Funding to advance peace, stabilization and humanitarian assistance in Myanmar
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, met with Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and announced $8.8 million in support for peace, stabilization and humanitarian assistance in Myanmar.
Humanitarian assistance - $4.5 million (2017-2018)
This funding will be provided to a number of experienced international and Canadian humanitarian partners in Myanmar that are currently delivering needs-based humanitarian assistance to vulnerable conflict-affected populations, including those in Rakhine, Kachin and northern Shan states. The funding will support a range of immediate life-saving services, including emergency food assistance, shelter, protection services, livelihood support, health care, and water and sanitation services.
Joint Peace Fund - $4 million (2017-18 to 2020-21)
This contribution from the Joint Peace Fund – a platform for international financial, technical and advisory assistance for Myanmar's peace process – will promote peacebuilding efforts and encourage participation in and support for a nationwide ceasefire. The Joint Peace Fund helps donor countries better coordinate their support for the peace process and work together with the Myanmar government and ethnic armed organizations to negotiate and implement a fully inclusive peace process. Canada’s funding will strengthen core institutions and processes, address demands on peacebuilding efforts, and improve stakeholder capacity to create a better understanding of peace and conflict dynamics. The Joint Peace Fund is supported by other donors including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, Switzerland, Finland, the United States, Norway, Japan and Italy.
Gender, peace, and security - $337,485 (2017-18 to 2019-2020)
The Peace Support Fund aims to increase the likelihood of sustainable peace in Myanmar by supporting initiatives which increase trust, confidence, engagement and participation in the peace process. In partnership with the Nordic International Support Foundation, this funding for the Gender, Peace and Security Funding window of the Peace Support Fund will help strengthen the role of women in peacebuilding in Myanmar. It will improve civil society’s ability to strategically plan and implement projects aimed at gender-responsive initiatives and at increasing the participation of women in building social cohesion. This will help reduce the impact of violence and conflict upon the lives of women and girls.