Myanmar
Myanmar is commonly recognized as a resource rich country with a very strategic location between the world's two most populous countries and largest markets, China to the east and India to the west. This combined with a good education level enabled the country to grow rapidly when at peace. The growth rate between about 1895 and 1930 was among the highest in Asia. It is also known in a general sense that there are complex historical, cultural and social conditions that make achieving peace and stability in the country challenging. What is less known is just how complex this is and just what the international community can do to help the process.
The installation of a new government based on the elections in November 2015 is
widely anticipated to result in a much more inclusive economic development process than has been the practice since independence.The Institute believes there is a need and current opportunity for the international community to look for ways to support a development process more connected to the mainstream and private sector.
Members of the Institute have experience in Myanmar over more than 30 years and in a wide variety of contexts ranging from professional consulting assignments to diplomatic and 'Head of mission postings. Technical areas of experience include; agriculture and agro-processes, disaster risk reduction, refugee resettlement, illicit drug abuse control and reduction of opium production, HIV/AIDS prevention, strategic area development planning and mining. Most recently (2010) IID members assigned to undertake an evaluation of the local and international humanitarian response to the tropical cyclone Nargis that devastated the southern part of Myanmar in may 2008, leaving 130000 people dead or missing.
Following the promulgation of the New Constitution of Myanmar in 2011 IID established a new office in Yangon after a break since 1998 (see News )
Travel and work by Institute members to the northern Shan and Kachin States have shown how development under the influence of the Chinese market in Yunnan Province has been progressing very rapidly, indicating the opportunities international marked access can provide for Myanmar, while at the same time giving indications of a lack of a long term economic benefit for the country unless such opportunities are pursued in the context of sustainable development.
2015/2016 - Myanmar. Preparation for a Shan Governance and Rural Development Project. Some representatives of the Shan community have requested IID develop a project to assist them to take a more proactive role in defining their development direction for the benefit of interested investors. The installation of a new government based on the elections in November 2015 is
widely anticipated to result in a much more inclusive economic development process than has been the practice since independence. The subject area is the south western side of the Shan State. The request follows IIDs successful planning in the South Shan Ste for the Pa-O and the Danu ethnic groups between 2011 and 2014.
2014 IID has undertaken a project in partnership with NIRAS a European Company, to assist the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland to develop their development assistance program for Myanmar. Finland has decided to focus its assistance on 3 post conflict fragile states, Myanmar Nepal and Afghanistan. The program prepared is for a 4 year period spanning the 2015 elections, but with a 10 year framework.
2014 IID has also assisted the CSIRO in a Justification study for a 6-8 year Catchment Management R&D project for the Inlay Lake watershed. The proponent is the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) part of Australia's development assistance program.
2013. IID signed a partnership agreement with ICIMOD under their Rural Livelihood & Climate Change programme as ICIMODs Myanmar Partner and IID has undertaken a number of participatory research activities to develop a long term program focusing in the Inlay Lake Watershed.
2013 -2014. IID has been awarded a contract by DANIDA to implement a Regional Comprehensive Development and Social Plan for Chin State. UNICEF is also a partner in this project. The contract was completed in 2014.
IID Myanmar completed a contract for GIZ to assist the Danu Special Administrative Zone develop its own regional Development plan. This follows the successful completion of the first ever regional development plan for a Special Administrative zone, for the Pa-O completed in 2012
Work during 2012 in the Pa-O region of the Southern Shan State, and Mon, Bago, Magwe, Kayah and Kayin with former insurgents who have signed cease fires and who are now seeking a pathway to development has led to the first of a series of development papers /uploads/6/2/0/6/6206024/iid_development_series_vol__1_march_2012.doc
Our 2014 University of Adelaide Development Studies intern, Ms Seenying Lau is completing a study into the factors important in land reform in Myanmar, a key reform issue with most of the population of Myanmar.
Our 2013 University of Adelaide Development Studies intern, Mr Bayden Daly completed a review of different approaches to economic development in former conflict zones featuring tourism as an early agent of change, this review included comparisons with a number countries including neighbouring China and Thailand.
Our 2012 University of Adelaide Development Studies intern Ms Kathryn Baumeister completed a case study of the Pa-O Strategic Development planning process /uploads/6/2/0/6/6206024/kathryn_baumeister_report.pdf
This web page is being developed as a focal point for discussion about some of these factors and about development issues and trends. It is intended for the use of people and institutions interested in Myanmar. The Institute believes there is a need and current opportunity for the international community to look for ways to encourage compromise and support a development process more connected into the mainstream.
The installation of a new government based on the elections in November 2015 is
widely anticipated to result in a much more inclusive economic development process than has been the practice since independence.The Institute believes there is a need and current opportunity for the international community to look for ways to support a development process more connected to the mainstream and private sector.
Members of the Institute have experience in Myanmar over more than 30 years and in a wide variety of contexts ranging from professional consulting assignments to diplomatic and 'Head of mission postings. Technical areas of experience include; agriculture and agro-processes, disaster risk reduction, refugee resettlement, illicit drug abuse control and reduction of opium production, HIV/AIDS prevention, strategic area development planning and mining. Most recently (2010) IID members assigned to undertake an evaluation of the local and international humanitarian response to the tropical cyclone Nargis that devastated the southern part of Myanmar in may 2008, leaving 130000 people dead or missing.
Following the promulgation of the New Constitution of Myanmar in 2011 IID established a new office in Yangon after a break since 1998 (see News )
Travel and work by Institute members to the northern Shan and Kachin States have shown how development under the influence of the Chinese market in Yunnan Province has been progressing very rapidly, indicating the opportunities international marked access can provide for Myanmar, while at the same time giving indications of a lack of a long term economic benefit for the country unless such opportunities are pursued in the context of sustainable development.
2015/2016 - Myanmar. Preparation for a Shan Governance and Rural Development Project. Some representatives of the Shan community have requested IID develop a project to assist them to take a more proactive role in defining their development direction for the benefit of interested investors. The installation of a new government based on the elections in November 2015 is
widely anticipated to result in a much more inclusive economic development process than has been the practice since independence. The subject area is the south western side of the Shan State. The request follows IIDs successful planning in the South Shan Ste for the Pa-O and the Danu ethnic groups between 2011 and 2014.
2014 IID has undertaken a project in partnership with NIRAS a European Company, to assist the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland to develop their development assistance program for Myanmar. Finland has decided to focus its assistance on 3 post conflict fragile states, Myanmar Nepal and Afghanistan. The program prepared is for a 4 year period spanning the 2015 elections, but with a 10 year framework.
2014 IID has also assisted the CSIRO in a Justification study for a 6-8 year Catchment Management R&D project for the Inlay Lake watershed. The proponent is the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) part of Australia's development assistance program.
2013. IID signed a partnership agreement with ICIMOD under their Rural Livelihood & Climate Change programme as ICIMODs Myanmar Partner and IID has undertaken a number of participatory research activities to develop a long term program focusing in the Inlay Lake Watershed.
2013 -2014. IID has been awarded a contract by DANIDA to implement a Regional Comprehensive Development and Social Plan for Chin State. UNICEF is also a partner in this project. The contract was completed in 2014.
IID Myanmar completed a contract for GIZ to assist the Danu Special Administrative Zone develop its own regional Development plan. This follows the successful completion of the first ever regional development plan for a Special Administrative zone, for the Pa-O completed in 2012
Work during 2012 in the Pa-O region of the Southern Shan State, and Mon, Bago, Magwe, Kayah and Kayin with former insurgents who have signed cease fires and who are now seeking a pathway to development has led to the first of a series of development papers /uploads/6/2/0/6/6206024/iid_development_series_vol__1_march_2012.doc
Our 2014 University of Adelaide Development Studies intern, Ms Seenying Lau is completing a study into the factors important in land reform in Myanmar, a key reform issue with most of the population of Myanmar.
Our 2013 University of Adelaide Development Studies intern, Mr Bayden Daly completed a review of different approaches to economic development in former conflict zones featuring tourism as an early agent of change, this review included comparisons with a number countries including neighbouring China and Thailand.
Our 2012 University of Adelaide Development Studies intern Ms Kathryn Baumeister completed a case study of the Pa-O Strategic Development planning process /uploads/6/2/0/6/6206024/kathryn_baumeister_report.pdf
This web page is being developed as a focal point for discussion about some of these factors and about development issues and trends. It is intended for the use of people and institutions interested in Myanmar. The Institute believes there is a need and current opportunity for the international community to look for ways to encourage compromise and support a development process more connected into the mainstream.