Social Assessment Peaceful and Prosperous Communities Project P168107 October 2019 Page |0 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Introduction and Objectives ........................................................................................................... 3 2 Project Background and Components ............................................................................................ 5 A. Background ................................................................................................................................. 5 B. Project objective and Components............................................................................................. 7 Project Development Objective ...................................................................................................... 7 3. Legal and Institutional Framework Applicable to Ethnic groups .................................................. 10 A. Relevant Laws, Regulations and Institutions ................................................................................ 10 B. Myanmar’s Peace Process and Ceasefire Agreements ................................................................. 11 4. Ethnic Groups in Proposed Project Areas ..................................................................................... 13 A. Kayin State..................................................................................................................................... 14 B. Kayah State.................................................................................................................................... 15 C. Mon State ...................................................................................................................................... 16 D. Selected Findings from the Rapid Household Survey (Kayin, Kayah, Mon) .................................. 17 E. Selected Findings from the Gender study (Kayin, Mon) ............................................................... 21 5. Stakeholder Identification and Engagement ................................................................................ 25 6. Potential Adverse and Positive Impacts of the Project................................................................. 30 A. Potential Adverse Impacts ............................................................................................................ 30 B. Potential Positive Impacts and Benefits ........................................................................................ 33 7. Recommendations AND PROPOSED MEASUREs........................................................................... 35 Annex. Detailed Record of Consultations ............................................................................................. 38 Page |1 LIST OF ACRONYMS Term Explanation AGIPP Alliance for Greater Inclusion in the Peace Process ANDP All Nationalities Democratic Party BGF Border Guard Force CSOs Civil Society Organizations DKBA Democratic Karen Benevolent Army DKBA-5 Democratic Karen Buddhist Army Brigade 5 DRD Department of Rural Development EAO Ethnic Armed Organization JMC Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee KIO Kachin Independence Organization KNLP Kayan New Land Party KNP Kayan National Party KNPLF Karenni National People’s Liberation Front KNPP Karenni National Progressive Party KNSO Karenni National Solidarity Organization KNU Karen National Union KNU/KNLA-PC Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council KPP Kayin People’s Party KUDP Kayah Unity Democratic Party MADB Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank NCA Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement NCDDP National Community-Driven Development Project NLD National League for Democracy NMSP New Mon State Party PPCP Peaceful and Prosperous Communities Project TNI Transnational Institute TPIC Township Planning and Implementation Committee UACD Uppsala Armed Conflict Dataset UPC Union Peace Conference USDP Union Solidarity and Development Party Page |2 1. INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Social assessment is a process that is used to analyse social issues for the design of World Bank supported projects. The social assessment process helps make the project responsive to social development concerns, including seeking to enhance benefits for ethnic groups, and poor and vulnerable people while minimizing or mitigating risk and adverse impacts. It allows for analysis of distributional impacts of intended project benefits on different stakeholder groups, and identifies differences in assets and capabilities to access the project benefits. A social assessment is made up of analytical, process, and operational elements, combining (a) the analysis of context and social issues with (b) a participatory process of stakeholder consultations and involvement, to provide (c) operational guidance on developing a project design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation framework. The proposed Peaceful and Prosperous Communities Project, which will be supported by the World Bank and implemented by the Department of Rural Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and the General Administration Department in the Ministry of the Union Government, will aim to improve the quality of services and economic opportunities for vulnerable communities in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar, focusing initially on the country’s south-eastern region (Kayin, Kayah and Mon States). The scope of the social assessment is defined by proposed project activities and these target locations. More specifically (and to comply with World Bank Operational Policy 4.10), the objective of this social assessment is: a. To review the legal and institutional framework applicable to ethnic groups in Myanmar’s south- eastern region; b. To gather baseline information on demographic, social, cultural and political characteristics of the ethnic communities that will be affected, as well as on the land and territories that they have traditionally owned or used, and the natural resources on which they depend; c. To identify key project stakeholders and culturally appropriate processes for consulting with stakeholders during project preparation and implementation; d. Based on free, prior and informed consultations with affected ethnic groups, to assess the potential adverse and positive aspects of the project, with emphasis on analysis of relative vulnerability and barriers to accessing benefits; and e. Based on free, prior and informed consultations with affected ethnic groups, to identify measures necessary to avoid adverse effects and measures to ensure continuous stakeholder engagement during implementation. Page |3 Accordingly, this report is structured as follows: SECTION 2 ON PROJECT BACKGROUND AND COMPONENTS briefly describes the political and conflict context in Myanmar and south-eastern Myanmar, which will be the focus area for the project, as well as the proposed activities under the project. SECTION 3 ON LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK APPLICABLE TO ETHNIC GROUPS introduces the laws and institutional framework applicable to ethnic groups in Myanmar and describes the ongoing peace process, as relevant to south-eastern Myanmar and the project. SECTION 4 ON ETHNIC GROUPS IN PROPOSED PROJECT AREAS presents information on demographic, social, cultural and political characteristics of the communities in Kayin, Kayah and Mon States, where project activities will take place. This section is informed by a desk-based assessment reviewing primary and secondary sources, as well as a rapid household survey conducted for the project in Kayin, Kayah, Mon States and Tanintharyi Region and a gender study commissioned on Kayin and Mon States. SECTION 5 ON STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION AND ENGAGEMENT discusses the process and results of stakeholder identification and summarizes the stakeholder consultations held to date in preparation for the project. SECTION 6 ON POTENTIAL ADVERSE AND POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT summarizes the issues raised by ethnic groups and their representatives in proposed project areas during free, prior and informed consultations about project activities. SECTION 7 ON RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSED MEASURES describes the recommendations made by ethnic groups and their representatives in project areas during free, prior and informed consultations about project activities in order to avoid adverse impacts and to ensure continued stakeholder engagement during implementation. It also summarizes the measures proposed by the project to address these recommendations. THE ANNEX ON DETAILED RECORD OF CONSULTATIONS lists all consultations held to date and brief meeting summaries. Page |4 2 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND COMPONENTS This section briefly describes the political and conflict context in Myanmar and south-eastern Myanmar, which will be the focus area for the project, as well as the proposed activities under the project. A. BACKGROUND Myanmar is in the midst of a triple transition: from military rule to democratic governance, from a state-controlled to a market-oriented economy, and from decades of conflict with ethnic minorities to an effort at finding peace. These transitions, begun in 2011, remain incomplete and continue to face setbacks and challenges, but offer the best hope in a generation for a peaceful and prosperous country with opportunities for all its people. A cornerstone of Myanmar’s transitions has been a historic peace initiative aimed at ending the myriad ethnic conflicts that have beset Myanmar’s border areas since independence. This included a series of bilateral ceasefires starting in 2012, including in January 2012 with the Karen National Union (KNU), ending the world’s longest running civil conflict. In October 2015, the government and eight ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), which set out to mark a change from decades of armed conflict to efforts at a political solution to address the historic grievances of Myanmar’s ethnic minorities, including for increased autonomy, recognition and control over their affairs. Two more EAOs signed the NCA in subsequent years. The civilian government that came to power following historic elections in November 2015 has confirmed the priority it attaches to the peace process and has sought to move from the current ceasefire arrangements towards lasting peace. This has included a series of national conferences that brought together leaders of EAOs, the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) and the civilian government, to identify areas of shared concern and opportunities for political progress. It has also included dialogue with EAOs that have not yet signed the NCA to join the political process. The peace process remains fragile and uneven, with conflict escalating in some areas. A 17-year ceasefire with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) broke down in 2011, and led to renewed fighting, which has also drawn in a number of other EAOs organized under the “Northern Alliance.” An estimated 100,000 people in Kachin and Shan States have been living in displacement camps or camp-like situations since 2011. See Figure 1 below, where areas affected by conflict are shaded in blue. The conflict in Rakhine State is driven by factors unique to that state and is not included in the current peace process and is described in a separate social assessment to be prepared for the Rakhine Recovery and Development Project. As part of an effort to build trust and create opportunities for communities that were affected by conflict, the government has sought the World Bank’s support in the design and financing of a “Peaceful and Prosperous Communities” Project (PPCP). The proposed project would support increased quality of services and economic opportunities for vulnerable rural communities in conflict- affected areas of Myanmar, including by building mechanisms to foster engagement and trust between communities, EAOs, and governments at the township, state and union levels. Page |5 Figure 1. Incidence of Conflict in Myanmar Combined with high levels of insecurity and decades of underinvestment in rural areas, communities in conflict-affected areas – many of which are among the poorest in Myanmar – are facing significant gaps in access to essential infrastructure, limited service provision and low human development indicators. The 2018 “Myanmar Living Conditions Survey” found that the border areas of Kachin, Kayin, Mon and Shan States, and Tanintharyi Region, each of which have been affected by conflict, have some of the lowest measures of access to basic social services and participation in economic activities. For example, Kayin and Tanintharyi have the highest percentage of households using unimproved water sources, and, along with Rakhine, the lowest percentage of households with access to basic sanitation. Kayin, Mon, and Shan States have the highest percentage of people 15 years and older who report being illiterate, and similarly report among the highest levels of innumeracy for the same age group. Gross enrolment rates for both middle and high school are also among the worst in the country in Kayin, Tanintharyi, Mon and Shan, as are labour force participation rates (for those 15 years old and above) in Kachin, Kayin, and Mon States. A recent study by the Asia Foundation found that 77 percent of conflict-affected townships fall in the bottom half of the multi-dimensional disadvantage index (MDI-2) recently developed by the World Bank and the Myanmar Department of Population (see Figure 2). Figure 2. Multi-Dimensional Disadvantage Index by Township Page |6 Source: MOLIP and World Bank (2018). Extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders have indicated a strong desire on the part of many stakeholders to find a way to increase access to services, essential infrastructure and livelihood opportunities in a way that builds trust among communities, EAOs, and government. In particular, a strong desire exists among both government and a range of development partners to scale up support to Myanmar’s conflict-affected areas. However, few mechanisms exist to do so at scale in a way that ensures programs would support a positive feedback loop of interactions, especially when operating in a complex and highly diverse environment. Operationalizing, testing and scaling such structures would be an important element of the proposed project. B. PROJECT OBJECTIVE AND COMPONENTS The PPCP seeks to address the significant and historical underinvestment in public infrastructure, services, and support for market-oriented activities in areas of Myanmar that have suffered from long- running conflicts. In so doing, the project directly contributes to the first pillar of the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP) on peace and stability, including by securing and further fostering Union-wide peace (strategy 1.1); promoting equitable and conflict-sensitive socio-economic development across all regions and states (strategy 1.2); enhancing good governance and institutional performance (strategy 1.4); and promoting increased engagement of all people and open communication with government (strategy 1.5). The proposed project would support increased quality of services and economic opportunities for vulnerable rural communities in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar, including by building mechanisms to foster engagement and trust between communities, ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), and governments at the township, state and union levels. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE Page |7 The project’s development objective (PDO) is to improve access to basic infrastructure, services and economic opportunities for vulnerable communities in selected conflict-affected areas of Myanmar in a conflict-sensitive manner. Based on extensive consultations, the PPCP proposes to have activities under the four components below. COMPONENT 1: MECHANISMS FOR BUILDING TRUST (US$10 MILLION). This component would seek to establish mechanisms for building trust and collaboration between government, EAOs and communities to facilitate collaboration on the below components on community infrastructure and livelihoods and allow the PPCP to achieve scale and sustainability. Activities under this component are grouped under three sub-components. The first would focus on the establishment of joint planning and decision-making bodies at union, state and township levels, including a union-level multi-stakeholder steering group that includes representatives of the union government, chief ministers of participating states, and EAO leadership. This body would meet annually to review results under the PPCP, identify lessons learned, and provide policy directions. Structures for joint EAO-Government engagement at technical/sectoral levels, and for planning and decision making under the project, will be strengthened or created at State/Region and township levels, building on existing models (for example sub-sector working groups at State/Region and the Township Planning and Implementation Committee (TPIC) at township level) where relevant. The second sub-component would support on-going and enhanced stakeholder communications, consultations and engagement with a particular focus on local civil society groups, including youth and faith groups, to stay abreast of local context and perceptions, the establishment of effective feedback loops and joint accountability mechanisms, including through a grievance handling mechanism. The third subcomponent would establish mechanisms for regular monitoring, reflection and adaptive learning, including near real-time monitoring procedures, a project management information system that allows for public access to project data, social audits and other feed-back mechanisms, third- party monitoring and annual multi-stakeholder reviews. The component would finance training, consultant services, equipment, and incidental operating costs associated with meetings, materials, learning events, and information systems, etc. COMPONENT 2: IMPROVING BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES (US$130 MILLION). This component would support community-centred demand-driven processes of identifying and implementing basic infrastructure investments at village and village tract levels, and joint government- EAO service delivery particularly in the areas of health and education. Specifically, the component envisions three sub-components, the first focusing on community-level infrastructure (including small roads, bridges, water systems, off-grid electrification or grid extension support, rehabilitation and expansion of schools, health clinics or other community buildings, etc.); the second on medium-sized inter-village or village tract-level infrastructure and services (such as inter-village roads or water supply systems); and the third focused on supporting initiatives that would improve service delivery, especially for health and education, that are jointly agreed between relevant service departments of government and EAOs. The component would finance block grants for sub- projects executed by villages, consultant services for larger works or service delivery initiatives, training costs, and incidental operating costs. The joint decision-making mechanisms to be established under component 1 would support the approval and oversight of these sub-components and would Page |8 seek to foster linkages with other government programs to ensure sustainability in basic service delivery as well in delivering high quality complex infrastructure such as electrification. COMPONENT 3: ENHANCING RURAL LIVELIHOODS (US$90 MILLION). This component would support rural productive activities that increase economic opportunities for conflict-affected communities, with activities grouped into two subcomponents. The first would focus on on-farm technical training, and provision of extension services, inputs and information. It would also improve off-farm economic opportunities through market-driven vocational training, entrepreneurial support, and information regarding migration services and opportunities. The second sub-component would aim to increase access to finance through the establishment and/or expansion of village savings and loan associations that could support the financial needs of agricultural production groups, or for off- farm entrepreneurial activities. Once community production groups have been established and/or strengthened through these first two sub-components, project support will expand to build linkages between production groups, markets and value-added processes where appropriate. The component would finance block grants for producer groups involved in livelihood activities, consultant services (for training and extension support), other training costs, and incidental operating costs. COMPONENT 4: IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT (US$20 MILLION). Activities under this component will support effective project management systems, including on financial management, procurement, and social and environmental safeguards management at the union, state and township levels, supervision, communications, coordination between implementing agencies, and reporting to the World Bank and other relevant partners. The component would also finance the set-up and running of a project monitoring system that would facilitate near real-time access to project data to provide the project with information to enable adaptive management in a complex and evolving operating environment. The monitoring system would be web-based with a publicly accessible dashboard. This component would also include a robust project evaluation system to measure overall project impact, and to support specialized studies to inform project management and the World Bank on specific issues that are fundamental to the project’s performance (for example, trust building). The component would finance small civil works, goods (office equipment and furniture), consultant services, training costs, and incidental operating costs. The project would initially focus on the south-east region of the country where political dialogue between government and EAOs is well-established, ceasefire agreements have generally held, and recovery and development activities have been expanding and delivering on results. This progress is reflected in the shift from emergency and humanitarian support to more developmental programming among development actors and the recent return of refugees from Thailand. Overall, it is estimated that the PPCP would cover 20 conflict-affected townships. The project proposes to start in two townships in each of three conflict affected states in the south-east: Kayin, Kayah, and Mon, for an initial total of six townships. After two years of project implementation, it is proposed that the government and the World Bank take stock of progress and experiences, as well as reviewing the state of the peace process, to determine the next phase of project expansion. It is expected that an additional six townships in the three states would be added by the third year, and the remaining eight townships covered under the project by no later than the fourth year of implementation. Page |9 3. LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK APPLICABLE TO ETHNIC GROUPS This section introduces the laws and institutional framework applicable to ethnic groups in Myanmar and describes the peace process, as relevant to south-eastern Myanmar and the project. A. RELEVANT LAWS, REGULATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS Myanmar’s current legal framework is based upon the 2008 Constitution. This document is both a blueprint for the country’s legal and institutional arrangements and a description of the rights, obligations and duties of the three branches of Union government (executive, judicial and legislative), the National Defense Services and citizens. The constitution contains a number of provisions that illustrate progress towards securing rights, equalities and freedoms for the country’s ethnic nationalities. For example, Chapter I “Basic Principles of the Union” decrees that national races shall be represented and participate in the legislation of the Regions or States and Self-Administered Areas and that the Union will endeavour to empower ethnic nationalities by promoting their languages, cultures, solidarity amongst them. Particularly relevant for the PPCP and for ethnic minorities alike is that within this section (Chapter I, Clause 22), it states: “The Union shall assist: … - to promote socio-economic development including education, health, economy, transport and communication, so forth, of less-developed National races [sic].” 1 Although not specifically directed towards ethnic minorities, it is also important to take note of Chapter VIII, on Citizenship, which enshrines rights and liberties such as freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and of culture and language, which are historically important for ethnic minority groups, who have been prosecuted on these grounds in the past. 2 In addition to the 2008 constitution, a number of other laws and regulations have direct effects on ethnic minority groups. These include the 1982 citizenship law, the 2015 Protection of the Rights of National Races Law. In addition, it is useful to take stock of the 2018 Law Amending the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management Act, as well as a number of provisions in the penal code that have historically been used for purposes of discrimination of minorities. These are discussed in brief below: 1982 CITIZENSHIP LAW. This law defines the 135 national races of Myanmar under its 1983 procedures. Nationals of Myanmar are therefore listed as: “Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine or Shan and ethnic groups as have settled in any of the territories included within the State as their permanent home from a period anterior to 1185 B.E., 1823 A.D.” 3 However, by enumerating the list of recognized ‘national races,’ the legal framework limits recourse for minority groups not included in this list. 2015 ETHNIC RIGHTS PROTECTION LAW. This law further empowers article 22 of the 2008 constitution, by enabling the appointment of Ethnic Affairs Ministers. The role of the ethnic affairs minister is to oversee the development and protection of a specific ethnic group in their areas of 1 Union of Myanmar. (2008). Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008). Accessed online. p. 7 2 ibid. 3 Burma Library. (n.d.) “Burma Citizenship Law of 1982.” Accessed online. P a g e | 10 oversight (they are appointed at the state level). However, as noted in discussions of Kayah, Mon and Kayin States below, these ministers are only appointed when the population of an ethnic group in a given state or region exceeds 0.1% of Myanmar’s total population (approximately greater than 51,000). 2018 LAW AMENDING THE VACANT, FALLOW AND VIRGIN LANDS MANAGEMENT ACT. A recent amendment to the 2012 Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management Law required all who occupy unregistered land to apply for a permit to use said land by 11 March 2019. Those found without permission to use land after this date, face up to two years in prison and a fine of MMK 500,000. However, the law states that it does not apply to the management of ethnic customary land THE COLONIAL ERA UNLAWFUL ASSOCIATIONS ACT OF 1908 , 4 historically used to target EAOs and their affiliates, is also still applicable and used, but employed with considerably less frequency than in the past. This is in part due to the “delisting” of a number of organizations that signed the NCA, who are no longer considered illegal as a result. EAOs who are not signatories of the NCA are still technically subject to this law. B. MYANMAR’S PEACE PROCESS AND CEASEFIRE AGREEMENTS The national peace process has yielded a number of agreements between government, Myanmar military and non-state actors, which are as important in describing the legal and political situation as the laws, frameworks and institutions discussed above. The signing of the NCA on 15 October 2015 is perhaps the weightiest of these, as it is has been ratified by parliament. This document saw then- President U Thein Sein and eight EAOs agree to participate in a political dialogue process aimed at crafting a comprehensive political settlement to end the armed conflicts. Two additional organizations have since signed onto this process. 5 The signing of the NCA was followed by several high-level “Panglong 21” conferences that brought together leaders of ethnic armed organizations, government and Tatmadaw. In addition, parallel negotiations from late 2011 to 2015 saw 15 rebel groups sign bilateral agreements as a first step in this process. 6 Unlike the terms of the bilateral ceasefires, which varied considerably from case to case, in some instances securing the cessation of hostilities without written agreement and, in others, provisioning for limited autonomy of ethnic areas, the NCA is an attempt at a unified ceasefire position by multiple parties involved in armed conflict in Myanmar. It is an attempt to outline the willingness of all parties to work towards systemic change and the positive resolution of ethnic conflict. Its ultimate objective is to provide a roadmap for the signatories to both consolidate peace in their areas, through enforcing 4 Burma Library. (n.d.) “Unlawful Associations Act”. Accessed online. 5 This includes: the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Chin National Front (CNF), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA-5), Karen National Union (KNU), KNU/KNLA Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), and the All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF) 6 While a number of these organizations have gone on to sign the NCA, some – like the KNPP -- have chosen to work on implementing their bilateral agreements before they will consider joining a nationwide process. P a g e | 11 effective ceasefires, and enable signatories to continue working towards a comprehensive political agreement to resolve the conflicts. Upon signing, a signatory is understood to commit: • To participate in the National Peace Process and work through its institutions to create lasting peace. • To the cessation of hostilities over a jointly agreed timeframe to enable a national ceasefire. • To establish a Union based on democratic and federal principles. • To recognize and respect all previous agreements between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the EAOs. • To the notion that the democracy created shall be based upon: liberty, equality and justice. • To work jointly towards the goal of preventing the disintegration of the Union, the retention of national solidarity, and the perpetuation of national sovereignty. • To accept ethnic inclusion, religious tolerance and non-discrimination. • To develop and implement a roadmap for political dialogue. • To full engagement in the supporting mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of the NCA. The NCA includes provisions for cooperation between Government and ethnic armed organizations on service delivery and humanitarian assistance, including in article 10 (c) and article 25. It is within this context that the Interim Arrangements are intended to advance socio-economic conditions to the benefit of all parties and creating joint projects that stand to build confidence between parties as they continue to engage in political negotiations. NCA Chapter 6, Article 25 states: 25. a) The Ethnic Armed Organizations that are signatories to this agreement have been responsible in their relevant capacities, for development and security in their respective areas. During the period of signing ceasefire and political dialogue, we shall carry out the following programs and projects in coordination with each other in said areas. (1) Projects concerning the health, education and socio-economic development of civilians. (2) Environmental conservation. (3) Efforts to preserve and promote ethnic culture, language, and literature. (4) Matters regarding peace and stability, and the maintenance of rule of law in the said areas. (5) Receiving aid from donor agencies both inside and outside the country for regional development and capacity-building projects.7 The PPCP stands to build upon this agreement in a politically neutral and peace supportive manner. However, it should also be noted that the PPCP’s scope presently extends further than areas of NCA signatory groups. In these cases, specifically, Kayah State at present, bilateral ceasefire texts are referred to. While not as substantive as the above, the bilateral ceasefire in this area states that the Union government and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) agree to form a committee to oversee development in their areas. 7 The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, 2015. P a g e | 12 4. ETHNIC GROUPS IN PROPOSED PROJECT AREAS This section presents information on demographic, social, cultural and political characteristics of the communities in Kayin, Kayah and Mon States, where project activities will take place. This section is informed by a desk-based assessment, as well as a rapid household survey conducted for the project in Kayin, Kayah, Mon States and Tanintharyi Region, and a gender study commissioned on Kayin and Mon States. Despite the fact that the 2014 census collected data on ethnicity across 135 officially recognized groups, data disaggregated along these lines has not been made publicly available. 8 Even so, it is estimated that ethnic minorities make up approximately 30 – 40 % of Myanmar’s total population (i.e. 15.3 – 20.4 million). 9 While the country’s majority ethnic group, the Bamar, live predominantly in a vast lowland plain extending from Yangon to Myitkyina, the other minority “national races” 10 are found predominantly in the seven states which span the country’s border areas. There is considerable ethnic diversity across all of these areas. However, Bamar are likely a majority in most urban settings, particularly state and township capitals. 11 In comparison, ethnic minorities are more frequently only a majority in rural contexts within the seven “home” states. The PPCP will support conflict-affected communities in Kayin, Kayah and Mon States, focusing on those communities where ceasefires have brought a sufficient level of security to allow communities to move from a focus of survival to one of accessing services and rebuilding livelihoods, with activities taking place at the State/Region, township and community level. Together these areas account for approximately 7.61% of Myanmar’s total population, or 3.06% (Kayin), 0.56% (Kayah) and 3.99% (Mon). Specific demographic, social, cultural and political characteristics of communities in each of these states are discussed in greater detail below. An estimated 2 million people in approximately 20 townships are ultimately expected to directly benefit from project investments and support. Within a township, the project will cover all villages (both registered and unregistered) for equity purposes and operational efficiency. Returnees would also be eligible for support under the project per normal operational procedures. It is projected that the infrastructure and processes supported under component 2 will benefit all residents of the estimated 20 townships, while the livelihoods support under component 3 will directly benefit at least 50 percent of households in the target townships, with an additional 15 percent of households benefitting indirectly. Within these three states, the initial six townships will be selected on the basis of poverty, impact of conflict, and operational accessibility. The selection criteria -- including State/Region government commitment as reflected in willingness to co-manage and cost-share activities, openness of EAOs to 8 MoIP. (2015). The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census: The Union Report (Census Volume 2). 9 TNI. (2013). “Access Denied: Land Rights and Ethnic Conflict in Burma.” Accessed online. 10 The “national races,” a term employed by the 2008 constitution in place of ethnic groups, include the Bamar, Kachin, Shan, Kayin, Kayah, Mon, Chin and Rakhine. However, this number can be further subdivided into 135 officially recognized ethnic groups, spanning five different linguistic roots (Tibeto-Burma, Mon-Khmer, Tai-Kadai, Hmong-Mien and Malayo-Polynesian). 11 It is difficult to verify this claim due to the dearth of data; however, this notion is a broadly accepted one. P a g e | 13 facilitate implementation, clustering of townships to improve efficiencies, and political progress with ongoing peace talks, among others—and processes are being agreed upon. The targeting process will draw on data from the multi-dimensional disadvantage index developed jointly by the Department of Labor and the World Bank, as well as the Uppsala Armed Conflict Dataset (UACD) related to conflict. A shortlist of qualified townships will be reviewed, and final selection confirmed by government and local stakeholders. A. KAYIN STATE Kayin state is the fourth smallest administrative unit in Myanmar and is split between four districts, Hpa-An, 12 Hpapun, 13 Myawaddy 14 and Kawkareik. 15 Cumulatively, these include seven townships and 458 wards and village tracts. The state’s population is 1,574,079 and the majority of this number live in rural settings. 16 Population density sits at nearly 52 people per square kilometre, which is well below the union level density of 76. The Kayin are the majority ethnic group in the state and comprise around two-thirds of the population (approximately 1 million). This community is further subdivided between larger Sgaw and Phwo and smaller Bwe and Paku Kayin groups, each of which has its own language. Amongst the Kayin, approximately 15% are Christian and the remainder Buddhist; a small number are also practicing animists. 17 These differences have, on occasion, become salient fault lines for inter-group conflict. 18 Most notably, in 1994, they contributed to the splintering of the Karen National Union (the largest EAO in the state) and the formation of a new Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), who have fought each other at numerous turns since this time. The DKBA splintered again in 2010 when the government proposed it become a Border Guard Force (BGF) under the military’s command. While the DKBA accepted, a splinter faction – DKBA Brigade 5 (DKBA-5) – chose to continue opposing the government. The DKBA-5 signed the NCA in 2015; the DKBA did not as it was already within the legal fold. The Mon are the second largest ethnic group in the state. The Bamar constitute a further 10% of the population and are concentrated primarily along the corridor between Hpa-An and Myawaddy. Pa-O, Shan, Mon, Rakhine and Bamar-Thai communities account for the remainder of the population. 19 In terms of religion, while Buddhism is the dominant practice in the state, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam are also practiced. 20 Turning to indicators of social development and wellbeing, Kayin state is found to fall below the national averages in some areas and meet or exceed them in others. Literacy, for example, stands at 12 Including Hpa An, Hlaingbwe and Thandaunggyi townships. 13 Including only Hpapun township. 14 Including only Myawaddy township. 15 Including Kawkareik and Kyarinseikkyi townships. 16 MoIP op. cit. 17 UNHCR. (2014). “Kayin State Profile.” Myanmar Information Management Unit. Accessed online. 18 Keenan, P. (2005). “Faith at a Crossroads: Religions and Beliefs of the Karen People of Burma.” Karen Heritage, 1, 1. Accessed online. 19 CDHN. (2016b). The State of Social Harmony in Kayin State. Access online. p. 2. 20 ibid. P a g e | 14 74.4% (78.4% male and 70.9% female) compared to 89.5% nationwide. Similarly, water and sanitation measures show poor conditions as compared to Myanmar more broadly. However, the poverty rate in Kayin is better than the national average, standing at 17.4% as compared to the 25.6% national average. Child protection, education, maternal and child health and nutrition indicators are also in line with or demonstrably better than the national averages. 21 Because of the size of ethnic groups in Kayin State, the state government includes Ministers of Bamar, Mon and Pa-O Ethnic Affairs A number of EAOs are active in Kayin state and represent various ethno-nationalist causes. The largest of these organizations is the Karen National Union (KNU), which has functioned as an effective parallel government in some areas of the state. The KNU’s administrative structures extend across seven districts, whose boundaries do not always correspond to government-defined districts. In addition, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), 22 Democratic Karen Buddhist Army-Brigade 5 (DKBA- 5), 23 the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), and a variety of smaller organizations are also active throughout the state. B. KAYAH STATE Kayah State is the smallest of Myanmar’s seven states, in both size and number. While the 2014 census reports its population as 286,627, the number of people living there is estimated at closer to 300,000 today. 24 Given an area of 11,731 square kilometers, this yields a population density of 24.4 – 25.6 people per square kilometer, considerably lower than the union average of 76. Around 75% of the population lives in rural settings. 25 The predominantly mountainous region is divided into two districts, the northern Loikaw 26 and the southern Bawlake 27. Collectively, these constitute seven townships, 106 wards and village tracts and 516 villages. Despite being small and sparsely populated, Kayah state is highly ethnically diverse. The majority ethnic groups are the Karenni, who constitute 58% of the population. “Karenni,” however, is a term employed more regularly only after the 1950s to refer to a number of ethnic sub-groups, including the Kayah, Kayan, Manu-Manaw, Yinbaw, Gekko, Geba, Zayin and Yintale. 28 However, even among these groups, there is no clear consensus on which groups are party to the “Karenni” family and great variation amongst them in terms of linguistic and cultural practices. Indeed, as noted by the 21 These figures are based upon the 2009-10 Integrated Household Living Conditions Assessment. UNICEF. (n.d.). “Kayin State: A Snapshot of Child Wellbeing.” Accessed online. 22 The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) was renamed the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) in 2010 to reduce emphasis on religious differences amongst the Kayin. 23 A splinter group of the original DKBA. 24 TNI. (2018). From War to Peace in Kayah (Karenni) State: A Land at the Crossroads in Myanmar. Accessed online. 25 CDNH. (2015). The State of Social Harmony in Kayah State. Accessed online; MoIP op. cit.; Village number sourced from contact at DRD. 26 Including Loikaw, Demoso, Hrpuso and Shadaw townships. 27 Including Hpasaung, Bawleke and Mese townships. 28 The Karenni population itself comprises around 47% Kayah, 36% Kayan, 4% Manu-Manaw, 1% Yintale and the remainder spread between the smaller Geba, Gekko, Yintale and Zayin groups. P a g e | 15 Transnational Institute (TNI), “not all ‘Karenni’ languages and dialects are mutually intelligible. In some areas it was often joked: ‘one village, one dialect.’” 29 Following Karenni, the Bamar are the state’s second largest ethnic group, representing 18% of the population. Due to their number, this group has been appointed a Minister of Bamar Ethnic Affairs in the Kayah State Government cabinet. Shan (14%) and Karen (7%) are present in some number, but not large enough to be awarded the same privilege. A small number of Mon, Rakhine, Chin and Indian communities also live in the state, but do so predominantly around the Mawchi tin mines. 30 Given this, there is considerable diversity of religious practices in the area. Approximately 53% of the population is thought to be Buddhist, 44% is Christian and the balance accounted for by small numbers of practicing animists, Hindus and Muslims. According to some sources, the state’s socio-economic situation is good when compared to other areas in the country. UNICEF, for example, suggests that the poverty incidence rate here is one of the lowest in the country at 11.4% (compared to the national average of 25.6%). 31 However, this is likely a poor reflection of the true situation, with data skewed by acute rural/urban divides and the remoteness of some areas. A 2013 socio-economic analysis of Kayah State, for example, finds that most of Kayah’s population lives with minimal support from the state and limited access to quality health and education services. Similarly, while recent improvements in infrastructure are noted – particularly in the form of roads and power – only 21% of those surveyed reported benefitting from these. 32 Ethnic-based political parties are active in Kayah state, including the All Nationalities Democratic Party (ANDP), the Kayah Unity Democratic Party (KUDP) and the Kayan National Party (KNP). A number of armed groups operate in the state, who remain active in their claims to represent the ethnic population. The dominant EAO, and the only party to on-going peace talks with the Union and State governments, is the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP). This group aligns with all ethnic nationalities falling under the title of “Karenni”. A splinter group, the Karenni National People’s Liberation Front (KNPLF) is also blind to ethnicity by policy, but much less politically active. In contrast, the Kayan New Land Party (KNLP) is more closely aligned with the Kayan groups in the North-eastern part of the state, as well as in the neighbouring Pekon township in southern Shan state. A number of other EAOs, such as the Karenni National Solidarity Organization (KNSO), are locally relevant but politically less involved in ethnic affairs. C. MON STATE Mon State is the third smallest administrative unit in Myanmar and is divided into two districts, the northern Thaton district 33 and southern Mawlamyine district 34, comprising ten townships and 463 29 TNI. op. cit. p. 102 30 CDNH. (2015). op. cit. p. 2. 31 UNICEF. (2015). Kayah State: A Snapshot of Child Wellbeing. Accessed online. 32 European Union et. al. (2013). Kayah State Socio-Economic Analysis. Accessed online. 33 Including Kyaikto, Bilin, Thaton and Paung townships. 34 Including Mawlamyine, Chaungzon, Kyaikemaraw, Mudon, Thanbyuzayat and Ye townships. P a g e | 16 wards and village tracts. 35 With a population of 2,054,393 36 across an area of 12,296 square kilometres, Mon is also the fourth most densely populated area. Ethnic groups present in the state include the Mon, Kayin, Bamar, Pa-O and Shan. The Bamar and Kayin groups are predominantly concentrated in the north, in Thaton district, as are the smaller number of Pa-O and Shan groups (although small portions of their number also stretch to the south). The Mon generally live in the southern Mawlamyine district and are not a majority. In addition, a number of other ethnic groups, that is, Myanmar-Chinese, Myanmar-Indian and Muslims, are present in the city Mawlamyine, Myanmar’s fourth largest settlement. 37 As such, while the majority of residents are believed to be Buddhist, thriving Muslim, Christian and Hindu communities can be found across the state. As one of the largest ethnic groups in Myanmar, at approximately 8 million, the Mon have a strong cultural identity, which harks back to a golden era of the Kingdom of Hongsawatoi, 14th to 16th century. In terms of language, around one million people practice Mon today, 38 which is even taught in some government schools. 39 Turning to the literacy rate, Mon state’s population is 86.6% (84.2% female and 89.5% male) literate, which is almost on par with the national average. Other metrics of social wellbeing reflect one of the lowest poverty rates in the country and above average conditions for child wellbeing, nutrition, health, access to water, sanitation and births in the presence of a medical professional. 40 The State Government includes Ministers for Bamar, Pa-O and Kayin Ethnic Affairs, denoting that the size of each of these ethnic groups in the state exceeds 0.1% of Myanmar’s total population, or around 51,400 people. Finally, there is a strong history of extra-systemic ethno-political movements in Mon state. The New Mon State Party (NMSP) in particular gained in popularity following the military coup under Ne Win in 1962. Since establishing an armed wing in 1972, the NMSP has been the primary organization representing the Mon ethno-political agenda with force. The KNU is also present across in the state, as some of its seven districts extend into Mon and Tanintharyi. These actors have functioned as parallel governments in many rural areas. D. SELECTED FINDINGS FROM THE RAPID HOUSEHOLD SURVEY (KAYIN, KAYAH, MON) To inform preparation of PPCP, and more specifically the livelihoods component, a rapid household survey was conducted in Kayin, Kayah, Mon States, as well as the Tanintharyi Region between 18 December 2018 to 21 February 2019 to collect primary data on household nutrition, food security and livelihood activities. The objective was to collect data in order to better understand household livelihoods activities in poor rural households. The survey covered 182 households across 19 villages 35 CDNH. (2016a). The State of Social Harmony in Mon State. Accessed online. 36 MoIP op. cit. 37 This paragraph summarizes CDNH. (2016a). op. cit. pp.2 38 UNHCR. (2014). “Mon State Profile.” Myanmar Information Management Unit. Accessed online. 39 Irrawaddy. (2014). “Mon State to Allow Ethnic Language Classes in Govt Schools.” 10 April. Accessed online. 40 CDNH. (2016a) op. cit. pp. 3-4; UNICEF. (2013). Mon State: A Snapshot of Child Wellbeing. Accessed online. P a g e | 17 in five townships: Thandaunggyi Township (Kayin); Kyaikmaraw Township (Mon); Thayetchaung Township (Tanintharyi Region); Loikaw and Demoso Townships (Kayah). It should be noted that data gathered and profiles from urban townships may not be representative of rural township areas that the project will focus on, for example Loikaw and Demoso are well serviced and ethnically homogenous whereas other townships in Kayah are diverse and least serviced. These townships were identified based on the poverty and disadvantage, demographic profile (including % female head of household), economically productive population (including productive labour force and labour force participation), literacy rate, types of identification cards, unemployment rate, employment by occupation, employment by industry, source of energy, availability of communication amenities, availability of transport equipment and agro-ecological zone. Consultations were held among the government and the World Bank to finalize locations. The findings of the survey relevant for the social assessment are summarized below. The findings from Thayetchaung Township in Tanintharyi Region are not reported given that this township is not included in the scope of the current report. HOUSEHOLD PROFILE. The average household size was higher in all four townships than the Union average of 4.2 household members, ranging from 4.38 in Mon State to 5.0 in Kayah State. More importantly, the rate of female head of household was notably higher in Mon State (30%) compared to the national average (23%). The figure was only lower in Kayah State where the average female head of household was 21.9%. Race composition varied according to townships. In Mon State, Bamar (46%), Kayin (30%) and Mon (20%) were dominant, while in Kayin State, the surveyed households were mostly Kayin (70%). In Kayah State, Kayah was the dominate race (68.8%) followed by Bamar (28.1%) and Shan (3.1%). With respect to religion, Buddhists were predominately in Mon State and Kayah State, while in Kayin State, 72% were Christians. HOUSEHOLD NUTRITION. The survey collected data on household consumption of basic foods including rice/staples, edible oils, legumes, meat/fish, eggs, fish paste/sauce and vegetables. In Mon State, per capita consumption of rice and staples (76.6kg) was substantially lower than the Union average of 159kg/person/year, while consumption was higher than the national average in Kayin State which is heavily reliant on agriculture as a primary source of livelihoods. In all townships, consumption of edible oils is higher than the national average, while the consumption of meat and fish in all five townships are almost one-third of the national average. The survey data suggests that households in conflict affected areas rely heavily on the consumption of eggs as a source of protein as the per capita consumption of eggs is close to or higher than the national average. ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES, SOURCE OF INCOME AND OCCUPATION Access to natural resources, particularly arable land for crop production, proved to be an important factor for households in Kayin and Kayah States where agricultural activities, both crop production and home garden, are an important source of livelihoods. In the case of Mon State, access to natural resources, particularly farmland was limited, which is reflected in the prevalence of wage work as the primary form of livelihood for the surveyed households. Specifically, in the surveyed township in Mon State, nearly 43% of household income is derived from casual work, while 20% is from remittances – which P a g e | 18 reflect the high rate of out migration of working age household members to Thailand and Malaysia. In Kayin and Kayah States, farm income (49%, and 32% respectively) were the primary source of income for rural households. HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE. In Kayin State, non-food expenditure was much higher than expenditure on food (53%), while in Mon and Kayah States, household expenditure on food (63% and 53% respectively) was higher. In Kayin and Kayah States, expenditure on education was high, while in Mon State, expenditures on health and social welfare were the highest. CROP PRODUCTION. The survey collected data on crop production according to three separate categories, namely: home garden; farming activities; and tree crops. Crops produced in home gardens are used mostly to supplement household food consumption, particularly in Kayin and Kayah States, while in Mon State, there was no evidence of home garden activity. In Kayin and Kayah Sates gourd, long bean, brinjal and a variety of other crops were produced primarily for household consumption, but evidence suggests that some household had sufficient volume of production to sell household surplus in the market to help contribute to household income. As evident from the heavy reliance on casual work and remittance as the primary source of household income, farming activities are limited among surveyed households in Mon State. Crop production was limited to the production of paddy, maize, beans/pulses and rubber. In Kayin State where income from farming is a primary source of household income, a much broader range of crops are being produced, but yield rates are low compared to the national average. For example, the yield rate for paddy in Kayin State is 2,177kg/acre respectively, compared to a national average of 7,500kg/acre. Similarly, for rubber, yield rates in Mon State are 202kg/acre respectively compared to a national average of 317kg/acre. The average rubber production in Kayin State, however, out-performed the national average with a yield rate of 376kg/acre. Given the mountainous terrain in Kayah State, farming activities are limited to paddy, maize and a limited range of beans and pulses. Among the surveyed households tree crops are produced either as a border crop around the household compound or more formally in an orchard setting. In both instances, the dominant crops are durian, banana, rambutan, betel nuts and coconut. Given its high demand and sales price, betel nut is one of the most popular crops among surveyed household, followed by durian and banana. LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION. Based on the survey, livestock production is limited to households in Kayin and Kayah States, which primarily focused on rearing small and medium livestock including chickens/ducks and pigs. The survey data indicates that poultry production is primarily for household consumption in Kayin State, while pig rearing activities are focused on market sales in Kayin and Kayah States. The survey data indicates that in Kayah State, livestock is an important source of household income. Survey data on poultry indicates that in in Kayin State, the average number of losses from death and theft exceeded the average number of animals being reared by a household, which reflects the high prevalence of disease outbreak and the absence of veterinary services resulting in high culling rates in the surveyed communities. AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES. Aquaculture and fisheries activities were only found among surveyed households in Mon State, with aquaculture activities solely for household consumption with the production of tilapia, and caught fish focused primarily for market sales. For caught fish, the most prevalent fish includes catfish, Rohtee Cotio, climbing perch, banded snakehead fish and prawn. P a g e | 19 NON-FOREST TIMBER PRODUCTS. The survey found that households in in Mon State relied on non- forest timber products such as Elephant Foot Yam and Bamboo shoots to supplement household food consumption. Given the low per capita consumption of basic foods, availability of non-forest timber products plays an important role in improving the overall nutritional composition of surveyed households in Mon State. USE OF LOAN TO MEET HOUSEHOLD AND LIVELIHOODS NEEDS. Surveyed households were asked whether they’ve taken out any loans to meet their household and livelihoods needs. Types of loans taken by households were divided into seven different categories: • Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank (MADB) • Evergreen Program • Microfinance institution • Use of gold to collateralize a loan through informal lenders • Use of other goods to collateralize a loan through informal lenders • Loans from relatives • Other sources of credit. Use of loans varied significantly across the four townships with respect to the amount and the source of a loan, and interest payment. Households surveyed in Mon and Kayah States (8% and 15.6% respectively) took out loans from the MADB, primarily to finance paddy and rubber cultivation. The loan value ranged from MMK100,000 to 1,500,000 with an annual interest rate ranging from 0.85% to 1.4%. In comparison, large number of surveyed households took out loans from the Department of Rural Development (DRD) administered Evergreen Program. In Kayin State, 94% of surveyed household took out a loan from the Program where the money was used principally to pay for food and healthcare. The amount of borrowing range widely from MMK100,000 to 2,300,000, with an interest rate ranging from 1.0% to 2.0%. The use of microfinance institutions was most prevalent among households in Mon and Kayah States where 18% and 21.9% of households respectively took out loans ranging from MMK100,000 – 1,200,000 with an interest rate ranging from 1.5%-5% to cover costs associated with the purchase of food, healthcare, vehicles and crop production. The incidence of using non-gold assets to collateralize a loan was low with only 8% of households in Mon State taking out loans for MMK300,000 – 500,000 at an interest rate of 4% to pay for food. The rate of borrowing from relatively was high, particularly in Mon State (20%) and Kayah State (16%). The loans ranged from MMK300,000 – 3,000,000 at a relatively high interest rate ranging from 3% - 20%. Loans were taken primarily to pay for food, healthcare and for farming activities. Households in Mon State (8%), Kayin State (4%) and Kayah State (9.4%) took out loans from other sources, primarily to finance the purchase of food, healthcare and livelihoods activities. While the amount of the loans is relatively low (MMK300,000 -1,000,000), the interest rates are relatively high (4.5%-10%). ACCESS TO MARKETS. Household with farming, fishing and livestock activities were asked how they sell their products and the distance to the nearest major markets. Given that the nearest major market for surveyed households on average is 28.4 miles away in Kyaikmaraw (Mon State), 100% of households that sold crops or fish utilized the services of a trader who came to the village or beach to pick up marketable products. However, the use of traders is substantially lower in Thandaunggyi (Kayin State), despite the fact that in Thandaunggyi, the average distance to a major market is 38.7 P a g e | 20 miles. Given the relatively short distance to market (14.4 miles), farmers in Kayah State sold 100% of their marketable products directly at market. E. SELECTED FINDINGS FROM THE GENDER STUDY (KAYIN, MON) In order to help inform the design and implementation of PPCP and to promote tailored approaches to support women’s inclusion, a desk review on women’s agency was undertaken. It aimed at exploring women’s agency in their households, communities, and in accessing livelihoods in Kayin and Mon States to identify challenges and opportunities for inclusion of some of the presumably most socially excluded groups in Myanmar. The findings of the review relevant for the social assessment are summarized below. HOUSEHOLD DECISION MAKING. Household decision making in south-eastern Myanmar is led by men. Men hold this position as the main breadwinners with sole responsibility for the economic life of the family. This is also supported by administrative practices placing men as head of the household on household lists and for farmland registration. In response, women are to be respectful and obedient to their husbands. In Mon State, women are expected to wait until their husband returns home before eating as a show of respect for his superior position.41 Women’s bargaining power within the household is low, with men unwilling to take on domestic duties to free up women’s time for work, leisure, or community work. 42 Even when women work, global statistics show that men rarely increase their share of household chores, as men’s gender role remains clearly delineated as family provider. 43 Even in households where women work, men feel entitled to women’s earnings as the head of the household, restricting their economic empowerment even when they are wage earners.44 Measures of empowerment or agency that rely on women’s workforce participation may not be taking into account the household decision-making structure with men as head of the household. 45Although women make up almost half of the agricultural workforce in Mon and Kayin States, their work is often unacknowledged. Men are expected to do the heavy manual labour such as ploughing, fencing, preparing the land for planting. 46 While women are meant to do lighter work – such as breeding small livestock, cultivation and planting, collecting fuel and water, tending kitchen gardens, preparing food, and small trading or marketing. This work is in addition to women’s roles as primary caregivers. 47 However, as women’s incomes become more important, there is some evidence from Mon State that 41 Swiss Peace, GDI and UN Women. 2015. Why Gender Matters in Conflict and Peace: Perspectives from Mon and Kayin States, Myanmar, Yangon: Swiss Peace, p. 16. 42 Minoletti, Paul. 2016. Gender (In)Equality in the Governance of Myanmar: Past, Present, and Potential Strategies for Change, Policy Dialogue Brief Series No. 11. Yangon: The Asia Foundation, p. 15. 43 World Bank. 2011. “Promoting women’s agency”, In: World Development Report 2012, Washington, D.C.: World Bank, pp. 171. 44 Miedema, S.S., San Shwe, and Aye Thiri Kyaw. 2016. “Social Inequalities, Empowerment, and Women’s Transitions into Abusive Marriages: A Case Study from Myanmar”, Gender & Society, Vol. 30, No. 4, p. 683. 45 Miedema, S.S., San Shwe, and Aye Thiri Kyaw. 2016. “Social Inequalities, Empowerment, and Women’s Transitions into Abusive Marriages: A Case Study from Myanmar”, Gender & Society, Vol. 30, No. 4, p. 683. 46 Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, 2016, “Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in Myanmar: A Situation Analysis” Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Asian Development Bank, p. 49. 47 Swiss Peace, GDI and UN Women. 2015. Why Gender Matters in Conflict and Peace: Perspectives from Mon and Kayin States, Myanmar, Yangon: Swiss Peace, p. 16. P a g e | 21 it may be leading to changes in other gender norms like leaving the house at night, as there may be plantation work to be done in the evenings. 48 Likewise, at least one study found that in some households in Kayin State men are helping with childcare and domestic work. 49 WOMEN-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS. Women head one-third of households in south-eastern Myanmar. 50 This is far higher than the national average of 24 percent of households headed by women, but may also be an underestimate, as census enumerators were instructed to find the eldest male as the head of household respondent. 51 Some studies have suggested that this demographic shift may also impact gender roles in the south-east. 52 Yet, it is important to remember that households headed by women may be diverse in composition. They may include males, they may include educated women heading households by choice, or widows, deserted, or divorced women. Livelihoods may be secure or insecure, so more attention needs to be paid to the composition of women-headed households in the south-east to understand what particular relationships they have to poverty, agency, migration, and conflict. 53 Country-wide, households headed by women with no adult male household members, and households headed by elderly women living alone are more likely to be poor and vulnerable. 54 Female-headed households also tend to have lower numbers of land holdings with lower sizes of land when compared to male-headed households. 55 WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS, COMMUNITY WORK, PEACE PROCESS. Men’s position as household heads also affects women’s enfranchisement in local elections and their ability to stand for local positions. Local elections for ward and village tract administrators are conducted by representative vote of household heads. As most households are headed by men, women are excluded from the voting process. There is also a perception that only household heads can stand for elections, which may account for the low levels of women in positions of village tract administrators across the country. 56 Despite this, the state with the highest percentage of women village tract administrators in the 2012 election was Kayin state, with women accounting for 2.39% of village tract administrators. 57 Women are active in community work, but this is often in traditional spheres or roles deemed appropriate for women. Women in Mon and Kayin States are thus active in social welfare promotion 48 Gender Equality Network (GEN). 2015b. Raising the Curtain: Cultural Norms, Social Practices and Gender Equality in Myanmar. Yangon: GEN, p. 75. 49 Swiss Peace, GDI and UN Women. 2015. Why Gender Matters in Conflict and Peace: Perspectives from Mon and Kayin States, Myanmar, Yangon: Swiss Peace, p. 16-17. 50 The south-east includes Kayin, Mon, Kayah, Tanintharyi, Bago (East), Shan (South) and Shan (East). 51 MIMU and Peace Support Fund. 2016. “Situation Analysis of South eastern Myanmar”, Yangon: MIMU, p. 14. 52 MIMU and Peace Support Fund. 2016. “Situation Analysis of South eastern Myanmar”, Yangon: MIMU, p. 14. 53 Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, 2016, “Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in Myanmar: A Situation Analysis” Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Asian Development Bank, p. 39. 54 Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, 2016, “Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in Myanmar: A Situation Analysis” Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Asian Development Bank, p. 39. 55 Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, 2016, “Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in Myanmar: A Situation Analysis” Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Asian Development Bank, p. 48. 56 Naujoks, J. and Myat Thandar Ko. 2018. Behind the masks: Masculinities, gender, peace and security in Myanmar. November. Yangon: International Alert, p. 18. 57 Röell, E. 2015. Women and Local Leadership: Leadership Journeys of Myanmar’s Female Village Tract/Ward Administrators. Yangon: UNDP Myanmar, p. 1-2. P a g e | 22 or service provision, and roles in the service of the preservation of culture and religion. This includes work in the church for Christian women, or in roles supervising pagoda offerings, ceremonies, and alms for Buddhists. While women may be active in these ‘traditional’ spheres, they are not religious leaders, as these roles are reserved for men. 58 While women are active as 10 household heads and village leaders, particularly during and following the conflict in Kayin State, there remains a perception amongst some men that it is shameful to have a woman leader. 59 Furthermore, cultural conditioning may make women reluctant to take on leadership roles, as they have internalized their unsuitability. Additionally, some husbands may prevent their wives from taking on leadership roles. 60 Women’s participation in the peace process has been limited on the national scale. 61 Few women have been included in the negotiation teams of the Myanmar government and none in those of the Myanmar military. The situation is a little better amongst EAOs. In Kayin State, three female KNU leaders were involved in negotiating a 2012 bilateral ceasefire. 62 Naw Zipporah Sein, the most senior of these, subsequently led the group’s negotiations on the NCA. 63 In Mon state, the NMSP’s Mi Sar Dar, Head of the Education Department, played a strong role in bringing the group onboard the NCA in 2018. 64 Finally, in Kayah State, the KNPP’s Day Day Paw, a permanent central executive committee member, periodically serves as a member of its peace negotiation team. Nonetheless, and despite a July 2018 agreement by the parties to the NCA to include least 30% women across all areas of peace talks, 65 women’s participation remains low – female attendance at the conference where this term was negotiated, for example, was only 17%. 66 In response, a strong Myanmar women’s civil society network, the Alliance for Greater Inclusion in the Peace Process (AGIPP), has emerged with the dual aims of: 1) seeing more women substantively participating in the peace process, and 2) including more gendered perspectives into peace talks, agreements and implementation strategies. 67 ACCESS TO LAND. In both Kayin and Mon states, the primary livelihood generating activity is agriculture. However, agriculture requires access to land, and access to land itself is gendered. Women are not represented on the decision-making bodies related to land in Myanmar. 68 Although Myanmar law allows for joint registration of property, in practice it seems that this is uncommon. As one report noted: “men’s legal rights are assumed and they predominantly hold land use certificates, whereas 58 Swiss Peace, GDI and UN Women. 2015. Why Gender Matters in Conflict and Peace: Perspectives from Mon and Kayin States, Myanmar, Yangon: Swiss Peace, p. 17. 59 Röell, E. 2015. Women and Local Leadership: Leadership Journeys of Myanmar’s Female Village Tract/Ward Administrators. Yangon: UNDP Myanmar, p. 43. 60 Röell, E. 2015. Women and Local Leadership: Leadership Journeys of Myanmar’s Female Village Tract/Ward Administrators. Yangon: UNDP Myanmar, p. 45. 61 UNFPA. 2017. Powerful Myths, Hidden Secrets. Yangon: UNFPA , p. 49. 62 Swiss Peace, GDI and UN Women. 2015. Why Gender Matters in Conflict and Peace: Perspectives from Mon and Kayin States, Myanmar, Yangon: Swiss Peace, p. 32; Salai Isaac Khen and Muk Yin Haung Nyoi. 2014. Looking at the Current Peace Process in Myanmar through a Gender Lens. Yangon: Swisspeace, p. 20, 31. 63 Salai Isaac Khen and Muk Yin Haung Nyoi. 2014. Looking at the Current Peace Process in Myanmar through a Gender Lens. Yangon: Swisspeace, p. 35. 64 Swiss Peace, GDI and UN Women. 2015. Why Gender Matters in Conflict and Peace: Perspectives from Mon and Kayin States, Myanmar, Yangon: Swiss Peace, p. 32; Salai Isaac Khen and Muk Yin Haung Nyoi. 2014. Looking at the Current Peace Process in Myanmar through a Gender Lens. Yangon: Swisspeace, p. 20, 31. 65 Myanmar Times. 2018. “Peace conference agrees on 14 points, skirts security issue.” Accessed online. 66 Irrawaddy. 2018. “Women Playing Larger Role at This Year’s Peace Conference.” Accessed online. 67 Alliance for Greater Inclusion in the Peace Process (AGIPP). n.d. “Who We Are.” Accessed online. 68 Pierce, C., L. Hurtle and J. Bainbridge. 2018. Gendered experiences of land confiscation in Myanmar: Insights from eastern Bago Region and Kayin State. Yangon: Saferworld, February, p. 8. P a g e | 23 women’s formal rights are negotiated, i.e. it is only when they insist on these rights that they can be fulfilled.” 69 The issuing of new Land Use Certificates to the head of household rather than jointly, or to other members of the household, can in some cases limit women’s land claims. This is particularly acute in areas where women customarily inherit such as the bilinear inheritance of the Dawei and Kayin or where there is matrimonial property. 70 This is important as inheritance is a primary mechanism for asset accumulation and women’s access to inheritance can increase their asset control. 71 Issuing Land Use Certificates to the household head also has the impact of making the land registry blind to women’s landholding and creates a gender bias in the administration of the registry. 72 It is possible that the push for land registration post-2012 has actually created a gender gap in land rights, as many did not understand they could jointly register property until the National Land Use Policy of 2016 explicitly stated this principle, and in practice it seems many of the local authorities involved in the registration process are unsure of what to do regarding joint registrations. 73 This is further compounded by issues of military land confiscation and restitution in conflict-affected areas, or land-grabbing areas recently opened up to development in both Mon and Kayin States, as well as the state’s lack of recognition of taungya, customary land, and KNU-issued land titles. 74 69 Pierce, C., L. Hurtle and J. Bainbridge. 2018. Gendered experiences of land confiscation in Myanmar: Insights from eastern Bago Region and Kayin State. Yangon: Saferworld, February, p. 11. 70 Faxon, Hillary. 2015. “The Praxis of Access: Gender in Myanmar’s National Land Use Policy”, Conference Paper No. 17, Land grabbing, conflict and agrarian ‐ environmental transformations: perspectives from East and Southeast Asia, 5 ‐ 6 June 2015, Chiang Mai University, p. 11. 71 World Bank. 2011. “Promoting women’s agency”, In: World Development Report 2012, Washington, D.C.: World Bank, pp. 159. 72 Government of the Union of the Republic of Myanmar. 2016. “MYANMAR: National Action Plan for Agriculture (NAPA) Working Paper 12: Social Inclusion and Gender”, June, Yangon, p. 11 73 Namati. 2016. “Gendered Aspects of Land in Myanmar: Evidence from Paralegal Casework”, Yangon: Namati, p. 5. 74 The Border Consortium. 2018. Human Security in South eastern Myanmar. Wanida Press, p. 45. P a g e | 24 5. STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION AND ENGAGEMENT This section discusses the process and results of stakeholder identification and summarizes the stakeholder consultations held to date in preparation for the project. Consultation with various key stakeholders regarding the World Bank-financed government support for conflict-affected communities in south-eastern Myanmar under the PPCP began at the early stages of project preparation, continues to date and will continue under project implementation. Stakeholders to be engaged were identified in consultation with experienced World Bank’s staff, local civil society organizations, individual experts and organizations who are working in Myanmar and have extensive knowledge on social risks, conflict and peace and context in south-east and Myanmar. The extensive knowledge and proven experiences from ongoing stakeholder engagement in World Bank’s project such as National Community-Driven Development Project (NCDDP) also provided valuable inputs to this process. Stakeholders identified included individuals or groups of people, • who are affected or likely to be affected by the project (for example, project beneficiaries), • who may play influential key roles in the project (for example, EAOs, Members of Parliament), • who are marginalized and vulnerable (for example, women headed household, people with disabilities, minority individuals or groups, ex-drug users), and • who may have an interest in the project (for example, civil society organizations). A more detailed list of stakeholders identified by category can be found in Table 1 below. Table 1: Stakeholders Identified by Category No. Categories Stakeholders 1 International actors/Donors, and United Nations and international non-governmental working groups (Non- organizations working on health, education, community government) development, livelihoods, agriculture, vocational training 2 Sector specific organizations Health, education, community development, livelihoods, (Non-government) agriculture, vocational training 3 Sector specific organization for Health, education, rural development, livelihoods, basic services (Government) agriculture, border affairs 4 Sector specific organization for Health, education, community development, livelihoods basic services (Ethnic Service Providers/EAOs) 5 Sector specific organization or Civil society organization and network, youth networks organization, women organization, human rights organization 6 Private sector network Agriculture, vocational training 7 Community members Representatives of communities 8 Others Religious actors, literacy and culture associations, development monitoring/watch groups P a g e | 25 From July 2018 to the date of writing in July 2019, consultations have been carried out with wide range of stakeholders in Yangon, Naypyidaw, Hpa-An (Kayin State capital), Mawlmayine (Mon State capital) Loikaw (Kayah State capital) and Taungoo (Bago Region capital), as well as in villages in the Kyainseikgyi, Hpa-An, Thandaunggyi, Thandaung, Leiktho, Hlaingbwe, Loikaw, Hpruso, Hpasawng, and Bilin townships of Kayin, Mon and Kayah States. The format of the consultation varied for each type of stakeholder and from formal to informal and from smaller, individual and separate meeting to multi-stakeholders. The consultation with government officials, members of parliament, civil society organizations and other local development partners is conducted in a formal manner. A written invitation is sent out at least five working days in advance, together with an information package on proposed project activities in Myanmar language. Free, prior and informed consultations with communities are conducted in a culturally appropriate manner to seek broad community support for the project approach, design and activities. The team ensures participation of community members with different social and livelihoods background, male and female, ethnic minorities, as well as community leaders. Communities are informed about the project and its background, followed by the open dialogue and interactions with the team and the community. Consultations are held in Burmese or other local ethnic languages based on the preference of the community at the outset of the meeting. Communities are informed that any inputs they provide during consultations will not be attributed to them personally, but will be combined to provide input to project design and activities. The consultation discussion is centred around project approaches, strategies and components. Feedback is collected from participants to ensure that the proposed design of the project reflects the needs and concerns of the communities. Key summary notes are prepared to document the discussion with each stakeholder. The consultations were conducted with a wide range of stakeholders including government and EAOs who play influential key roles in the project, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), youth and women groups who have an interest in the projects and donors and international non-government organizations who will be likely to be partners for the project. The project team also had various consultations with community members who will be affected or likely to be affected by the project in Mon, Kayin and Kayah States. These groups consist of women, men, youth and elders and are from different ethnic groups (Kayin, Mon, Pa-O, Shan and Kayah/Karenni). A few villages visited are mixed ethnic groups and a few are complex villages such as Mon village in Kayin State, Kayin village in Mon State, Shan village in Kayah State, etc. A more detailed list of stakeholders consulted to date can be found in Table 2 below. An inventory of all consultations to date, as well as issue summaries from each consultation can be found in the Annex. P a g e | 26 Table 2: Consultations to Date Categories Stakeholders International actors/Donors, and • DFID, SDC, JPF, JICA working groups (Non-government) • South-east Myanmar Working Group and Development, and sector specific organization Humanitarian, Peace Support Group (USAID, UNDP, (Non-government) in Yangon, UNHCR, TAF, DFID, VNG, TBC, MIMU, EU, INGO Forum, Mon, Kayin and Kayah States SDC, PACT, ILO, IOM) • Search for Common Ground, Pact, Mercy Corps, TBC, Oxfam, DaNA, Save the Children, CPI, CGG, WVI, Covenant Consult, ILO, IOM, World Vision, WFP, Point- B, Pact, Helvestas, UN Women, UNDP, UNHCR, SwissContact, International Alert, Proximity Design, TAF Sector specific organization for Union levels basic services (Government) • Ministry of Planning and Finance • Ministry of Home Affairs • Ministry of Security and Border Affairs • Department of Rural Development • Department of Agriculture • Department of Foreign Economic and Development • State Counsellor Office • Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House/House of Nationalities) • Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House/House of Representatives) State levels • Kayin State Chief Minister and Cabinet Members • Mon State Chief Minister and Cabinet Members • Kayah State Chief Minister and Cabinet Members Township levels • Township Planning and Implementation Committee for development, Hpruso and Hpasawng townships • Department of Rural Development in Hpa-An and Loikaw • Department of Social Welfare in Hpa-An • Department of Electricity Supply in Hpa-An and Mawlamyine • Members of Parliament in Thandaunggyi Sector specific organization for • Shan State Development Foundation (SSDF office in basic services (Ethnic Service Chiang Mai, Thailand) Providers/EAOs for Health, • Civil Health and Development Network (CHDN office in Education and development) Loikaw) • Karen Development and Health Workers (KDHW office in Hpa-An) P a g e | 27 Categories Stakeholders Civil society organization and Hpa-An, Kayin State network, youth organization, • KSCN, KESAN, Karen River Watch, Karen Student women organization, human Center, KMSS, KDN, Free Human Society, KACC, Kant rights organization in Yangon, Kaw Alumni, Swiss Contact, KHRG, KSCN, Karen Health Mon, Kayin and Kayah States Foundation, LRC, Youth Community Center • Sector/issue focused meeting with women and youth groups - Karen Women Empowerment Group (Area Manager), at KWEG office in Hpa-An - EGG, ZKBM and youth leaders from Kayin State, at Youth Community Center Taunggu, Bago Region (with CSOs working in Thandaunggyi township) • Hsar Du Gaw , Hsar Ka Hsaw, Hsar Mu Htaw, Dae Loh Social Development Group, JMC-S (Bago), MCPP (Myanmar Chin Paung-Pharlar Organization), BMBRDC (Church Based) Mawlamyine, Mon State • Local Resource Center, Mon CSO Network, Karen Development Network, Interfaith Network, National Enlightenment Institute, KMSS, Lawka Ahlin, Mon MINA, NEI, CBI • Sector/issue focused meeting with women and youth groups - Mon Youth Progressive Organization (Director and Program Officer) at MYPO office in Mawlamyine - Jeepyah Civil Society Development Organization (Program Director, Program Coordinator and Organization Development Advisor) at JSCDO Office in Mawlamyine Loikaw, Kayah State • RDA, MGRI, KPSSDA, LAIN Technical Support Group, KWA, KBA, MSAU, KPSSDA, LDN, MSDA, KNWO, KWA, KEAN, LLKP, LLKP, Nyein (Shalom), KnHRG, KSFU, CHDN) Yangon • Shalom Foundation EAOs in Kayin State, Mon State • KNU, including Liaison Offices, line departments and and Kayah State central leadership • KNPP, including Liaison Offices, line departments and central leadership • NMSP, including Liaison Offices, line ministries and central leadership • KNU/KNLA-PC at the Liaison Office level • DKBA-5 at the Liaison Office level. P a g e | 28 Categories Stakeholders Communities in Bilin township • Hpar Kadu village (Kayin communities, meeting held in community hall, Burmese and Kayin language) • Sin Su village (Burma communities, meeting held in monastery, Burmese language) Communities in Kyainseikyi • Mingalar Kone village (Kayin and Burma communities, township meeting held in school, Burmese language) Communities in Loikaw township • Lay Ein Su village (Kayah communities, meeting held in community hall, Burmese and Kayah language) • Mite Kan village (Pa-O communities, meeting held in community hall, Pa-O language) Communities in Hpa-An township • Tha Yet Kone (Mon and Kayin communities, meeting held in village tea shop, Burmese language) • Mainma Hla Kyun village (Mon and Kayin communities, meeting held at retired school principle house, Burmese language) • Kan Ka Lay village (meeting held in village head’s house, Burmese and Kayin language) Communities in Hpruso township • Ngwe Taung Ywar Thit village (Kayah communities, meeting held at village community hall, Burmese language) • Khaw Tha Maw village (Kayah communities, meeting held at village school, Burmese language) • Htar Le village (Kayah community, meeting held at village school, Burmese language). Communities in Hpasaung • Nant Kit (Shan, Kayah and Kayaw communities, meeting township held in community hall, Burmese language) • Hpasuang Taung Paw village (Shan communities, meeting held in community hall, Burmese language) • Wan An village (Burma, Shan and Kayin communities, meeting held in community hall, Burmese language) Communities in Thandaunggyi, • Shwe Nyaung Bin, U Shit Kone, Zalae Kabalar Chan, and Thandaung and Leiktho townships A Lae Chaung villages (Kayin/Geba communities, meetings held in community representative houses, Burmese language) NCDDP facilitators working in • NCDDP office, Burmese language • KNU areas of Bilin township, Mon State • NMSP/KNU/gov areas of Kyainseikgyi township, Kayin State • KNPP areas of Kayah State P a g e | 29 6. POTENTIAL ADVERSE AND POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT This section summarizes the issues raised by communities, ethnic groups and their representatives in proposed project areas during free, prior and informed consultations about project activities. A. POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMPACTS SAFETY AND SECURITY Communities in conflict-affected areas identified “safety and security” as their priority. For them to be safe, they need to respect and follow the rules and policies made by their local leaders from both government and ethnic armed groups. For PPCP, communities ask that the project is endorsed by both parties so that they can have access to project services and participate in the project activities actively and safely. This relates to agreement from government and EAOs prior to doing small scale infrastructure projects, accessing land for farming, and freedom of movement in general for communities. GOVERNMENT, EAO AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS There is high tendency of mistrust by communities due to their poor experiences with previous development projects in the past. CSOs also highlighted that communities in conflict areas have very limited interaction with government. This is because they are concerned with their security to communicate with government and have very limited confidence to provide input. Language is also another barrier for effective communications. If PPCP aims to achieve meaningful community participation in the project, CSOs note that the project should provide capacity building support that can increase community knowledge on their rights and confidence to interact with different development stakeholders more systematically. These trainings are also requested as an iterative process rather than one-time support. In addition, capacity building support to government officials (service providers in health, education, agriculture, administration, immigration, etc.) is needed, especially for state and township level government staff to increase their knowledge and understanding on development concepts and approaches and humanitarian principles. This will not only support successful delivery of community- based activities, but also building and sustaining respectful relationship and trust with communities. CSOs also shared some of the issues that happened at the local levels after the development organization provided services to communities in EAOs influenced areas. • Some government departments are implementing development project in these areas. Some EAOs perceived these projects as government expansion to their controlled area. The development project normally is time-based and provides supports only for a few years. After the project phases out, this may lead local tension. P a g e | 30 • In one instance, an NGO provided solar panels to communities, who were satisfied with the services. However, the EAOs asked them to return these solar panels to NGOs and communities returned the solar panels. • Communities may want to ask the government to appoint a school teacher for their village but may not be able to get approval from the EAO or vice-versa. IMPACTS RELATED TO SPECIFIC PROJECT ACTIVITIES Stakeholders consulted at the local level (state, township, village) voiced some of the concerns below on potential adverse impacts that may result from project activities: • If PPCP facilitates government extension or increase of the government providing education services in conflict-affected areas, there is concern that education for children would only be in Burmese language and not local ethnic languages. • If PPCP supports infrastructure for health care in communities, such as a clinic, it is possible that the community will not have a health care provider providing services in the village still, thereby not improving the health outcomes in the village. • Vocational trainings are provided by different agencies at the moment in both Mon and Kayin states. Women and youth CSOs raised the following issues on inclusion of women, youth and conflict-affected communities in these activities: - Few people from conflict-affected areas have access to existing vocational trainings, because they do not know the availability of these trainings and their eligibility to participate. - Trainings subjects do not match the interest of many young people. Most young people (men/women) are more interested in working in Thailand, because they have more certainty to get reasonable income as migrant workers. - When trainings are held in towns, it is also difficult to get approval from parents. Parents of young people, especially women, are often concerned about their safety while travelling and do not encourage or allow them to attend these trainings in town. - Often the trainings lack any follow up support. Sufficient amount of funding and other relevant support to start up a business and linkages to access to market is needed for straining graduates. Otherwise, they cannot earn any income. - Impact monitoring should be conducted on vocational training programs. Kayin youth representatives are concerned that there are not sufficient jobs for the skills delivered in these trainings, for example beautician and mechanical training in Hpa-An. As a result, since job opportunities are limited, young people are inclined to migrate to urban center inside Myanmar, such as Yangon, increasing out migration from the area. - Women noted that since their availability for training times may be limited due to household and childcare responsibilities, training times should be flexible and take into account their schedules. They noted that short, modular trainings with repeated delivery of different modules over time may increase their chance of completing courses. - Most of the women would like to learn how to sew, but trainings by DRD or other departments are conducted in town. Since it is not possible for women with small kids to leave the house, they do not have opportunities to attend these trainings. Those who attend the training in P a g e | 31 town share what they learned but since they are not trainers or skillful enough, they cannot teach and share their knowledge with the larger group effectively. Low literacy and math skill are also constraints for women. • In some villages, there are several committees established by different projects. Mostly members of these committees take part in more than one committee but play different roles. Sometimes, committee members burn out after participating in different projects, since they may require a significant commitment of time. Therefore, a sustainable strategy should be developed to ensure capacities of communities are maintained and systematically handed over to next generation. • Communities in conflict-affected areas already have limited options for livelihoods activities. Project should take into account the hours and seasons for these activities, and not require community participation at times when livelihoods activities need to be done. The project should respect community availability and offer some flexibility. • CSOs and ethnic service providers also expressed preference that during implementation, if the government contracting service providers for certain services, such as training, these should be chosen from local organizations that is trusted by local CSOs, EAOs and communities. In some of the most sensitive cases, in-need areas may only be accessibly by such actors. Effective implementation depends on how well the service provider can deliver services based on their approach, trust of the communities, and effective communications with the communities. ISSUES SPECIFIC TO DISADVANTAGED AND VULNERABLE GROUPS Facilitators from the NCDDP provided the following input based on their implementation experience in Kayin, Kayah and Mon States with NCDDP, as well as observing other development projects: • The majority of poor and vulnerable people in rural areas are those who are landless. They will have limited direct benefits from agricultural, on-farm livelihoods support. • Some interventions are not tested and or tailored to communities. There are projects which provide livestock to vulnerable groups who are then unable to afford to feed the livestock. • Similarly, agriculture and livestock support should consider local weather and climate. Under one of the livelihood projects, communities were provided with piglets, but all animals died during the cold season. Women CSOs and CSOs targeting women suggested that awareness raising, and training should be provided to women in rural areas to promote their leadership and participation in community development work. Training should be gender awareness training (both for men and women), financial management training, leadership training, community development theory. Peer-to-peer learning and exchange visits are also recommended. Mon, Kayin and Kayah States receive returning refugees from the refugee camps along the Thai- Myanmar border. Humanitarian assistance from the government and development organizations P a g e | 32 provide them with cash and in-kind support to rebuild their lives to facilitate their return home from camps. However, there are also some poor and vulnerable families in the same communities the refugees return to, and they are excluded from such support and treated differently even though their livelihood status is more or less the same as returnees. This type of issue should be avoided to ensure that project benefits all poor and vulnerable households and ensure social cohesion and community harmony. Internally displaced peoples in the camps in Kayin State (e.g., Myine Gyi Ngu), who fled their homes because of the fighting in 2016, receive very limited development assistance. They do not have livelihoods opportunities, they are afraid to go out and work, and most of the organizations are restricted to access to this area. Karen youth groups also raised concerns about drug users. Some of the youth are sent to rehabilitation centres, but do not receive any support afterwards for livelihoods or jobs, and to re-engage in the communities. This often leads them to use drug again. B. POTENTIAL POSITIVE IMPACTS AND BENEFITS Most of the stakeholders consulted from government, EAOs, INGOs, CSOs and communities responded positively to PPCP design in terms of its transparent, evidence-based and consultative geographic targeting strategy, trust and dialogue building project approaches, and community driven prioritization of components. BUILDING TRUST. Stakeholders noted that there are ongoing fragmented government and international assistance to these conflict-affected areas, but that PPCP can create a platform to bring government, EAOs and communities together at different levels to help build trust between parties and contribute to peace building. IMPROVING LIVELIHOODS. Communities and potential beneficiaries of the project provided positive feedbacks to project approach and components. Livelihoods, access to income, remoteness and literacy level were identified as the key challenges for communities in these areas, and PPCP is viewed as an avenue that can make an impact on community livelihoods, through support to on-farm and off-farm activities. Most of them (both women and men) identified livelihoods as a key area that lots of assistance required. Farmers identified lack of access to financial and technical support, climate change and lack of access to market as their main challenges. There is overwhelming agreement that projects supporting livelihoods and small community infrastructure are preferred over any large development projects with large physical footprints, given a negative perception on how such projects were implemented in the past. BUILDING ON LESSONS LEARNED. Most stakeholders were aware of the NCDDP project implemented by the Department of Rural Development and supported by the World Bank. They acknowledged the positive results of the project and appreciated that PPCP design is being developed based on the good practices and lessons learned from NCDDP. P a g e | 33 CSO PARTICIPATION. CSOs voiced a desire to be actively involved in the project during implementation as well as preparation, so that they can feed into the project for monitoring, adaptive management and improvement during the project implementation. ENSURING INCLUSION. Stakeholders consulted in parliament and those who are providing basic services in south-east suggested that PPCP should ensure reaching the last mile and including hard to reach and remote communities. Most development projects currently have various challenges, such as restriction of access, in reaching the communities who are in areas where EAOs have more influence. This requires a continued series of consultations, dialogue and agreements with government and EAOs at all levels. YOUTH. Local CSOs consulted in Kayin State suggested that the project should engage youth in possible ways. The region has a shortage of on and off farm livelihood opportunities for youth. Drugs are easily available and drug use prevalence among youth is high. There are legal and illegal migration possibilities to work in neighbouring countries, such as Thailand and Malaysia, for higher wages, but these carry some risk of exploitation. If the project can target youth and create livelihoods opportunities for them in their home states, it will increase the chances of them being gainfully and fully employed locally. PHASED APPROACH. All key stakeholders consulted agree with the proposed approach, which is to deliver quick, tangible results in 2 townships in each of the 3 states, and then scale up to other areas. P a g e | 34 7. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSED MEASURES This section describes the recommendations raised by ethnic groups and their representatives in project areas during free, prior and informed consultations about project activities in order to avoid adverse impacts ensure continued stakeholder engagement during implementation. It also summarizes the measures proposed by the project to address these recommendations. TO ADDRESS RISKS RELATED TO CONFLICT • Create a space for local CSOs so that they can involve in different joint planning and decision- making platforms. Project should also consider degree of representativeness from each group (who, how many people, what roles, etc.) that are likely to be affected by the project (EAO, CSO and government) in these platforms at different levels. • Ensure that public consultation workshops/socialization workshops at township level is co- facilitated by Government and EAOs/ESPs as a symbol of collaboration. • Establish participatory and joint monitoring mechanism that includes EAOs, Government, CSOs with technical assistance from the World Bank. This will promote transparency, accountability, joint decision making and planning in improving project’s results. • Provide cross-learning platforms where different communities can learn and interact each other. For example, communities from EAOs controlled areas and government-controlled areas can have exchange visits, or communities from Mon State exchange learning with those in Kayah State. Proposed Measures. Component 1 of the project on mechanisms for building trust is designed exactly for this purpose. The US$10 million component will seek to establish mechanisms for building trust and collaboration between government, EAOs, civil society and communities to facilitate collaboration on planning components 2 and 3. It will establish joint planning and decision-making bodies at union, state and township levels, and support on-going and enhanced stakeholder communications, consultations and engagement with a particular focus on local civil society groups, including youth and faith groups, to stay abreast of local context and perceptions. The component will also establish mechanisms for regular monitoring, reflection and adaptive learning, including near real-time monitoring procedures, a project management information system that allows for public access to project data, social audits and other feed-back mechanisms, third-party monitoring and annual multi- stakeholder reviews. • Select service providers who are local and trusted by the community, the local CSOs and the government. The service delivery mechanism should be flexible enough to adjust according to the local needs and contexts. Project’s recruitment policy and required qualifications should be flexible and adaptable since there are limited number of young people who speak local languages, but are graduates or pass high school. Proposed Measures. Under Component 2 and 3, community facilitators and technical facilitators for the project will be hired from local communities to ensure that they speak the local language and are trusted by communities. This measure is implemented successfully in NCDDP and will be replicated under PPCP. Under Component 3, the project will hire local service providers for livelihoods trainings P a g e | 35 and support when available to ensure that they understand community needs, speak in local languages and are trusted by communities. • Provide Do-No-Harm and Conflict Sensitivity Facilitation training to staff from government, service providers and EAOs at all administrative levels. In some cases, bring people from different organizations/department to one training to build network, relationship and trust. Proposed Measures. Under all components, the project will deliver conflict sensitivity training to government, service providers, EAOs and communities active in the project. • Continuously assess conflict risks and the risk that the project activities may exacerbate conflict or social tension and affect community safety. Proposed Measures. A number of reflection and learning tools are included in the project design to ensure the PPCP is both inclusive and equitable in its reach. A robust M&E system will both assess the project against intended results and provide real-time data that informs adaptive management. Complementary mechanisms include periodic specialized studies and the establishment of an information management system to facilitate public access to project data. Finally, annual multi- stakeholder reviews and EAO coordination and experience-sharing forums will serve as platforms of learning and reflection that feed directly into the Union steering committee. TO ADDRESS RISKS RELATED TO EXCLUSION • Ensure reaching the last mile communities, including communities who are in areas where EAOs have more influence. Proposed Measures. The project will be implemented across all village tracts/wards in a selected township. This approach mitigates to the greatest extent possible the risk that particularly conflict- affected and/or in-need communities, which are harder to access or outside the normal area of operation of government services, could be overlooked for the sake of operational efficiency or other reasons. Drawing on experiences under the NCDDP, the PPCP would seek agreement with government to support all villages in a given area, including those not listed on the GAD rolls (a problem that arises most frequently in conflict-affected areas where control is either mixed or fully in the hands of respective EAOs). To complement this approach, attention will be paid to ensuring equitable allocation of resources across all areas of the township, based exclusively on the population and number of villages in a given village tract. • Continue to assess local contexts, literacy, language use and feasibility of technology to develop good project information packages. The materials should be tailored to different geographic areas and contexts. Many communities in rural areas use mobile phones, but there are still some women who rely on other people to make/receive phone calls. For example, populations in rural areas in Mon and Kayah speaks/reads limited Burmese language, and Mon CSOs uses Mon language only in delivering their trainings for effective learning. Proposed Measures. Component 2 and 3 will use locally recruited facilitators. Across all components, project materials will accessible to ensure inclusive participation. P a g e | 36 • Ensure women’s participation in decision-making and equal access to project benefits, as well design Component 3 activities based on the needs of women, including women-headed households. Consider issues such as: Women are less likely to own land, women are less likely to be able to travel to trainings, women’s time may be occupied by household tasks and childcare. Proposed Measures. Under Component 2, PPCP will maintain ongoing NCDDP’s good practices in women’s participation, in decision-making and in ensuring equal access to project benefits, that have so far yielded strong results, including: (i) more than 51% of beneficiaries being women, (ii) gender equality in chairing the village and village tract project support committees, and more than 49% of all project committee and sub-committee members being women, (iii) equal pay to women for equal work on sub-projects, and (iv) ensuring that at least 1 sub-project per village tract is specifically prioritized by a women’s group. Under Component 3, the project will tailor training content and delivery mechanisms to the needs of women, and monitor beneficiaries to ensure that women are equally accessing the livelihoods support provided. Off-farm livelihood activities can support women who are less likely to own land. This component will also support increased access to credit and loans for women-headed households. Lastly, under Component 3, information and awareness raising on migration services and opportunities will include gender-specific information for job opportunities and gender-based risks. Under all components, up-stream and down-stream gender sensitivity and empowerment trainings will be delivered as appropriate across all project components. • Understand the needs of returnees and integrate their needs in project design and components. Tailored activities to their needs should be considered. Proposed Measures. Returnees will also be eligible for support under the project per normal operational procedures. In all villages, including unregistered villages that will benefit from the project, community facilitators undertake a community social assessment at the beginning of project cycles to identify disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and ensure that they are included in consultations and community decision making, as well as accessing project benefits. • Engage youth in community development work and provide them training or workshops for knowledge improvement in civic education, environmental conservation, gender, trafficking activities and provide them with some support so that they can initiate some social activities. Proposed Measures. Consultations to date have specifically included dialogue with youth groups. Under Component 1, the project will continue to include youth groups and civil society organizations in the township level platforms for engagement, decision making and accountability. Under Component 2, representative and gender-balanced village tract committees will promote youth participation in community decision making. Under Component 3, especially the support to off-farm activities and the information provision on migration services and opportunities will be targeted to youth. P a g e | 37 ANNEX. DETAILED RECORD OF CONSULTATIONS Time Location Meetings Key Notes Monday 30th Myanmar • Incorporate conflict monitoring within project. July 2018, Institute for Peace • Build links to the formal peace process. and Security - • Ensure project is not captured by elites. 02:30- 03:30 MIPS PM Wednesday Joint Peace Fund - • Learn from prior projects aimed at join visioning, 1st August JPF such as the European Union project. 2018, • Learn lessons from NCDDP. • See how research links to the program. 09:30- 10:30 AM Wednesday Institute for • Look at NCA Interim Transitional Arrangement and 1st August Strategy and bilateral agreements. 2018, Policy - ISP • Comply with Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for major development projects. 04:00- 05:30 • Be aware that development assistance that is PM partial can trigger conflict. • Consult with KNU, RCSS, KNPP, KIA and MNSP. • Have extensive consultations with the people on the ground. • Be mindful of business trap in ‘peace dividends’, in other words ‘elite capture’. • Make the project information available online (via social media, etc.) Thursday 2nd Burma News • The project has to be for all the people on the August 2018, International - BNI ground. • It also should be ‘sustainable economic 09:30 – development for all the people’. ‘Social Enterprise’ 10:30 AM could be helpful. Market access should also be created. • Infrastructure development project type (such as road, electricity, telecommunication developments) and support on agricultural development could be helpful. BNI’s conflict monitoring system • Three field reporters; their database system. • BNI has 13 news agency members. P a g e | 38 Time Location Meetings Key Notes • Monitoring on IED attacks, peace meetings; communal violence; IDP issues; international aid; and China watch. • Their advantage is closer affiliation with EAOs. Thursday 2nd Pyidaungsu - PI • Recent Peace Conference was symbolic but it was August 2018, good that both sides (Tatmadaw and EAOs) showed their willingness for dialogue. 11:00 – • On Peace Conference, there are five dialogue 12:00 PM topics and all are intertwined. • Interpretation of the ceasefire agreement needs review. Thursday 2nd Chiang Shan State • Project should work with government and August 2018, Mai, Development EAOs/Non-state actors. Thailand Foundation - SSDF • Infrastructure project and agriculture project (like 01:30 – water supply and technique for planation) are 02:30 PM feasible. Education provision is more political, than health provision. • Look at NCA Interim Arrangements. SSDF is suggesting the following activities incorporated in the project: • Awareness of the community peace education. • Fact collection. Thursday, 9 Bilin NCDDP facilitators • Challenges in KNU areas include availability of August 2018 township working in KNU skilled labor (not all contractors willing to come , Mon areas into KNU-controlled areas), low literacy rates State • Mixed experience with development, some NGOs have primarily outsourced – expectations can complicate community mobilization • KNU communities are interested in getting updates on political issues (e.g., peace process) and they ask questions to CDD facilitators on these issues. • KNU communities have requested support for livelihoods, including animal husbandry, veterinary services Thursday, 9 Thaton KNU Brigade 1 • Importance of identifying priorities based on what August, 2018 township communities want. Schools, road improvements , Mon are important, but needs differ. State • Good communication is critical. This will allow KNU to work with township authorities. With NCDDP they have received sufficient degree of advance notice, understand process and community P a g e | 39 Time Location Meetings Key Notes priorities. NCDDP funds are sometimes not enough, needs are big. • In some other sectors, experience less good. • KNU has permanent committee at district level that decides which programs to engage with, then presents those projects to KNU HQ Friday, 10 Kyainseik NCDDP facilitators • Authorization to operate needs to be obtained at August, 2018 gyi working in multiple levels – cited experience of 1 VT under township NMSP/KNU/gov KNU control where community wants project, , Kayin areas district KNU has approved, but KNU village State administrator is blocking • Importance of ongoing communication with township and district levels • Importance of use of ethnic dialect for communication especially at the early stage of trust building with communities in KNU/NMSP villages Friday, 10 Kyainseik Community in • Village paying taxes to KNU and DKBA August, 2018 gyi mixed • – entire village pays once per year township administration • Villagers have no restriction for their movement , Kayin area now. Roads have improved significantly. Villagers State used to work as forced labour for KNU and there was KNU army camp in the village before. • 13 villages in village tract – discussions at village tract level on grant allocation sometimes difficult • Support from NCDDP has been important. Financed school expansion. School has Mon, Karen and government teachers. • Additional needs for livelihoods and jobs, including vocational training and ag-related training. Many young girls do not have jobs. • Significant migration by community members to Thailand for labor. Remittances pay for better houses in village and support families left behind. Saturday, 11 Hpa-An, Karen Action • Risks of expanding gov infrastructure: KAC August 2018 Kayin Committee - KAC recounted case where it had financed a school State expansion, then township sent new gov teacher Karen State Civil and ethnic teacher had to leave Society Network - • Importance of ensuring projects reflect wishes of KSCN community. Karen • Focus not just on infrastructure, but on broader Environmental community development (e.g. social, political) P a g e | 40 Time Location Meetings Key Notes and Social Action • Design decentralized projects to enable local Network - KESAN decision making, decentralization is important for country to improve “in harmony” Karen River • Do not support big infrastructure, including coal or Watch dams – “small is beautiful” • Ensure you understand community participation and inclusion • Support livelihoods, including by increasing quality of education and vocational training to provide communities with skills, as well as creating or expanding access to markets • Support both sides, not just government projects but also EAOs. • Focus on building confidence, design vehicles for two sides to work together, build bridges for stakeholders • Aid should not be for government or EAOs, but should be for the people • Government and EAOs need to work together on interim arrangements, aid should support this • Work with EAOs to develop clarity on interim arrangements • Emphasize transparency – corruption remains a big issue Tuesday, 14 Yangon Key INGOs active • Important to take time, both in planning and August 2018 in conflict areas: implementation • Build in mechanisms to bring stakeholders Search for together Common Ground, • At present there is little coordination in the south- Pact, Mercy east, both on the government and development Corps, The Border partner sides Consortium, • Important to listen to grievances of communities Oxfam, DaNA, • Importance of inclusivity, avoiding even Save the Children perceptions of strengthening one side over another • Need to change both institutions and mindsets • Build confidence by communities, including in willingness of civilian state to listen, and capacity to deliver change • Focus not just on mixed, but also EAO administered areas • Build accountability and feedback loops on participatory planning • Work at multiple levels, including state/region and township P a g e | 41 Time Location Meetings Key Notes • Bring private sector actors in early in the design process, but recognize that much of the private sector activity is in informal/illicit activities • Build in space for participatory conflict analysis, effective communication methods • Importance of maintaining flexibility, learning and adapting locally • Not just about what and where you work, but about how • Inclusion is a central issue • Look at 51 NCA principles to anchor work Tuesday, 14 Yangon International • Recently published study on effect conflict August 2018 Alert sensitivity in operations in Myanmar • Emphasize consultation, not just in design but throughout project cycle • Integrate EAOs within a broader range of stakeholders • Build in adaptability: operate at scale but not using a one size fits all approach. Ensure learning over time and build in moments of reflection • Use adaptability to seize windows of opportunity, but also to scale back if tensions rise • NCDDP grievance mechanism offers important model for effective feedback mechanism. Look at other examples, including feedback by mobile phones in Nepal • Recognize potential for misunderstandings and misperceptions • Focus on building confidence and trust • For future consultations, consider inviting Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA) Tuesday, 14 Yangon Shalom August 2018 Foundation • Understand that communities don’t like to see big development projects, including on extractives. Focus on community-based projects that rebuild communities and at the same time build democratic practices. • For priorities, look at NCA, specifically interim arrangements. EAOs have formed committee to look at interim arrangements, met with gov, but little progress has been made since. P a g e | 42 Time Location Meetings Key Notes • Interim arrangements cover wide range: health, education, social, environment, language and literature, culture, drugs • Find areas where gov and EAOs can collaborate • Meet with Ethnic Entrepreneur Association. • Importance of sustainable private sector development that provides jobs • Ensure adaptability • Build mechanisms for collaboration – that is the core of what is needed to make interim arrangements work. • Policy decisions need to be made at union level, engage Chief Ministers, work with gov and EAOs at state and township level • High potential for misunderstandings – importance of effective and ongoing communication Wednesday Yangon DFID • Look to possible complementarity with CSO and 22 August good governance support activities DFID finances 2018 / Friday in Kayah (provided contacts) 24 August • Also look to new work of PACT which has large 2018 overlaps (including on livelihoods • UNDP work w/ local governance at township level (all of Mon) • Land issues will be a major concern of many groups • Consider a model that places project under State Counsellor’s office, or similar high-level body that can ensure close links to peace process and coordination across ministries and with state governments. • Migration will be a significant issue and opportunity for many communities and that the secondary urban areas (e.g., Loikaw) could offer entry points for support to livelihoods—also where EAO presence is lighter Wednesday Loikaw, NCDDP facilitators • Permission is the key to implement development 29 August Kayah working in KNPP projects 2018 State controlled areas, • EAO local representatives sometimes refuse to DRD State and allow the project team even if the project team get Township officials the permission from the EAO State and district level. • Some EAO local representatives don’t want that the project provides labour charges to the communities (Generally, EAO seeks volunteer work from the communities) P a g e | 43 Time Location Meetings Key Notes • Road construction needs the prior agreement from EAO • Road renovation is generally allowed/agreed by EAO • School/Health centre renovation is also allowed/agreed by EAO • The communities in EAO controlled areas want the development project but it is often difficult to secure permission. • Implementation needs to be sensitive to local conflict as well. Local conflicts sometimes can be existed in one village due to land ownership, different religion, etc. • There are already many committees in villages formed by different projects/NGOs • Poor literacy rate in most rural areas Development needs and challenges in Kayah State: • Water shortage especially in the summer • Limited source of livelihood, job opportunities • Agriculture - one seasonal crop mainly maize/corn - high cost for inputs (fertilizers, seeds, etc.) - limited knowledge/practice on farming - limited availability of quality seeds • Limited land ownership • Limited livestock breeding • Limited small/medium infrastructure • Drug abuse especially amongst the youth Suggested possible interventions for the new potential peace project: • Agriculture support • Income generation activities (e.g. village revolving fund) • Small/medium infrastructure development (e.g. electricity supply, village connecting roads, water supply) • Vocational training (e.g. tailoring, engine repairs) • Social services provision for Health/Education ((e.g. training local people) • Agriculture market information provision • Youth empowerment programs P a g e | 44 Time Location Meetings Key Notes Recommendations: • Inclusive workshop & consultation meetings should be organized very first (to invite all stakeholders such as Govt, Hluttaw, all relevant depts., EAOs, CSOs, community/religious leaders) • Consult with the EAOs throughout the whole project • To organize exchange visit for EAO leaders • To organize goodwill games/activities for confidence building (such as football match, traditional food festivals, cultural shows, etc.) • In the new project, the administrative work/procedures should be minimal/contextual • To coordinate between agencies to avoid gap/overlaps in interventions • To conduct broader baseline assessment/survey prior to the project • To consider Village Development Committee Structure Development • To provide Incentives for community participation Lessons learned from other development projects in Kayah State • Comprehensive and long-term development support that is integrated to township development planning/financing is more impactful • Agriculture project: landless people cannot benefit from it • Livestock project: if support is target to the most vulnerable people, they cannot afford to feed the livestock • Local context: crops/livestock supported by the project should be appropriate to local weather and conditions Wednesday Lay Ein Representatives Development needs and challenges in the community: 29 August Su village of communities 2018 (Karenni including head of • Limited income, source of livelihood, job ethnic), village, village opportunities Loikaw tract and CDD • Agriculture Townshi committee - one crop only p members - high cost for inputs (fertilizers, seeds, etc.) - limited knowledge/practice on farming - limited availability of quality seeds • Limited livestock breeding P a g e | 45 Time Location Meetings Key Notes • Limited small/medium infrastructure • Water shortage especially in the summer Decision-making: • Generally, community leaders take the lead in decision making for the community development especially when the community cannot negotiate their priority needs. Requested interventions for their community development: • Agriculture support • Income generation activities (e.g. village revolving fund; any intervention like Emerald Jade/DRD Evergreen Project) • Small/medium infrastructure development (e.g. village connecting roads, water supply) • Vocational training (e.g. soap-making, tailoring, engine repairs) Wednesday Maik Kan Representatives Development needs and challenges in the community: 29 August village of communities 2018 (Pa-O including head of • Limited income, source of livelihood, job ethnic), village, village opportunities Loikaw tract and CDD • Agriculture township committee - one seasonal crop mainly maize/corn members - high cost for inputs (fertilizers, seeds, etc.) - limited knowledge/practice on farming - limited availability of quality seeds - relied only on the company services • Don’t do livestock breeding for income due to their religious practice • Limited small/medium infrastructure • Water shortage especially in the summer Decision-making: • Generally, community leaders make decision for the community development especially when the community cannot negotiate their priority needs. Requested interventions for their community development: • Agriculture support • Income generation activities (e.g. village revolving fund) • Small/medium infrastructure development (e.g. village connecting roads) P a g e | 46 Time Location Meetings Key Notes • Vocational training (e.g. tailoring, engine repairs) • Agriculture market information provision • Youth empowerment programs (Library for the community) Lessons learned from other development projects • Women saving group supported by UNDP no longer functioning after UNDP phased out. Reported issues included a few members did not return the borrowings, a few members did not attend the meeting regularly, forms/procedures to follow were complicated. • Households that borrow money from private micro-finance organizations need to pay interest on monthly basis. The reason for borrowing money is for agriculture. Households need to find daily labor job or collect forest products to generate cash for paying monthly interest. Since the price of corn has decreased in the past 2-3 years, farmers are trapped in debt cycle. Wednesday Loikaw, Civil Health and • The role of local CSO and their participation is 29st August Kayah Development crucial for achieving project objectives 2018, State Network – CHDN • Possible development interventions:  small/medium infra development projects 4:00- 5:00  health and education interventions PM  large scale vocational training and start- up funding should be provided after the training  agriculture development projects • Necessary to consult with EAO throughout the whole project Wednesday Loikaw, Center for Good • 25 INGOs and 40 CSOs are operating in Kayah State 29st August Kayah Governance - CGG • Development projects are mostly in Hpruso and 2018, State Demoso Townships and so there are gaps/needs in other areas of Kayah state 05:30- 6:30 • There are 6 EAOs in Kayah, but only KNPP is PM politically active • There are three significant ethnic-based parties: KDP; KNP and Lesu Party Development needs and challenges in Kayah State: • Water scarcity (both for household consumption and farming) P a g e | 47 Time Location Meetings Key Notes • Economic development and youth empowerment are in needs • Agriculture is the major livelihood and it is important to develop the sector Project/Activities feasible for ‘Peace Project’ • Support on agriculture sector development needs (access to capital and technical assistance in particular) to consider • Programs for job opportunities creation should be considered • Livelihood programs • Vocational training • Small/Medium Infrastructure Projects • Health/Education support to build and strengthen the confidence and cooperation between the Govt. and the EAOs Thursday 30 Loikaw, Representatives • Noted that peace talks have negatively affected August 2018 Kayah of Karenni where development activities can reach. State National • Problems identified: community knowledge of Progressive Party governance, human/democratic rights, aid - KNPP dependency, fear, nutrition, lack of economic opportunities, drug abuse, lack of trust with service delivery of Gov. • Development needs identified: greater consultations, livelihoods, village-village roads, youth voiced Thursday 30 Loikaw, CSO • Meeting of approximately 20 representatives from August 2018 Kayah representatives, around 10+ CSOs working in Kayah state, many State Kayah State directly with the KNPP or w/in KNPP controlled areas • Needs highlighted in conflict areas: livelihoods, peace building activities (“Kayay peace network”), social cohesion work (for returnees) • To better work in areas need: trust (use local people), participation and time to understand, upfront information to EAOs (respect the KNPP), need to also engage military • Some livelihood work on-going: rice production, forest management, animal husbandry, soap making, etc. (limited market) • NGOs need to partner with local CSO/CBOs to improve links to communities P a g e | 48 Time Location Meetings Key Notes Thursday 30 Loikaw, World Vision • Access to conflict areas have always been August 2018 Kayah International & challenging but more recently it has become worse State UNHCR as the State Government no longer has a focal person to facilitate the INGO/UN requests; process varies regularly • Noted that with KNPP, LOs at State, district, and t/ships had to be contacted and access given could be revoked by other level • Identified water as key need Wednesday Yangon Combined • MIMU presented Vulnerability Index, available on- Sept 5 2018 meeting of the line, using census, admin, and ACLED data to south-east analyse; looks at severity of vulnerability and Myanmar population affected; groups t/ships into 8 bands— Working Group potentially useful in targeting efforts (to be and compared/contrasted w/ MDI or newer poverty Development, data) Humanitarian, • Presentation of on-goings program targeting Peace Nexus south-east, including ACE (PACT/USAID), UNDP Work Stream Township Local Government Development Program, Swiss financing, ILO (small scale), VNG -- USAID (MAGIC/EU), and DFID activities -- UNDP • Discussion on why little development in south-east despite peace: -- UNHCR o Cease-fires still fragile o Engagement w/ EAOs incremental -- TAF o Limited role of state government • Myanmar has 3x average level of external -- DFID migration; 70% of which to Thailand (of which -- VNG majority from SE—Mon, Kayin, Kayah); affects communities and child-raising; also continued risk -- TBC of conflict affects l-term investment decisions • Work with states on “visioning” their futures and -- MIMU details on state budgets; also notes that SE has, in -- EU general, done much better in terms of fiscal transfers, but large gap remains -- INGO Forum • In terms of possible assistance gaps, participants suggested private sector/economic development -- SDC support, NRM, land (customary tenure and -- PACT restitution, 2012 and 2015 laws, “green- grabbing”/2017 law), effects of SEZs and other Pan- -- ILO Asia initiatives • Refugees: very slow formal process, to be -- IOM “regularized” between MM and Thai, slightly faster informal process, estimated 97K total in Thailand, P a g e | 49 Time Location Meetings Key Notes strong “hold” factors relating to employment and education, • NCA: EAO frustration with speed of political process; erosion of security, social services, and revenue collection roles threatens authority of EAOs 11 Sept 2018 Yangon Covenant Consult • Noted that interim arrangements remain poorly developed – reasonably well defined in NCA, but little happening in implementation • Hundreds of thousands of people in south-east Myanmar live in areas controlled by EAOs, many more in mixed areas, important to get services to these communities • At present, NCA has had limited impact on improving conflict-affected communities’ access to services, but needs are big and interim period likely to be long Tuesday 8th Veranda CSOs (KMSS, • It is important to note that opinion and January h Cafe, KSCN, Swiss endorsement from one person/leader of an EAO 2019 Hpa-An Contact, doesn’t represent the entire EAO. Kawmutaw, KSC, • Government-led electrification project collects KHRG, LRC, cash from communities and there is no KESAN, FHS, KDN, transparency on it and CSOs are concerned. KACAA, Access • CSOs also highlighted their concerns about big Program, KWEG) infrastructure project as well as electrification project in their areas under PPCP. • CSOs requested promotion of mother-tongue based learning/teaching and support for ethnic language teachers. • CSOs recognized development of community-level infrastructure because of NCDDP. And they expressed needs to support livelihoods of communities. • CSOs requested to provide them with opportunities to continue engage in the project (preparation and implementation). • CSOs also agreed that joint mechanism for basic services (such as referral system) can be done if the governance system is good. • CSOs also expressed importance of capacity building of government staff. Since the knowledge and experience between CSOs and government service providers are different, it is difficult to work and hold discussion. P a g e | 50 Time Location Meetings Key Notes Wednesday UNHCR Development • PPCP should ensure that the assistance/services 9th January Office, Partners in Hpa- reach to EAO controlled areas because 2019 Hpa-An an (UNHCR, TBC, government-led project mostly does not get access UNFPA, Pact, BAJ, to these areas. IRC, ARC, MAG, • Some EAO-Gov joint activities are already Mercy Corps, happening in Kayin State. Trust to each other is MRCS, CPI, critical and negotiation/consultation at all levels Malteser, Unicef, with both sides is needed. One challenge is that Peace Wind when there is new government staff, the trust Japan, AAR Japan, building goes to beginning and success also MSI and HI) depends on individual interests and personality. • Health is the most advanced area in terms of joint service delivery. Wednesday Commun Representatives • Community in both villages mainly live on 9th January ity from different agriculture. First village grows different types of 2019 houses in development fruit, and some paddy. The second village grow the committees in the corns, vegetable and some paddy. Common villages villages, teachers, challenges in both villages are agriculture water, (1) Tha farmers, etc. lack of machineries and good quality seeds, access Yet Kone to market and labor shortage. and (2) • Both villages are affected by flood, severely in 2018 Main Ma monsoon. The second village lies along the river Hla Kyun and experiencing increase loss of agriculture land villages, because of landslide. Hpa-an • Second village visited improve production of corn Townshi after they received the quality seeds from p company. They mainly rely on radio and facebook for weather forecast and to select what type of vegetable to grow. They receive market information from traders in Malamyine and Yangon. Traders also suggest farmers what to grow. Traders come to villages directly to buy the produce. Wednesday KDHW Karen • Trust and personal relationship are key for joint 9th January Office, Department of service delivery with government. 2019 Hpa-An Health and • The communications with health department is Welfare - KDHW done through IP Coordination Meeting (2 times/year) and through separate meeting. • KDHW is now coordinating with DSW to deliver cash support to mothers (under government Maternal and Child Cash Transfer Program) in KDHW areas. But according to their current P a g e | 51 Time Location Meetings Key Notes understanding, KDHW will not get any financial support to deliver the cash to mothers (e.g.; logistics for KDHW health workers). • KDHW provides immunization services in their areas, but still has challenges to cover in all areas (for example in Bago) because of the difficult negotiation with DOH. • KDHW highlighted that there are a lot of development needs in conflict-affected areas and suggested meeting with other ethnic service providers in Mae Sot. Tuesday 8th LRC CSOs (Local Situation in Mon state January Office, Resource Center, 2019, 4:00- Mawlam Mon CSO • No open fire in the state but there is potential 6:00 pm yine Network, Karen conflict between EAOs (NMSP and KNU). Development • Lack of trust/social cohesion among different Network, ethnic groups in Mon State (Mon, Karen and Pa-O). Interfaith • Community perceived that peace is nothing to do Network, National with them. (need peace advocacy) and CSO has Enlightenment limited capacity to do awareness raising (could not Institute, KMSS, cover the whole state). Lawka Ahlin, Mon • Community do not trust on Government, EAO and MINA, NEI, CBI) Tatmataw relationship. Suggestions • Establish mechanism to build trust between EAOs, between communities. Regional/local level negotiation and engagement between GOM, EAOs and Tatmataw should be encouraged. Early Warning Early Resolution (EWER) mechanism should be applied. • Implementation should be done through trusted CSOs (Karen CSO for Karen community and Mon CSO for Mon community) • Should follow village level committee set up practicing in CDD is a good way to build transparency and accountability. • Better to give 80% opportunity to community in subproject implementation. Conduct community level research and present the findings to the CM and resolve issues. P a g e | 52 Time Location Meetings Key Notes Tuesday 9th UNDP Development Sharing implementation experiences January Office, Partners in 2019, 9:00- Mawlam Mawlamyine • Migration has caused labor shortage and hard to 10:30 am yine find skilled labor. This creates delays in project (ILO, IOM, World implementation. Also, some villages are very Vision, WFP, remote, and roads are poor. This makes the project Point-B, Pact, difficult to transport construction materials Helvestas, UN • There is no trust between EAOs and Government. Women, UNDP) Suggestion Cooperation between government, EAO, development partners might be possible way of promoting trust. Tuesday 9th NMSP NMSP Central • State Counselor in Feb 2018 after NCA promised to January Liaison Committee provide financial and technical assistance for 2019, 11:00 Office, members and community and economic development. am -1:00 pm Mawlam NMSP District • Development assistance models in NMSP areas: yine members  donor and NMSP,  donor and NMSP social service providers (health & education) or CSOs,  donor, NMSP and GOM.  MOBA also negotiates with NMSP to implement projects in border areas and MOH also cooperates with NMEC. Basic services: Community depends on generators for electricity supply and it costs about 500 Kyat per unit. Solar system will not be sufficient because the villagers like to use electricity for TV and other entertainment. NMSP supports rural road (inter and intra village roads) and bridges. Tuesday 8th Veranda CSO Meeting CSOs welcome PPCP project and is hopeful to provide more Jan 2019 h coffee (Karen Student community development assistance through PPCP. house, Center, KMSS, Hpa-An Karen CSO • The project not to politicize since NCA is not Network, KDN, finalized yet. Free Human • The capacity gap between civil servants and CSOs Society, KACC, is significant and because of this gap it is Kant Kaw Alumni, challenging to discuss about development issues. Swiss Contact, There is also a gap in coordination between these KHRG, KSCN, two groups. Karen Health Foundation, LRC, KESAN, Youth Community Center) P a g e | 53 Time Location Meetings Key Notes Monday 21st DKBA-5 Democratic Karen • DKBA-5 welcomed the proposed PPCP and January Liaison Buddhist Army appreciated targeting the conflict-affected 2019, Office, communities. Hpa-An • DKBA-5 is looking forward to being consulted 11:20 AM - more. 12:10 PM Monday 21st KNU/KNL KNU/KNLA • KNU/KNLA (PC) welcomed the proposed PPCP and January A (PC) appreciated approach targeting the conflict- 2019, Liaison affected communities. Office, 02:00 AM - Hpa-An 02:30 PM Monday, Loikaw Civil Health and • Building trust is very important. 18th Feb Development • Coordination is becoming just an activity, without 2019 Network (CHDN), concrete improvement in relationships. • Program level convergence is currently happening, for example on malaria program. • At policy/system level: More challenges. Different standards & criteria for health workers (particularly EHO workers have less education). • Ethnic Health Organizations want to move as much as possible to decentralization / federal health system so that these decisions can be made locally. Monday, Loikaw Karenni Human Some challenges of the NCDDP that should not be replicated 18th Feb Rights Group by the PPCP. These included: 2019 (KnHRG) • Community participation is sometimes weak, due to poor understanding of community development as a concept by both government and communities. Strong mandate from Union government (perhaps the National Reconciliation and Peace Center and/or the Peace Commission) would be needed to push the state government to engage with the KNPP in a more meaningful manner. Monday, Loikaw Karenni National KNYO commended the project concept, stating that it was 18th Youth necessary at this moment in time and that it could help P a g e | 54 Time Location Meetings Key Notes February Organization correct for the present deficit of trust between state 2019 (KNYO) authorities and the ethnic communities. PPCP should also incorporate: 1) a research component, in order to gather evidence on and share information about peace is benefiting Kayah/Karenni state; 2) large format civil society consultation mechanisms, to enable their input into the PPCP design and implementation process; and 3) a project component that would aim to support the repatriation of Karenni refugees. Monday, Famous Development Following an introduction to the PPCP concept, a number of 18th Hotel, Partners meeting the audience members sought clarification on project February Loikaw (NRC, IRC, JRS, details such as which government agencies the PPCP will be 2019 UN-Women, WFP, working with, at what levels the proposed joint decision- ACF, DRC, AVSI, making would take place and whether the PPCP intended to LDN, TBC, Pact, work through existing village level committees or planned CPI, CGG) to install new ones. The preference of the group was, of course, that existing structures be utilized to the extent possible (they further noted that VDCs are active in Hpasaung, Bawlakhe and Mese and that most villages in these areas have already compiled village books and village mappings). The subsequent discussion focused on the complexities of operating conflict-affected areas. The group agreed it is necessary to work through CBOs and CSOs that the EAOs already know and trust in order to access hard to reach areas. Overall, the PPCP was advised to concentrate on building trust with the EAOs and demonstrating respect for them. Finally, the group suggested that that PPCP could work to add-value to traditionally farmed agricultural products, by building value chains, better access to market and providing technical support. Vocational training was also identified as an important need for youth. Wednesday, Commun Representatives Nan Tik is a village of approximately 120 households, 20th ity hall in from comprising a mix of Shan, Kayin, Kayah and other ethnic February Nam Tik communities families. The village is now in its 3rd cycle of the NCDDP. The 2019 village including village main challenges the village encountered during NCDDP leaders, NCDDP implementation were technical issues, including committee disagreements over the location and materials used in the water supply piping. Nam Tik village has also received some P a g e | 55 Time Location Meetings Key Notes members and training from the Department of Livestock and from DRD on others sewing. In terms of the conflict-affectedness, Nam Tik has been destroyed and displaced by fighting twice over the course of the civil war (1976 and 1996). They stated they are required to seek permission from both government and EAO parties before undertaking any substantial projects. The KNPP is said to be particularly concerned about wood production, land rights and up-land cultivation. Quarrying is explicitly forbidden. The community stated it would be better to involve the KNPP in the development process in a more meaningful way. Presently, there is a KNPP representative on the Village Development Committee, but they are not particularly active. Wednesday, Commun Representatives Daung Baw is made up of 73 households across 6 village 20th ity hall, from tracts and is almost exclusively Shan. Also an NCDDP village, February Daung communities Daung Baw has chosen to undertake basic infrastructure 2019 Baw including village projects such as a bridge, community hall, community hall village leaders, NCDDP fencing, as well as some vocational training focused on committee income generating activities. For the next cycle, they wish to members and build a village road. They would also like further assistance others with agricultural technical assistance, diversifying their crops and developing better access to market. The participants reported that both men and women agreed with these priorities. In terms of development challenges, the community felt most restricted by not being able to access enough land. The KNPP has allocated a fixed amount to the community and does not consider expanding this area even to account for population growth or the establishment of new households (i.e. after marriage). In addition, they noted that community engagement has been low, particularly with those involved in agriculture, because they must travel to and frequently stay at the communal land 4 km away. Wednesday, Commun Representatives Wan Aung Te Yah is made up of 112 households and is 20th ity hall in from reported to be more than 100 years old. The main ethnic February Wan communities group is Yintale. This village is an NCDDP village. During the 2019 Aung Te including village second year, they prioritized a school building, school Yah leaders, NCDDP fencing, school retaining wall, a football pitch and stands. village committee They have received some technical assistance for agricultural activities through the department of livestock. P a g e | 56 Time Location Meetings Key Notes members and They would wish to build an intra-community road in the others future. Wednesday, Commun Representatives • Many young men leave and mostly drove to deliver 20th ity hall, from wood but now all the wood is gone so they are February Ngwe communities going to companies to apply to work as drivers at 2019 Taung local companies. Ywar Thit • One woman left to Malaysia but most women work village here in farming and making local millet wine. most women don't have a lot to do, spend time visiting other women and talking. • CDD built village hall. Other development projects include Evergreen, LDN have a school project supporting teaching aids, school equipment and furniture and staff houses. Metta foundation is doing ECCD centre. No other livelihood projects. • 10 villages in village tracts. Mostly Kayah people and Buddhist and also traditional beliefs and festivals. Before 2010 there was conflict. Those living high up on the hill had to flee down to the main village. Used to do shifting agriculture on the hill and wasn't safe, but now since 2010 have felt safe and enjoying that. Now are is fully controlled by government so don't have to work with KNPP for development projects. • They want more education. can only educate up to 7th grade and then have to send kids away to family or school in Hpruso. Also need technical agricultural support as only know how to do ground nuts and would prefer to diversify. Also would like water support, as have water shortages in March-April. Vocational training they are interested in is sewing and weaving traditional bamboo products. • They do all income earning in rainy season growing ground nuts, after which stay busy but only cutting would for fences and houses, not making money. Space there for work but don't know what. in rainy season have to hire labour and ground nut prices unreliable, drops when harvests. Used to be better when Chinese bought, but they no longer do. Wednesday, Village Representatives • Six villages in village tract, 42 households, 250 20th school, from people. Mostly Roman Catholic Kayah, with some February Khaw communities traditional beliefs too. 2019 • Main challenges: road access to Hrpuso bad, particularly in rains P a g e | 57 Time Location Meetings Key Notes Tha Maw • Agriculture: Not enough capital so have to take village loans and pay high interest rates so bad profit. Water is bad for drinking so have to get from Hpruso or drink bad water if can't afford. High dropout rates for schools as too little money. • 8 people left village for Thailand and Malaysia for work, just two for work as drivers in other townships. The 8 have 3-year contracts and then come back for a while before going again. send remittances (mostly). • Wednesday, Village Representatives • 59 households, 422 people. Village tract has 6 20th school, from villages, mostly traditional religions, some February Htar Le communities Buddhists, no Christians. 2019 village • Need improvements in education, health and village road. Also techniques for agriculture and better seeds. There is only one season for agriculture. • Previous CDD built town hall, next they are starting on village road. • Before 2010 affected by conflict with skirmishes in the village. • CHDN have monthly outreach services for check- ups and medicines. Immunizations by DOH. Minor cases are treated by CHDN, colds etc. For serious things like flu or malaria rely on DOH and go to hospital in Loikaw as RHC also can't deal with it. • 3 people have gone to Thailand for 3-year contracts. Most men with jobs are drivers for cargo trucks. Women hand weave but for gifts not sale. Sunday, 28th KNPP KNPP • The KNPP shared several stories reflecting prior April 2019 Poltical experiences in dealing with the state and union HQ, Mae governments, both in the peace process and around Hong Son processes of development and service delivery. • Concerns over how the PPCP would ensure assistance reached the community level were talked through. Specifically, the KNPP team sought clarity on the measures that would be in place to mitigate risks of preferential treatment of communities under government control. • Finally, transparency was stated as an essential Tuesday 30th Mawlam Mon Youth • The role of implementing agency in this project is April 2019, yine Progressive very critical. The effective implementation P a g e | 58 Time Location Meetings Key Notes 11:00 AM to Organization depends on how well the implementation agency 12:30 PM (MYPO) can deliver project services (approaches, trust, information sharing). • Women CSOs and CSOs targeting women suggested that awareness raising, and training should be provided to women in rural areas to promote their leadership and participation in community development work. Tuesday 30th Mawlam Jeepyah Civil • In Mon state, there is low interest in vocational April 2019, yine Service and training. Most young people (men/women) are 1:00 to 3:00 Development more interested in working in Thailand because PM Organization they have more certainty to get reasonable income (JSCDO) as migrant workers. • It is also difficult to get approval from parents in Mon state. Parents of young people, they are concerned with the safety of their female children and don’t encourage/approval them to attend these trainings in town. • Women in rural areas needs capacity building support/training so that they will feel confident to participate in development activities. Development concepts, civic education and organizational development training are recommended. • To promote women participation in training, flexibility should be given. JSCDO provides training in the afternoon to women (half day/afternoon) since women are busy in rubber farms in the morning. Use of language also helps effectiveness of the training. All training delivered by JSCDO are conducted in Mon language and if the trainer can’t speak Mon, JSDCO hires a translator for the training. • For joint/coordination platforms, some already exits but ethnic CSOs feel more comfortable to discuss discussing some of the issues only among Mon CSOs rather than with larger networks. Tuesday 30th Hpa-An Karen Women • KWEG selects lead farmers (women only) and April 2019, Empowerment provide series of training on leadership, financial 4:00 AM to Group (KWEG) management, small business, and gender 5:00 PM awareness training (both men and women). KWEG said that peer-to-peer learning is effective and therefore they conduct exchange visit for lead farmers. P a g e | 59 Time Location Meetings Key Notes • Only a few people are interested in program since they are busy with their livelihoods and household chores. Incentive to farmers can make the program more attractive. • IEC materials are widely used during the training. Demonstration plot are also developed for practical work. Technical training includes land preparation, pest management, etc. • KWEG supports networking with their lead farmers and DOA so that farmers can report on challenges and support they need from government. Recent success story was KWEG’s farmers request for irrigation is now included in State government budget for next FY. DOA also issues certification of rice seeds for KWEG’s farmers and invites them to training/events that are organized by DOA. Wednesday Hpa-An Karen Youth • Impact monitoring should be conducted on 1st May Leaders/Represen vocational training program. Kayin youth 2019, 9:30 to tatives (Karen representatives are concerned for possible 11:30 AM Youth Network, negative impacts in future. For example, most Youth Community popular training are beautician and mechanical Center, training in Hpa-an. Since job opportunities are Zwekabinmyay limited, young people after the training, leave their Higher Education village or state and work in Yangon and this School, Education increases migration. Gathering Group, • Karen youths also suggest that PPCP will be more Karen State Youth effective if it narrows the development gaps rather Affairs, etc.) than creating/providing new activities. There are several people who completed vocational training but could not establish their own businesses yet. If the project’s vocation training support targets to these graduates and connect them with jobs or access to micro finance or provide further support, this will create some impacts. • IDPs in the camps in Kayin State (e.g., Myine Gyi Ngu), who fled their homes because of the fighting in 2016 receive very limited development assistance. No livelihoods opportunities, they are afraid to go out and work, most of the organizations are restricted to access to this area. The project should support this vulnerable group of people. • Local CSOs consulted in Kayin State suggested that the project should engage youth communities in possible ways. There are youth who have attended P a g e | 60 Time Location Meetings Key Notes some higher education programs (civic engagement, community development, etc.). Youth groups expressed their concerns in Kayin State as follow. • Karen youth groups raise their concerns about drug users. Youth are sent to rehabilitation centers but after that they do not receive any support for livelihoods or jobs and to re-engage in the communities. This type of environment leads them to use drug again. • Some of the issues that happened at the local levels after the development organization provided services to communities in EAOs influenced areas.  Some government departments are implementing development project in these areas (e.g., NCDDP). EAOs perceived these projects as government expansion to their controlled area. They are also concerned that communities will choose Government’s side because of the funding/assistance. The development project normally is time-based and provides supports only for a few years. After the project phases out, this may lead local tension.  One NGO provides solar panels to communities. Communities are very happy. But EAOs ask them to return these solar panels to NGOs. Communities have to follow as EAOs asked.  Communities want to get school teachers, but they do not get approval from EAOs. Wednesday, KNU/KNL KNU/KNLA • Prioritize the state level when thinking about joint 8th May A-PC decision-making mechanisms. If EAOs and the 2019, 9:30 to Liaison State Government can reach a decision to 10:30 AM Office, cooperate on development at this level, all Hpa-An activities would be able to proceed without delay – including roads and bridges, which are often thought of as sensitive issues. Wednesday, KNU KNU • Meeting highlighted the low levels of trust at the 8th May Liaison community level as a deep concern and an 2019, 9:30 to Office, impediment to effective cooperation. 10:30 AM Hpa-An • Meeting advised the PPCP to pursue a go-slow approach and begin only with what is feasible, in areas that implementation is likely to succeed. P a g e | 61 Time Location Meetings Key Notes Once some success has been demonstrated and trust built, then it can turn to scaling up and look at new, more complicated areas Friday, 9th Veranda CSO meeting • The participants highlighted that there are KNU May 2019, h Café, (KMSS, KDHW, controlled areas in Bago region, for example, and 9:30 to Hpa-An Karen Open these areas should also be covered under PPCP. 11:30 AM Group, Karen • Joint planning & decision-making body at state and Women township level, should focus on development and Democracy Action be different from Joint Monitoring Committee Group, Freedom (JMC). of Karen Society) • CSOs are also concerned with government-led development project because mostly it is led by a small group of people who have good relationship WB: Nik and Eiei with government in the village such as the village head, village tract administrator, etc. In some cases, these people cannot support the project because they are busy with their primary responsibility and in other cases the project decision are made by small group of people and not participatory. Because of poor management and implementation arrangement, in some villages Ever Green project is not sustained or creates harms/conflicts in the communities. • The participants also highlighted that the mixed- controlled areas (more than one EAOs) are more complex because both groups like to involve in the project and restrict access. Friday, 9th DKBA-5 DKBA-5 • DKBA-5 stated that communities were vulnerable May 2019, Liaison because of limited access to markets and because 10:00 to Office, farmers could not afford seeds and are therefore 11:00 AM Hpa-An forced into extractive, high-interest deals. As such, agriculture, livestock and value chain activities were suggested as clear priorities for the PPCP if it were to enter into their areas. • In terms of coordination with the state government, the DKBA-5 indicated good relations. • Overall, the group was receptive of the PPCP project but stated that more discussions would be needed in the future. Wed, 7th Commun Meeting with Shwe Nyaung Bin village May 2019 ity communities represen from Shwe  Has two villages, 165 households, Karen. tative Nyaung Bin village  Challenges: Do not have technical support for value added product, good quality seed or variety of P a g e | 62 Time Location Meetings Key Notes houses in (Thandaunggyi), cardamom and taro, shortage of water in the dry villages Taw Bya Gyi season. village tract and  Need to pay cardamom tax for both Government Zalae Kabalar and KNU. 200 kyats per vest. Chan Village,  Top 3 priority for village development is 1. Water Zalae village tract harvesting, 2. Technical support for cardamom (Leiktho) farming, 3. Market access for cardamom and durian. Zalae Kabalar Chan village  Has 7 villages in village tract, 64 households with 323 populations. Gehba ethnic, Christian.  Challenges: Do not have capital and technical support for value added product (VAP), do not have quality seed, rats destroying plants.  DOA conducted agriculture (grafting) training in the village for one day with inadequate practical session. Friday, 9th Royal CSOs in Taunggoo Key points for trust building: May 2019 Kaytuma (Hsar ka Hsaw, di Hotel, Hsar Du Gaw, Hsar • Acknowledge different governance system Taungoo Mu Htaw, Dae Loh between GOM and EAO Social • Require series of negotiation prior to any of Development activities (Thorough explanation and series of Group, Myanmar consultation, negotiation with EAO is critical for the Chinpaung- project to move forward). Pharlar • More beneficial to implement through trusted Association - local CSO/NGO etc. MCPP, JMC-S • EAOs already have their positive and negative list Bago, BMBRDC to do for their control area. • Best to consult with Taungoo Humanitarian Development Committee (THDC) for the works in EAO controlled area. Key points for Infrastructure and Livelihood • Referencing Gov data and number will not be accurate for EAO control area (such as land ownership, unregistered villages, etc.) • Most of the villagers do not have evidence for land ownership (Form 7) • Gov is identifying forest areas in the township and expanding the forest land in which some of them are natural reserved area. After the law is passed, this will have an impact for the local communities in the future since they will lose their lands. P a g e | 63 Time Location Meetings Key Notes • No big infrastructure is encouraged. E.g. DAM project. Suggestion for joint decision-making model • Joint coordination meeting between GOM-EAO- CSO- community is a good idea. But EAO might not give decision right away as they need to bring this up to higher level for decision. • Budget should go to the Joint Coordination team (GOM-EAO-CSO- Community) Tuesday, NMSP NMSP • A key issue articulated was that the project could 28th May Liaison be used as a tool for government expansion into 2019 Office, areas under their control. Mawlam • As such, the NMSP delegation further wished to yine explore who the responsible parties would be at the village tract, township, state and union levels, as well as how money would flow through the project. • It was explained that the NMSP has had a number of bad experiences of working with international organizations on development issues in the past. • PPCP holistic focus and framework approach was appropriate for their context. They support for the notion of deeper and more proactive engagement of EAOs in the project’s decision-making processes. Tuesday, 4th KNU, KNU Central • Project should be cautious in terms of its “ethnic June 2019 Mae Sot Executive and sensitivity” and “do no harm”. Central • They noted the importance of joint mechanisms Committee transcending symbolism and actually vesting EAO Members and ethnic representatives with equal decision- making power. Thursday, KNU, KNU Central • Highlighted importance of meaningful 11th July Mae Sot Executive and consultation, KNU wants to have a bigger role than 2019 Central being informed/consulted. Committee • Project Committees at State & Township Levels Members should be comprised with people from Govt. EAOs and Community equally (for instance, 3 from Govt., 3 from EAOs and 3 from Community) • KNU expressed their concern of Govt. expansion in their areas even after the project phases out. P a g e | 64 Time Location Meetings Key Notes - Noted that project implementation should be carried out only in line with the agreement and decisions made by Project Committees. Tuesday, KNPP KNPP Executive • EAO representation at all levels of the project is 30th July Political Committee and essential. In this sense they agree with the PPCP’s 2019 HQ, Mae Central proposed project thinking and models. Hong Son Committee • Decision-making powers within joint bodies must members be equitable. Unilateral veto powers and consensus-based processes are possible ways for achieving this. • A formal commitment between the government and EAOs on the PPCP could help ensuring good faith on all sides. • The project should be truly bottom-up and community-driven. P a g e | 65