Foreword
Myanmar is at a crossroad: with the first elections in twenty years held in 2010 and the inauguration of the new civilian Government in March 2011, there is now a new window of opportunity to strengthen the collaboration between the UN, the Government and other partners to promote socio-economic progress in Myanmar. This UN Strategic Framework (2012-2015) is a testament to the commitment of the UN Country Team in Myanmar to work together with the Government and partners to help address the priority development needs and challenges that the country face.
UN Country Team is focused on supporting the people of Myanmar, particularly the poor and the vulnerable, in partnership with the Government at all levels, non-governmental organizations, private sector, members of the donor/diplomatic community and other stakeholders. We believe that our collective efforts will contribute to Myanmar achieve its MDG targets and promote democracy and human rights in the country.
Over the past three years as the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, I have witnessed the country undergo changes, and these changes combined with the great socioeconomic needs of the people of Myanmar have encouraged me and the UN Country Team to undertake a joint strategic planning process such as this to address development priorities in Myanmar. Like most plans, this is a flexible document that needs to be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary, based on continued consultations with all stakeholders. What is set in stone, however, is our commitment as the UN System in Myanmar to work on joint initiatives under the four Strategic Priorities identified in this document, and our collective accountability to the people of Myanmar. In addition to these joint activities, each Agency will continue with agency-specific activities that can now be referenced to the common framework when supporting its outcomes.
I take this opportunity to thank colleagues within the UN System both inside and outside Myanmar and colleagues from various government ministries, in particular H.E. U Tin Naing Thein, Minister of National Planning & Economic Development, and Daw Myat Myat So, Director-General, Foreign Economic Relations Department, Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, and focal points in other ministries for their time, energy, wisdom and enthusiasm over the past year in supporting the development of the UN Strategic Framework for 2012-2015. I call for further cooperation in operationalizing the Strategic Framework, and we look forward to continued partnership, collaboration and support from all stakeholders.
Bishow Parajuli
UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar
from May 2008 to June 2011