Myanmar

Léon de Riedmatten

Aye Po Po Naing

Thomas Carr

Independently- funded pr ivate Swiss foundat ion

Based in Switzer land

Founded in 2009

Also working in the Balkans, West Afr ica, Kyrgyzstan

WHO WE ARE

WHAT WE DO IN MYANMAR

PeaceNexus is responding to a request from the Myanmar Peace

Center (MPC) and the Karen National Union (KNU) leadership to establish a local advisory structure to promote inclusive

business development in the ethnic minority/ post conflict area of the

Karen people.

Acting as a facilitator, PeaceNexus promotes broader participation

of local stakeholders in identifying inclusive and responsible business

opportunities and needs.

PeaceNexus connects its local partners with international actors,

donor agencies and private investors to tap into their resources and

expertise. It also assists ethnic groups and public/private sector actors in

Kayin State to understand and foster responsible and conflict-sensitive

business practices.

OBJECTIVE AND PHILOSOPHY

Project Objectives:

Promote sustainable peace by supporting inclusive business

development.

Promote human rights, local community inclusion, and local

community benefits.

Philosophy:

“Sustainable Development cannot simply take place without

practicing an inclusive multi stakeholders approach. This

means active participation and a meaningful dialogue between

all stakeholders that leads to tangible outcomes”

KAYIN STATE & THE SOUTHEAST

MYANMAR PROJECT:

Thai -Myanmar

border

Capi ta l Hpa-an

Pop. 1.4m

Area

18,879km/sq.

(S ize of

Belg ium)

KAYIN

STATE

Yangon

Bangkok

PROJECTS

PeaceNexus conducted an assessment

in the region and four sectors were

identified:

-Tourism

-Agriculture

-Manufacturing

-Telecoms

Rich cu l tura l her i tage

Spectacular scenery

Trekking

Local products

Tradi t ional food

TOURISM POTENTIAL

ROLE OF PEACENEXUS

PeaceNexus acts as a facilitator, not as an

implementing body.

We provide a common space for stakeholder

relations and local community consultations.

We are not experts in tourism, our expertise is in

conflict resolution, business development,

community development, facilitating multi-

stakeholder dialogue, and finding the right partners

for all our projects.

OUR TOURISM DEV. PROGRAM

Partners to support our programs; main partners:

Hanns Seidel Foundation and Myanmar Tourism Federation

Starting point: ‘Tourism and Peace Multi-stakeholder dialogue’ in Kayin

State in 2014

Additional workshops with the outcome to initiate a pilot project in

Thandaung Gyi.

Established a multi-stakeholder working group – Thandaung Gyi

Tourism Development Working Group (TTDWG).

Thandaung Gyi was previously a British hill stations. It is famous for its

tea and coffee plantations, as well as the Naw Bu Baw prayer mountain.

It is only three and an half hour drive from Yangon.

HUMAN RIGHTS CHALLENGES

Causes of human rights challenges:

•Armed conflict /Conflict over territory

•Lack of transparency

•Community living in fear - Uncertain future

•Community has been excluded from development

planning and decision-making processes

•Clientelism and patronage

Approach: Our focus is not on blaming one another for past

problems, but rather working towards a better future and

improving the human rights situation in the region.

Political Sensitivity:

- Governance - Regional government/ Tatmadaw/ethnic armed group

- Travel restrictions

- Lack of trust and understanding

- Difficult to find appropriate partners

Lessons Learnt:

- Necessary to reach a good understanding with the regional authorities, relevant stakeholders

- Takes persistence – repeatedly showing that the project is contributing to sustainable peace in the region

CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNT

Coordination

- Different partners to support the genuine desires of the

community.

- Individual partners may have their own objectives/egos, so it

is important to ensure that our focus is on securing a good

outcome in terms of what the community needs and wants.

- Equal contribution to both majority and minority groups

(ethnic and religious) in the area.

Ensuring ownership of the project to the

community. PeaceNexus is “scaffolding”

CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNT

Q&A

jilldkavanagh@gmail.com

Q&A

Thank you!