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Myanmar - Strengthened self-reliance of displacement-affected communities in Shan, Rakhine and Kayah States (SSDC)


Myanmar’s prolonged civil war intensified by the military coup has displaced more than 1.8 million civilians and caused immense suffering. Local actors have been faster, more effective and generally better placed to respond to humanitarian and basic needs of displacement-affected communities. Switzerland will strengthen localization of aid by partnering with Meikswe, a multi-sectoral local NGO operating in the nexus, to increase protection and self-reliance of affected communities.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Myanmar
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
Conflict & fragility
Protection, access & security
Conflict prevention
15.06.2023 - 14.06.2026
 CHF  2’600’000
The project in brief
Background The protracted civil war in Myanmar intensified by military coup has resulted in the internal displacement of 1.8 million people and widespread human suffering. The humanitarian response is confronted with multiple challenges, such as limited access to affected areas, security threats and restrictions imposed by the Myanmar Military. The displacement-affected communities suffer from lack of opportunities and increased levels of stress and trauma, creating a greater demand for Protection services, Nutrition, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and livelihood support. Myanmar is a country with a strong community based support system in times of crisis and local actors have better access to communities in need than international actors. From the precoup humanitarian response, we have learned that comprehensive solutions are needed for newly displaced people, requiring a triple nexus approach to address immediate needs, promote durable solutions to their displacement and strengthen social cohesion with host communities. Switzerland brings comparative advantage from its leadership role in promoting the Localization Aid agenda, its long-standing experience working with Ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), as well as from its Nexus approach, incl. in durable solutions.
Objectives Displacement-affected communities in Shan, Rakhine and Kayah states are better protected and become self-reliant through local community initiatives. 
Target groups
  • 85 Village committees (VCs) and 20 CSOs will received capacity building trainings to design and implement community resilience-based projects (CRBPs) with Meikswe Myanmar’s grants. 
  • 8000 persons directly will benefit from the CRBP projects. 
  • 17’200 persons from the DACs will receive Non-food items (NFI), multipurpose cash, Nutrition and Psychosocial support. 
  • 24’000 women, girls and youths will benefit (directly and indirectly) from vocational trainings.
  • 170 volunteer teachers will received child psychosocial support trainings.
Medium-term outcomes
  1. Community-based governance systems (village committees and CSOs) are enabled to deliver timely assistance to displacement affected communities (DACs) 
  2. DACs benefit from protection services and humanitarian assistance, allowing them to improve their mental and physical wellbeing and empowering them to find their own solutions 
  3. DACs become more self-reliant as they generate more income through vocational trainings and income generation opportunities 

 
Results

Expected results:  

1.1 Village committees (VCs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) are assessed, engaged and selected in targeted areas. 1.2 VCs and CSOs have stronger capacities to design, implement and monitor community resilience based projects (CRBPs) which respond to the communities’ needs. 1.3 Feedback mechanisms are established to promote accountability between VCs and the communities they serve. 

2.1 DACs, incl. returnees, are accessing protection and multi-sector assistance such as NFIs and multipurpose cash. 2.2 Children from DACs participate in psychosocial support playgroups to alleviate stress and improve mental and physical development. 2.3 Children under 10, pregnant and lactating women receive nutrition support by supplementary feeding programmes and awareness-raising activities. 3.1 Women, girls and youth from the DACs are trained and resourced to increase livelihood opportunities and income generation. 
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
  • Meikswe Myanmar (MM). MM does not provide technical or financial assistance to the de facto authorities.


Coordination with other projects and actors Within Swiss portfolio, synergies at 3 levels: with other projects of the Protection portfolio (Humanitarian Mine Action and Social Cohesion); with other key bilateral projects such as the Direct Action and the CSO support programme (Paung Ku); with other Swiss multilateral partners (ICRC, UNHCR, WFP, Myanmar Humanitarian Fund (MHF)).
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    2’600’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    792’397 Budget inclusive project partner CHF    3’340’000
Project phases Phase 1 15.06.2023 - 14.06.2026   (Current phase)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation EMERGENCY RESPONSE
    GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Material relief assistance and services
    Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution
    Cross-cutting topics Conflict reduction
    Aid Type Project and programme contribution
    Project number

    7F11159

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Last update 06.03.2024