Myanmar Program
Introduction
The Myanmar Program of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung seeks to contribute towards a democratic transition and an inclusive and sustainable development for the benefit of all people in Myanmar. The Myanmar program dates back to the early 2000s when the foundation decided to support civil society inside Myanmar by awarding scholarships to promising young students from all parts of Myanmar and advocating a pro-engagement approach. Moreover, with its artists exchange program the foundation enabled exchange between local artists and creative people from Myanmar as well as those from Southeast Asia and beyond.
Since 2011, Myanmar is undergoing significant changes. A wave of reforms followed the handover of power from the previous military regime to a semi-civilian government, which came as a surprise to many. However, the country faces a multitude of challenges as it opens up to the outside world and seeks to transform itself. Some of the biggest obstacles include the still unresolved ethnic conflicts, widespread poverty with weak human development indicators, lack of democratic institutions, overexploitation of its abundant natural resources along with increasing environmental degradation. Considering the local context and the foundations global experience the objective of the Myanmar Program is to focus on the following areas:
» Democratic Transition and Inclusive Development
» Sustainable Management of Natural Resources
Democratic Transition and Inclusive Development
Myanmar is currently undergoing a threefold transition from (1) an authoritarian system to democratic governance, (2) from a centrally-directed economy to a market-oriented economy and (3) from a state of civil war to having a peaceful coexistence among the many ethnic groups residing in the country. Much attention is currently given to the economic development of a country that some have called Asia’s next “Economic Tiger”. The current government welcomes foreign investors to ensure economic growth and turn Myanmar into an industrialized nation. Yet, to ensure a “people centered development” as envisaged by the government an inclusive political dialogue is needed that allows active participation in decision making on all levels from the bottom up. An unbalanced economic development that only focuses on growth and solely benefits the urban elite will constrain a democratic transition and further fuel social conflict. While Myanmar needs the support of the international donor community to fulfill its ambitions it’s development partners must learn from past mistakes and prevent Myanmar from becoming the next “donor playground”. The Myanmar program of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung encourages debates on the local and national level to enable a self-determined and inclusive development process that also respects the needs of future generations.
Scholarship and Alumni Program
The Scholarship and Alumni Program has been at the core of the foundations Myanmar program over the past ten years. It contributes to bridge the gap in the area of higher education inside Myanmar and to remedy the massive brain drain, which is one of the major obstacles for the future development of Myanmar. Since 2004, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung each year awards full scholarships to promising young students from all parts of Myanmar to attend international M.A. Programs at selected partner Universities in Thailand. About fifty beneficiaries could be supported to study International Development Studies, Sustainable Development and Economics. As part of their studies the students completed academic research about development problems in Myanmar, in many cases conducting pioneering work in their respective areas. After graduation the young scholars return to Myanmar and apply their expertise and knowledge as journalists, practitioners in the development field, trainers, community- and humanitarian workers and in other philanthropic professions. The scholarship program also produces a strong alumni network which helps to sustain information exchange among its graduates, current students and the foundation, fostering a sense of social solidarity and intellectual affinity.
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Sustainable management of natural resources
Perspectives ASIA #1
Perspectives – Political Analysis and Commentary from Asia
PERSPECTIVES ASIA #1
Myanmar’s Natural Resources: Blessing or Curse?
- - Myanmar’s progress since the 2010 general elections has been astounding, with political transition greatly encouraging citizens and international diplomatic and investment communities. The diplomatic climate for Myanmar has changed dramatically as a result and sanctions have been eased progressively. Not surprisingly, many international investors have cast their eyes on Myanmar’s abundant natural resources for commercial exploitation. more»
PERSPECTIVES ASIA #1
Foreign-investment-induced Conflicts in Myanmar’s Mining Sector – The Case of the Monywa Copper Mine
- - As part of the first publication of the series Perspectives Asia, Nwet Kay Khine reflects on the impacts of protest and local opposition against a copper mine which turned into a national movement with international impacts especially for Chinese investors. Using the Letbadaung mining project as an example, the instability of Chinese commercial interests in Myanmar is examined. more»
Workshop/Training
Myanmar Leadership Institute on Climate Change
- - In February 2013 Partnerships for International Strategies in Asia (PISA), Yangon-based NGO ALARM, and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia joined forces to offer a week-long Myanmar Climate Change Leadership Institute (MLICC) in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. more»