News—Myanmar

Official ECID launch events in Kachin and Kayin states, Myanmar

ECID Myanmar held two project launch events in Kayin and Kachin state, on 27th August and 3rd September respectively. Local implementing partners, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, local media outlets, and senior government officials including State Ministers of Social Affairs, Chiefs of Police, Directors of Social Welfare Department and Members of parliament participated in the events.

The Myanmar team presented ECID project information, values, and objectives to diverse stakeholders and connected with decision makers and partner organisations. During the events, participants showed great interest in the project, and discussed a potential extension of ECID’s work to reach additional vulnerable populations, including child, youth, and migrant workers.

At the event, U Thet Htun Hlaing, Director of Kachin State Department of Social Welfare stated:

“Nowadays, governments and CSOs should not working separately on development projects. We all must work together for the development of our country. This event is an opportunity to create links between government departments and civil society organizations for better collaboration. It’s also showing us the collaborative process in Kachin state”.

During the project launch and workshop in Kachin, the Field Manager who works for one of ECID’s local partners, presented on the needs of persons with disability from IDP (internally displaced people) camps in the Momauk township in Kachin, whose needs have increased due to the pandemic. Members of the ECID programme worked together to advocate for increased support for this group of people from the government.  As a direct result, 75 people with disabilities from the Momauk IDP camp received cash support (30,000 MMK/£16 per person) from the Department of Social Welfare.

The ECID programme in Myanmar aims to find creative advocacy solutions to bring together key stakeholders at State, township, and sub-township levels to work to improve access to services for marginalised groups, including IDPs, HIV/AIDs affected communities, people who use drugs and the LGBTQIA community.

Please see the photos below from the launch events in both states.

Kachin State launch event

Kayin State launch event