Plan signs agreement to continue work in Myanmar

Nay Pyi Taw (9 July, 2012): Plan International today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Myanmar that allows the global organisation to run new programmes in the country to improve the lives of children.

The formal agreement was signed between Haider Yaqub, Plan’s Deputy Regional Director for Asia, and representatives from the Department of Social Welfare in the capital Nay Pyi Taw.

“We are very proud to announce that we can now build on all the work we have done in Myanmar so far and start implementing new programmes in the country,” said Mr Yaqub.

Nigel Chapman, CEO of Plan International said: “This is a historic day for Plan as we begin what we hope will be a long and fruitful relationship with the government of Myanmar that will allow us to help some of the most disadvantaged children in the country.”

“Plan is committed to working with government, non-governmental and civil society organisations to implement child-centred community development programmes.”

The MoU signed today outlines a project time frame of three years. Plan’s programmes will include child focused disaster risk reduction (DRR) and early childhood care and development (ECCD). The organisation will also be looking at starting a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme in the dry zone of the country. All of Plan’s programs will be implemented through partners.

The programmes will target Rakhaine State and Ayeyarwady, Mandalay and Sagaing regions, offering financial and technical support to existing institutions and organisations to support children. Plan’s work will especially focus on marginalised girls and children with disabilities.

The international humanitarian and child-centred development organisation first worked in Myanmar in 2008 to help the government and partner organisations support people affected by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated Myanmar’s southern coast, killing about 140,000 people.

After teaming up with local partner organisations, Plan’s relief work soon became a long-term recovery programme, reaching almost 200,000 people, that included everything from building new schools to helping children and their families deal with the impact of the disaster.

With disaster preparedness a cornerstone of Plan’s work throughout Asia, the organisation has worked with communities to help children, parents and teachers be better prepared for future disasters.

ENDS

Founded 75 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. www.plan-international.org

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