Despite great strides in development in Asia in the past decade, millions of rural poor still have to depend on polluted water for their daily needs.
Lien AID is an international non-profit committed to enabling sustainable access to clean water and sanitation for Asia’s rural poor. Founded in 2006, Lien AID focuses on community-based approaches in the delivery of multi-year WASH programmes. Through partnerships with local governments, civil society organisations and private businesses, we hope to provide the impetus for better water governance and a future where clean water access is available to everyone.
Check out where we work in Myanmar.
We design solutions that improve private and public space in Yangon for the benefit of families, the community and the city at large. Key in our model are Yangon’s home-owners and residents, whom we help to become aware of the value and potential of historical, cultural, social and natural assets in the city and whom we make central agents in our design processes in order to ensure local ownership and impact. Four principles are key to our work: 1) local leadership and user-centeredness, 2) Asset-based and creative, 3) ecological sustainability and 4) financial viability.
Doh Eain is registered as a company and as a non-profit. We rely on and apply a diversified set of financing methods, working with clients, loans and grants for revenue generating and non-revenue generating activities.
Thirst-Aid has developed one of the most comprehensive and holistic approaches to point of use water treatment in the industry.
Thirst-Aid views the need to purify water in developing countries as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. Thirst-Aid employs the need for water improvement as an entry point by which to introduce new skills, develop small businesses and stimulate local economies whiles simultaneously introducing appropriate safe-water technologies and public health education to the population as a whole.
While many organizations focus on one technology or another to purify water, Thirst-Aid advocates for the bundling of technologies and realizes that education, training, and social marketing to promote behavior change comprise 90% of the issue in the adoption of safe-water practices.
To address this concern, Thirst-Aid precedes the introduction of all safe water technologies with the Thirst-Ed program. Developed in cooperation with UNICEF, Thirst-Ed integrates the need to educate and inspire the drive for improved water with the beneficiaries desire to be a stakeholder. By offering an education and social marketing program that not only raises awareness of waterborne illnesses and improved hygiene but also provides participants with the means to purchase their ceramic water filters, the Thirst-Ed program guarantees an increase in behavior change and sustained product use.
Thirst-Ed allows participants to apply the time they spend attending safe water classes to-wards the purchase price of a ceramic water filter unit, thus turning education into currency and helping to make filters affordable to the poor.
Yangon Heritage Trust is an independent centre of excellence working to promote and integrate Yangon's unique urban heritage into a 21st century vision of Yangon as one of Asia's most liveable cities.
Yangon Heritage Trust advocates for heritage protection, develops clear and sustainable policy options, engages with government, business and civil society, communicates its ideas to the widest possible audience, undertakes specific conservation projects, and facilitates research and training.
UNICEF has been working in Myanmar continuously since April 1950. Despite difficult political and economic circumstances, UNICEF helped to successfully initiate programmes to protect children against small pox, leprosy and yaws. Over time, UNICEF expanded its programs to support the development of rural health services, basic education for children, and community water supply and sanitation systems. UNICEF also advocated for Myanmar's accession to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which the government ratified in the 1990s.
For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been working to positively change the lives of Myanmar’s children. Through its strong working relationship with the Government of Myanmar over the decades and significant engagement with other stakeholders, UNICEF is positioning itself to continue and strengthen its efforts to improve children’s lives.
The ongoing political and economic reform process including decentralization provides a good opportunity for UNICEF to continue working with Government and other partners and achieve major gains for all children. The current country programme (2011-2017) was extended in 2015 along with that of other UN agencies in agreement with the Government of Myanmar. It aims at delivering key results at various - policy, systems, and community - levels, tapping into the new opportunities provided by various reforms to accelerate results for children, especially the most marginalized.
In this context, UNICEF support focuses on strengthening systems in education, health and nutrition, WASH and child protection and making them accessible to the most disadvantaged, including through opportunities generated by decentralization and the need to promote social cohesion. It supports capacity building at Union, State and Townships levels to develop and implement plans and budgets for children. UNICEF also supports the Government of Myanmar’s response to the needs of children affected by conflict and natural hazards, and invest in preparedness, disaster risk reduction and resilience building strategies with focus on children in needs. The current momentum of engagement in various sector reforms will continue, and support continues to be provided towards the development of policies and legislation that will enable wider and accelerated realisation of children’s rights.
UNICEF systematically implements a comprehensive advocacy strategy to influence a range of decision makers and other relevant audiences. UNICEF has identified 5 office-wide advocacy priorities for the period 2014-2017: increasing public finance for children; protecting and promoting the rights of all children in Rakhine State; children affected by armed conflict; the first 1000 days of a child’s life; and children with disabilities.
UNICEF works on the ground for programme implementation directly through the government departments and through a number of international and local non-governmental organizations and faith based organizations, and from its 10 field offices and outposts positioned throughout the country.
UNICEF’s mandate is anchored in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its work is concerned with the fulfilment of the rights of every child, everywhere, and at all times- regardless of ethnicity, race, citizenship status of their parents, socio-economic status or ability.
The Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) is an independent and not-for-profit network organization.
The objective is to raise the priority of tackling water security issues highlighted in the development agenda in the Asia-Pacific region in order to improve people's livelihoods and the environment.
We work collaboratively with a wide variety of water-related organizations in the region to build capacity and enhance cooperation, while boosting investment at the regional level and beyond.
The Japan Water Forum has maintained a role as the Secretariat of the APWF ever since its launch.
Life in Myanmar is changing dramatically. After decades of military rule, the country is gradually opening up to the world and becoming a democracy.
We opened our Yangon office in 2016 to unlock people's potential with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can break free from poverty and change their lives for good.
Across the country, two in three people have clean water and decent toilets. But in many rural communities, where most people live, these figures are among the worst in Asia.
A lack of sustainable public infrastructure and resources has hampered efforts to reach people with these essentials. We will help the Government invest in these areas and ensure strong plans and systems are in place from the start.
AWS is a global membership-based collaboration. We unite organizations behind our mission: To lead a global network that promotes responsible use of freshwater that is socially and economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable.
We achieve this through a global water stewardship system, centered on the International Water Stewardship Standard (the AWS Standard), that drives, recognizes and rewards good water stewardship performance.
Our vision is that Water users and managers are responsible water stewards, who protect and enhance freshwater resources for people and nature.
The AWS Standard provides a globally-applicable framework for major water users to understand their water use and impacts, and to work collaboratively and transparently for sustainable water management within a catchment context.
WSA was formed at the height of Australia’s Millennium Drought when water risk and responsible water management became a key focus for businesses and the community. Organisations and individuals familiar with programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council were looking for a mechanism to recognise superior water stewardship and provide a multi-stakeholder endorsed framework for assessing water performance. WSA was launched by the (then) Chair and CEO of the National Water Commission (NWC), Ken Matthews.
In 2009, WSA published the world’s first water stewardship standard with support from the MDBA. Then understanding the need for a globally-consistent approach to water stewardship WSA, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and The Pacific Institute, led the development of the global umbrella for water stewardship, the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), which WSA continues to Chair. The first and current version of the AWS International Water Stewardship Standard (AWS Standard) was launched in April 2014.
WSA has established a solid governance framework with a strong Board. As a regional partner, WSA plays a key role in the governance of AWS at an international level. As we continue to build water stewardship in our region, the contribution of members is vital as it provides the support for a strong multi-stakeholder governance mechanism that will protect and enhance the integrity and credibility of our system.
Trash Hero Myanmar creates sustainable, community-based projects that remove existing waste, and reduce future waste by inspiring long-term behavior change. We create long-term projects that bring communities together to remove and better manage their waste, and strategies that reduce the amount of waste being produced in the future. We back up hands-on experience with educational information about the impact that trash has on the global environment.
Impact Terra is a fast growing start-up technology company. We at Impact Terra develop and implement mobile solutions for farmers, agribusinesses and other agricultural stakeholders. Our mission is to improve the livelihoods of rural population and improve food security and safety.
We use smartphones and our proprietary mobile app platform to support millions of farmers, retailers, and other users in their daily business and information requirements. As Myanmar is leapfrogging from no to full connectivity and 100% smartphone use, we believe we can have an incredible positive impact on the lives of millions of people. We work with NGOs, CSOs and other parties to provide users with the information they need.
Our Golden Paddy platform (“Shwe Thee Nhan”) provides users with an easy-to-use visual interface and real-time and targeted content such as weather forecast, input product prices, crop market prices, product information, farming best practices, news, risk announcements, financing and more. Currently Golden Paddy operates through three different channels; a mobile application, mobile website and Facebook page.
Akvo is a not-for-profit foundation that creates open source, internet and mobile software and sensors. We work with people improving infrastructure and services, for disadvantaged populations.
We focus on making international development and country governance more effective, transparent and collaborative.
Around the world, we help our partners act to improve the management of water, sanitation, agriculture, health, energy, education and the environment.
Several partners of the project “Leapfrogging Delta Management in Myanmar” are making use of the Akvo services, such as the 'Akvo Flow' and 'Akvo Caddisfly' to collect field data about the water quality of the river Ayeryawaddy."
FBLN Myanmar is a network of scientists, practitioners, policymakers, and farmers exchanging knowledge on flood-based livelihood systems (FBLS), contributing to the productivity of FBLS in the country and working on bringing FBLS to the mainstream of education and policy. It is also a subsidiary of the Flood-Based Livelihoods Network (FBLN) Foundation. The Network invites partners in the agriculture and water sector to work together to improve FBLS by improving practices related to water distribution, water rights, soil moisture retention and soil fertility, new crops and fisheries, and conflict mitigation mechanisms. The Flood-Based Livelihoods Network is currently supported by IFAD, European Commision, World Agroforestry Centre and FAO .
Proximity Designs is an award-winning, social enterprise based in Yangon, Myanmar. We design and deliver affordable, income-boosting products and services that complement the entrepreneurial spirit of rural families. Founded in 2004, our products and services have improved the lifestyles, and boosted the incomes of over 250,000 rural people across the country. To reach scale, and maximize impact, we apply a business model, and design thinking, to our mission. We believe this to be the most sustainable, and effective way of helping people gets more money. And that’s ultimately what we want, more money in the pockets of the rural poor, for them to decide what to do with.
Since 1985, International Rivers has been at the heart of the global struggle to protect rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them.
We work with an international network of dam-affected people, grassroots organizations, environmentalists, human rights advocates and others who are committed to stopping destructive river projects and promoting better options.
We seek a world where healthy rivers and the rights of local communities are valued and protected. We envision a world where water and energy needs are met without degrading nature or increasing poverty, and where people have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
Based in four continents, our staff has expertise in big dams, energy and water policy, climate change, and international financial institutions. We support partner organizations and dam-affected people by providing advice, training and technical assistance, and advocating on their behalf with governments, banks, companies and international agencies. The focus of our work is in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
The Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business is an initiative to encourage responsible business activities throughout Myanmar. The Centre is a joint initiative of the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) and the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR). Based in Yangon, it aims to provide a trusted, impartial forum for dialogue, seminars, and briefings to relevant parties as well as access to international expertise and tools. The Centre facilitates dialogue and processes aimed at building national and local capacity and partnerships on business and human rights related issues. MCRB has also undertaken research and published sector-wide impact assessments on the oil and gas, tourism, and information and communications technologies (ICT) sectors.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We strive for a world where all people are heard, capable and vibrant.
Oxfam is an international confederation of 20 organizations working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries.
One person in three in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty.
Around the globe, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them.
In all we do, Oxfam works with partner organizations and alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty.
Following Cyclone Nargis, a large number of national and international NGOs established the Local Resource Centre (LRC) to assist local communities and civil society groups in the collective effort for relief and rehabilitation. The Burnet Institute led the establishment of LRC in collaboration with a broad partnership of organizations, including World Concern, the HIV/AIDS Alliance, the Capacity Building Initiative (CBI) and Oxfam. LRC was launched on May 15, 2008 to enable better coordination between local and international implementers, advocate on behalf of local groups, ensure access to capacity development services and ultimately strengthen the collaborative response to Cyclone Nargis between local and international organizations. Following the Nargis phase of operation (May 2008 – September 2010), LRC shifted its focus from disaster response to the holistic development of indigenous CSOs. LRC officially registered as a local NGO in May 2012.