Multi Stakeholder review of the Myanmar National Community Driven Development Project which is implemented by the Department of Rural Development under the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development with World Bank support was held at Myanmar International Convention Center 2 (MICC 2) at 9 am on 18 Aug 2014.

U Nyan Tun (Myanmar Vice-President), U Ohn Myint (Minister for the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development), relevant Union Level Ministers, Congress Representatives, Union Level Deputy Ministers, responsible representatives from the World Bank, responsible officers from the project affected townships, Non-Government Organizations, committee member of the project from the selected township and other invitees were in attendances.

At the meeting, U Nyan Tun (Myanmar Vice-President) gave the speech and in his speech, he said that “It is right time to implement sustainable rural development project because strategy for rural development has been identified by the experts and those who are practically implementing the projects. It is believed that poor rural communities will be developed only by the projects that have International Standard. Therefore, community driven development projects are being implemented in 3 States/Divisions since 2013 with the technical help from the World Bank. Estimate, (240) million Kyats were supported for each village tract for the consecutive three years. As a result of these projects, the rural community has a better infrastructure and services now. The project uses a people-centered approach by which communities themselves choose, design, and implement the projects based on what they need most. In addition, it is also a good practice that the public funds were managed transparently, responsibly and accountably which are ultimate benefits from the project. In conclusion, he would like to encourage all the people to consult each other to reflect the voice and feeling of the rural public, actual situations on the ground and he suggests that the World Bank and Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development should consider these suggestions resulted from this workshop and make Year 2 project most effective.

After that, U Ohn Myint (Minister for the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development) gave the introduction speech and said that “Project duration will be from October 2012 to January 2019 and total will be 6 years and 4 months. Projects will be implemented in three townships for the first year, Six townships including Union region for second year and six townships for third year. In 2013-2014 financial years, “Community Driven Development Project” which is implemented by the community for better basic infrastructure and services was implemented in Kanpatlatt Township (Chin State), Namsan Township ( Shan State) and Kyun Su Township (Tanintharyi Division). While implementing the projects through people centered approach, the village project was planned by the community itself based on what they need most. When the project is finished, review of the committee members has been conducted by the community and the results are reviewed again at township level and finally at union level.

After that, Ms. Susan Wong (Global Practice Manager from the World Bank) explained the programs that the World Bank supports for poverty reduction and the rural development. Then, U Nyan Tun (Myanmar Vice President), Ms. Susan Wong (Global Practice Manager from the World Bank) and Dr. Kan Zaw (Minister for the National Planning and Economic Development) presented awards to the village and township representatives who implemented the community driven development programs.

According to the Agenda, responsible officer from the Department of Rural Development (Head office) explained the procedures for the first year implementing process, Technical Consultant Leader from three project affected townships explained the project activities and Technical Audit Consultant explained the technical findings in each township.

Then, attendees raised the queries and U Khant Zaw (Deputy Chief Engineer for the Department of Rural Development) answered the questions.

At the afternoon sessions of the meeting, the attendees in 8 small groups discussed below topics.

• Project Management
• Gender Equality and Engagement
• Planning/Implementing and analyzing for sub-project
• Social Accountability and Social Communication
• Financial Management
• Social Assessment
• Monitoring Information and Management
• Purchase

Finally, U Tin Ngwe (Deputy Minister for the Ministry for Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development) gave a closing speech and the meeting ended at 5 pm.