Land and Natural Resources Governance (LNRG) program

Myanmar's  land  and  natural  resources  (LNR)  face numerous threats from conflicts, disputes, environmental degradation, as well as climate change. Since the military coup, ongoing violence displaces populations, leading to competition for scarce resources, while landmines render areas  unsafe.  Short-term  war  economies,  fuelled  by corruption and regulatory loopholes, promote unchecked logging  and  resource  extraction,  further  harming  the environment. Natural  disasters,  in  particular  floods  and heatwaves,  damage  infrastructures  and  agriculture, straining  resources,  as  Myanmar  is  the  second  most vulnerable country to climate change globally.  

The  rise  of  ethnic  and  community-based  organizations has led to new governance opportunities, allowing ethnic groups to assume new responsibilities for administering services  and managing  natural  resources.  Despite  the challenging  circumstances,  strengthening  land  and natural resources management should remain a priority, as  this  is  the  key  to  advancing  a  sustainable  agenda, ensuring fair distribution of resources, and protecting the rights of individuals and indigenous communities. 

Thanks  to  its  decade-long  engagement  in  land governance, Switzerland is perceived as a reliable donor with a solid network of trusted implementing partners on land and natural resources issues.  

Outcome  1: Communities  and Civil Society  Organizations  (CSOs), including women leaders, contribute meaningfully to the  land and natural resources  policies’ formulation and implementation.  

Outcome  2:  Ethnic  Armed Organizations (EAOs) and emerging governing  structures  formulate  and implement inclusive land and natural resources  policies  that  incorporate the  views  and  inputs  of  CSOs  and concerned communities.  

Expected results:  

Output  1.1:  CSOs  are  capacitated  with  policy development  and  implementation  skills,  tools  and knowledge to operate in a volatile context 

Output 1.2: Community-based climate adaptation plans are developed and implemented 

Output  1.3:  Women  participate  in  policy  work  and processes 

Output 2.1 Knowledge is produced and shared to support policy work of ethnic service departments   

Output  2.2:  EAOs  and  new  political  structures  have network, skills and analytical tools to inclusively develop and implement policies  

Results from previous phases:  

In the last phase of the Strengthening Land Governance Program  (2022-2024), partners  successfully adapted  to the military coup and resulting conflicts, achieving notable outcomes. Over 75 CSOs across 10 states and regions received support  to remain engaged  in  the  land sector, empower  local  communities,  conduct  research,  and participate  in  policy  dialogues.  A  total  of  47  CSOs benefited from training in Geographic Information System (GIS),  data  management,  remote  sensing,  and  an  e-learning  platform.  More  than  70  community  forest boundaries were documented. 

The program produced over 20 key knowledge products, including analyses of legal frameworks, a climate change analysis  dashboard,  and  crucial  policy  research  on customary  land  tenure  and  gendered  land  rights.  This program  supported  the  revision  of  nine  ethnic  policies related  to  land,  natural  resources,  drugs,  and  gender.  Additionally,  ethnic  land  governance  systems  in Karen, Karenni, and Mon were  strengthened  to better develop  and implement policies. 

Synergies mainly within SPO3: 

Paung Ku, UNDP Civil Society Unit, Direct Action (incl. Direct Action Governance additional credit), Coordination with Mekong Regional Land Governance (MRLG) project, and Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT).