Region:Asia Pacific
Current UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022
World Bank Income Classification:Low Income
The World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income. For this purpose it uses gross national income (GNI) per capita data in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method, which is applied to smooth exchange rate fluctuations.
Least Developed Country:Yes
Since 1971, the United Nations has recognized LDCs as a category of States that are deemed highly disadvantaged in their development process, for structural, historical and also geographical reasons. Three criteria are used: per capita income, human assets, and economic vulnerability.
Gender Inequality Index:0.575
GII is a composite metric of gender inequality using three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. A low GII value indicates low inequality between women and men, and vice-versa.
Gender Development Index:0.723
GDI measures gender inequalities in achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources.
Population:209,497,025
Source of population data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision
Male:19,976,265 (9.5%)
Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)
outcome XM-DAC-41146-MYM_D_1.1
By 2023, the enabling environment for the implementation of the WPS agenda and the integration of gender equality in humanitarian, peace and development frameworks, programming and policies is strengthened.
In 2023, UN Women Myanmar Country Office (MCO) made strong progress under SN outcome 1 ‘By 2023, the enabling environment for the implementation of the WPS agenda and the integration of gender equality in humanitarian, peace and development frameworks, programming and policies is strengthened’ . Through timely gender-sensitive data and building capacities of stakeholders across the triple nexus, UN Women demonstrably strengthened the enabling environment to better implement Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE), Gender in Humanitarian Action (GIHA), and Women, peace, and security (WPS) integration in programmes and policies of UN partners and CSOs. Under SN outcome 1: S even Gender Alerts (GAs) reaching over 150 readers, were produced during the reporting period, analysing the compounded protracted and escalating crisis on gender, women, and girls. A special issue GA was co-produced by UN Women Myanmar, UN Women Bangladesh, and UNDP Bangladesh, focusing on the Rohingya situation in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Under the same SN outcome 1 key results included the integration of gender analysis in the UNCT's Socio-Economic Resilience and Recovery Plan 2023 (one of the main joint frameworks guiding the work of the UNCT in the absence of a UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the Humanitarian Needs Overview, and the Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan 2023 and the gender analysis and strategic prioritisation in the CCA and the UN Transitional Cooperation Framework (UN TCF) 2024 – 2025. As part of the UN TCF development process, the MCO played a pivotal role in shaping the gender-responsive narrative and developing joint work plans. Notably the MCO took on the leadership of the UN TCF outcome four on ‘drivers of peace’. As stated in the 2023 UNCT-SWAP Scorecard Assessment, GEWE is mainstreamed across three (2,3 & 4)out of total of four outcomes in the UN TCF in line with SDG priorities including SDG 5 (Performance Indicator 1.2). In addition, as per internal analysis 95% (35 out of 37) of the output indicators in the UN TCF are sex-disaggregated/gender responsive by their indicator statement and 32% (12 out of 37) of the indicators are measuring changes in gender equality and the empowerment of women in line with SDG targets, including SDG 5 (Performance Indicator 1.3). Through the United Nations Gender Theme Group (UNGTG), the MCO initiated the integration of the Gender Equality Marker (GEM) in the UN TCF 2024-2025. The process involved 31 Gender Focal Points (22 women, 9 men) across all UN agencies, and a self-paced training and peer learning on the UNCT-GEM coding. The GEM application process was managed by a UN Women consultant, one UN Women staff, one RCO staff and one UNFPA staff member (all women). The GEM capacity building enhanced UN agencies’ skills to evaluate gender responsiveness of agency specific and joint programmes, and to brainstorm how gender mainstreaming could be strengthened in the upcoming projects to reach GEM 3 (principal) or GEM 2 (significant) codes. Furthermore, the UNCT – though its Joint Work Plan (JWP) - will be able to track down financial commitments towards GEWE and report against the QCPR Indicator 1.4.18 ‘Proportion out of total UNCTs with a Joint Work Plan in UN INFO 2.0 that allocated 70% or more of the UNCT annual funding framework available resources to activities [i.e., sub outputs] with gender equality as a principal [i.e., GEM code 3] or significant objective [i.e., GEM code 2]’. The UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Annual Report 2023 was submitted after the endorsement of the UN GTG and UNCT. In 2023, six performance indicators (PIs) were assessed. PI 1.2 Gender equality mainstreamed in Cooperation Framework outcomes (approaches minimum requirements); PI 1.3 Cooperation Framework indicators measure changes on gender Equality (exceeds minimum requirements); PI 2.1 Joint programmes contribute to reducing gender inequalities (meets minimum requirements); PI 3.2 UNCT collaborates and engages with women’s/gender equality civil society organizations (exceeds minimum requirements); PI 4.3 Gender parity in staffing is achieved (missing requirements); PI 5.2 UNCT has adequate capacities developed for gender Mainstreaming (meets minimum requirements). Out of the six assessed indicators, one misses the requirement (gender parity); one approaches the minimum requirement (gender mainstreamed into the Cooperation Framework); two exceed the minimum requirement and one meets minimum requirement. Further under SN outcome 1, and to ensure the gender responsiveness of humanitarian programming and strategies, UN Women conducted gendered technical review of approximately 15 cluster and sector documents covering cluster strategies, guidance notes, standard operating procedures, terms of reference, workplans and narrative reports. Most importantly, UN Women together with the Child Protection Area of Responsibility (AoR) developed the very first Gender Tipsheet for Child protection for children under the age of 13 that is now widely used by the field –based child protection actors. The tipsheet also is shared globally and regionally to other child protection AoRs for reference and application. In additional UN Women leads together with the GiHA CoP the development of the sector on Mainstreaming Gender in Cash-Based Intervention for Nutrition in Emergencies that will complete the Nutrition Cluster Guidance Note on Emergency Response for Myanmar. 1. Child protection: https://www.myanmarchildprotection.com/gender-steering-committee 2. Nutrition Cluster: https://themimu.info/sites/themimu.info/files/nutrition_cluster/CVA_for_Nutrition_in_Emergency_Operational_Guidance_Myanmar.v1_draft_2_FV.pdf
outcome XM-DAC-41146-MYM_D_1.2
By 2023, the participation and leadership of women in decision-making and political processes across the humanitarian, peace and development nexus is increased
Despite considerable challenges, during the reporting period, the MCO has made considerable progress under SN Outcome 2—contributing measurably to the enhanced leadership and participation of women-led and women's rights CSOs (W-CSOs). Through the Government of Finland and Norway-funded projects, UN Women provided critical support to the institutional capacity building of W-CSOs, while also working with UN and other development partners to meaningfully include W-CSOs in various human rights and humanitarian mechanisms. Most notably, at the end of 2023, UN Women MCO achieved the target for one of its Outcome indicators, wherein 100 per cent (or 26 out of 26) of the W-CSO supported by UN Women were still operational. Through its partners, the MCO supported W-CSOs in Kachin, Kayin, Rakhine states, and Yangon region to strengthen their institutional capacities. W-CSOs received small grants and provided protection, relief and recovery services to 12,748 direct beneficiaries and 7,785 indirect beneficiaries. UN Women supported international and regional advocacy for women’s rights and included a mission to Indonesia to share updates on the situation in Myanmar from a Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) perspective with Indonesian representatives of ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and special Human Rights Commission. The trip aimed to foster stronger and closer network relationships between Myanmar CSOs and ASEAN women peacebuilders and Indonesian CSOs. UN Women also supported this WCSO to participate in various advocacy opportunities in Geneva, New York, and Thailand. A key outcome from CSO advocacy in Geneva was the understanding that the formal channel for submitting official CSO written statements to the CEDAW committee about Myanmar involves UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews. The Vice Chairperson of the CEDAW committee committed to exploring ways to officially address Myanmar's issues in upcoming CEDAW sessions, potentially collaborating with Tom Andrews. In March 2023, UN Women supported a delegation of WCSOs to participate in a side event at CSW 67. Their global advocacy at CSW 67 led to extensive coverage of gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE) issues in global news publications such as the Associated Press and the Diplomatic Insight and a press conference organised by the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations. The trip also supported the WCSO delegation in strengthening their relationships with Member State delegations in New York. UN Women MCO has also been supporting humanitarian, peace, and development coordination bodies to engage women's CSOs for development planning, policies, and programming and involve them in decision-making. UN Women, through various partners, provided capacity building to 17 W-CSOs on WPS to support their advocacy efforts. In the humanitarian sector , training on Rapid Gender Analysis were provided to 124 individuals (105 female; 19 male) directly through UN Women and through a responsible party small grants and trainings to 17 WCSOs (166 female; 70 male) were provided. Training included organisational policies, community level protection and humanitarian response to enhance W-CSO’s ability to contribute to WPS and humanitarian processes.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-MYM_D_1.3
By 2023, women and girls’ safety, physical and mental health and security are increasingly assured and their human rights increasingly respected
During the reporting period and funded by CERF, the joint GBV prevention and response programme with UNFPA, reached 16,053 women, as direct beneficiaries in a coordinated humanitarian response. Moreover, included in this number are 1,290 GBV survivors and women and girls at risk who reported having access to GBV information, legal advice and assistance, psychosocial support, and referrals to GBV services. A total of 811 female headed households reported having received GBV services including mental health and psychosocial support through the GBV referrals. 811 women head of households received with cash for protection and food services. The CERF joint programme implemented jointly with UNFPA yielded several learnings that informed successful resource mobilisation and project design for a France funded and EU-funded GBV prevention and response programme (2023 – 2025). Lessons learned included a) the need to do a demand-side market analysis to inform livelihood and skill development activities; b) address business continuity in a complex and complicated context and c) safety and security of partner organisations; d) the need to address gender norms even in conflict settings.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-MYM_D_1.4
By 2023, more women and girls, including the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, access, contribute to and benefit from relief and recovery efforts and have increased economic security and capacity to withstand the negative socio-economic impact of the crisis.
During the reporting period, UN Women Myanmar Country Office (MCO) has significantly contributed to ensuring that more women and girls, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, access, contribute to, and benefit from relief and recovery efforts. In the humanitarian sector, the MCO together with its implementing partners were able to support 4,716 (2557 are women and 2159 are men) during the post-cyclone Mocha emergency response. This included protection services including mental health services, shelter, food and non-food items through cash transfers. Under the WPHF country window, a total of 10 grantees implemented relief and recovery programming. 148,924 people (2,350 girls, 138,539 women, 353 boys, 7095 Men) directly and 1,975,914 people indirectly for relief and recovery activities. During the reporting period, using regular resources, 463 women entrepreneurs were supported with accessing information, goods, resources and/or services on economic empowerment. This was made possible through partnerships with two Myanmar-based organisations focused on female entrepreneurship and small business incubation. Ninety-seven female entrepreneurs running MSMEs benefitted by substantially increasing their leadership skills in business, and understanding of the intersection between business, human rights and gender with average knowledge uptake of 15% based on pre-post assessments. Trainings were used as an opportunity for the entrepreneurs to learn about the eLearning platform established by UNDP, which has specific training modules developed by UN Women for female entrepreneurs. An additional 9 online and in person activities were arranged to raise awareness of the eLearning platform and support female entrepreneurs to access it, including through zoom sessions, viber groups and via Facebook reaching a total of 234 women. Via a partnership with ONOW, UN Women was able to support 132 women entrepreneurs, 32 of whom during this period were supported with one-on-one coaching. In addition, using ONOW’s digital learning platform, 49 business owners completed Constraint Assessments and Action Plans, and 35 formulated Financing Plans using the digital platform. Through engagement with Impact Hub, UN Women implemented a comprehensive business accelerator that supported 50 women-led enterprises in peri-urban Yangon, which included training on business management, marketing, financial management, GBV, and legal awareness. Additionally, three podcasts featuring inspiring women entrepreneurs garnered over 2,500 views by May 10, 2023. Ten businesses received small grants totaling $40,000 (equivalent to 84,000,000 MMK) to support their growth. The initiative also focused on raising awareness of gender-based violence (GBV) and providing access to legal services through one training session, one networking event, and the integration of GBV and legal services into mentoring sessions (27%).Showing 1 - 4 of 4
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