian actors. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 10’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 2’000’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 224’200’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 44’064’502 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 20’000’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 1 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2028 (Current phase) |
