Asie du Sud-Est
PeaceNexus started working in Myanmar in 2012, initially supporting partners in building capacities that would allow them to better contribute to peacebuilding processes, and demonstrating to decision makers how local communities could benefit from sustained peace. Since 2017, we have focused on promoting our Inclusive Dialogue with Business service, recognising the critical role that foreign investment and domestic business actors play in Myanmar.
The Challenges
After decades of repressive military rule, Myanmar’s trajectory towards peace and stability has been marred by the crisis in Rakhine State, ongoing clashes between armed groups, and tremendous gaps in capacity on the part of the new civilian government. Alongside these challenges, efforts to promote economic development struggle to respond to the complex concerns and interests of diverse local communities. As a result, businesses have initiated massive investment projects without thinking about how their operations may impact Myanmar’s complex conflict dynamics.
The Opportunities
Civil society in Myanmar has blossomed over the past decade, with national NGOs working directly with both government and the private sector. Attempts to regulate access to natural resources have provided civil society with opportunities to make suggestions for more transparent and equitable distribution of the benefits of natural resource wealth, and for more sustainable practices. This has generated interest from businesses on how they can adopt responsible investment practices.
Our Work in South East Asia
Our support prepares stakeholders for dialogue to address concerns of local communities, while also supporting civil society’s role in shaping the business environment. Currently, we support multiple company-community dialogue processes, as well as the effort of a national civil society network to work with regional governments to strengthen Myanmar’s mining policy.
Recognising the critical role that Chinese development stakeholders play in South East Asia, PeaceNexus recently established a partnership with a Chinese think tank that addresses the question of the relationship between peace and development. Through this, PeaceNexus is able to work with Chinese businesses on these issues.
We also provide Organisational Development support to two peacebuilding organisations in Myanmar in order to answer the need of strengthening peacebuilding organisations in the region.
We work in: Myanmar