Myanmar: Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor

Sovereign Project | 48322-001

The Asian Development Bank is helping Myanmar develop small businesses along an East-West Economic Corridor that is seeing a rise in tourist numbers. The project provides skills training, technology and finance to help the poor and women set up sustainable crafts and food product businesses targeted at tourists. Project areas include Chaungzon Island, Kyaikhto Mawlamyine, and four townships in Mon.

Project Details

Project Name Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor
Project Number 48322-001
Country Myanmar
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 9184-MYA: Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific US$ 3.00 million
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Agriculture and Natural Resources / Agriculture, natural resources and rural development
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Gender equity
Description The project will support micro and small enterprise (MSE) development, and increased employment and economic opportunities for the poor and women selling crafts and local food to tourists and residents in the East West Economic Corridor (EWEC). The project locations are Chaungzon Island, Kyaikhto Mawlamyine, and Mudon four townships in Mon state. The project comprises an integrated approach to enable microentrepreneurs to access technical training, skills in business management, appropriate technology, finance, and markets to build competitive and sustainable businesses and contribute to reducing household poverty.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy Myanmar is classified as a low human development country; the 2014 Human Development Report ranks it 150th of 187 countries. Approximately 26% of the population lives in poverty. Poverty is gendered, and concentrated in rural areas and among some ethnic groups. A key objective of the government's development agenda is to attain sustainable inclusive growth, job creation, and poverty reduction. The government's current 5-year National Development Plan emphasizes transition from predominantly low-productive agriculture to higher-value products by promoting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and trade, as one channel to facilitate inclusive growth. In Myanmar, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises account for 90% of all business and are the largest source of employment, accounting for 70% of the total workforce. Investing in their development is, therefore, essential for inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
Impact The project is aligned with the government's priority to create jobs and generate income to reduce poverty. (Government of Myanmar.2012. Framework for Economic and Social Reforms, 2012 2015. Yangon; and Government of Myanmar. 2014. National Comprehensive Development Plan A Prosperous Nation Integrated Into the Global Community 2030. Yangon.)
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome The outcome will be MSEs are enabled to increase business activities and employment in project areas.
Progress Toward Outcome On-going
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

1. Skills and management capacity of MSEs and their employees developed

2. Access to business services, credit, and commercial networks strengthened

3. Infrastructure to support access to markets and processing facilities improved

4. Capacity of executing and implementing agencies, and key stakeholders enhanced
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Ongoing 1037 people trained (61% of the target), out of which 893 are women (86% of the total). The project started the identification of the master trainers among the groups of weavers & dyers, fruit jam and biscuits with a total of 45 master trainers identified and trained. The number indicated in the DMF seems unrealistic given that the number of people targeted to be trained (as per the DFM) is 1,700.

The project provided trainings to project beneficiaries on: (i) Entrepreneurship, association, business plan, and marketing; (ii) Basic training on leadership, and networking; (iii) Bookkeeping, financial management and basic business management

The PIU comprises the Cooperative Department from Mon State which offers affordable loans to all cooperative members/groups, including among them, the groups supported by the project. However, most groups are still at an early stage and have not requested credit yet.

The project has identified 7 categories of products (Textiles, Natural Soap, Fruit Jam, Dried fruit, biscuits, bamboo handicrafts / furniture) which comprises several products under each category. Most products are already marketed in Yangon and Mawlamyine.

Due to the unavailability of suitable land for the construction of the Market. MOHT proposed the renovation of the tourism counter building in Mawlamyine, which is strategically located in the center of Mawlamyine. After the renovation, the building will be used to promote Made in Mon. This activity is delayed because of COVID-19 - consultants supposed to travel to Myanmar to help on procurement weren't able to do so.

The project has accomplished the construction of four small processing facilities. Since the project is building several small processing facilities in four townships and the ownership of the land is linked to the group of beneficiaries created by the project, the indicator should be 6 including PIU building.

Since the project is suggesting the renovation of the PIU building in Mawlamyine and the owner of the building is MOHT, there will not be booths.
Geographical Location Chaungzon, Kyaikhtaw, Mawlamyine, Mudon
Safeguard Categories
Environment C
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples B
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects The project category is C therefore no impact is foreseen. A safeguards expert undertook a mission in October 2018 and did not find any major issue.
Involuntary Resettlement The project category is C therefore no impact is foreseen. A safeguards expert undertook a mission in October 2018 and did not find any major issue.
Indigenous Peoples The project category is B therefore no major impact is foreseen. A safeguards expert undertook a mission in October 2018 and did not find any major issue.
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation ADB conducted several review missions/visits to Mon State since the signing of the project grant agreement.The multi-sector project steering committee (PSC) was established after the project became effective in August 2016. The project has been following MOPF''s instructions. ADB met with the Union Minister - MOHT in Nay Pyi Taw 7 times and with the Mon State Chief Minister. The Chief Minister (appointed in February 2017) showed very strong support for the project activities and would like to be regularly briefed about project implementation progress. ADB met with the head of the Mon Women Organisation (MWO), villagers producing bamboo and cookies in Chaungzone Island and women producing longyis in Mudon. and jam/fruit producers in Khaytho and other NGOs working in Mon State. Debriefing meetings with the PIU and PMU took place at the end of each mission. A series of consultations on the construction of a market and of a processing facility were conducted in 2017 with the participation of several stakeholders. Meetings with several stakeholders took place during the review missions in February 2018 and in November 2018. MTR mission took place in May 2019. The AM of the MTR mission was finally signed in July 2019 and implementation of the MTR's recommendations is ongoing. Contract awards and disbursement projections were updated but were not reflected yet in the Eops system.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services 11 consultants for 217 person-months
Procurement

National competitive bidding (2 contracts) (Civil works for market and processing facility) $0.65 million

Shopping (8 contracts) $0.17 million
Responsible ADB Officer Dina, Stefania
Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Myanmar Resident Mission
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism
U Than Win, Director for Tourism and International Relations
[email protected]
Building No. 33, Nay Pyi Taw, Union of Myanmar
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism
[email protected]
Building No. 33, Nay Pyi Taw,
Union of Myanmar
Timetable
Concept Clearance 07 Nov 2014
Fact Finding 31 Mar 2015 to 08 Apr 2015
MRM -
Approval 15 Dec 2015
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 31 Mar 2020

Grant 9184-MYA

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
15 Dec 2015 17 May 2016 17 Aug 2016 30 Jun 2020 30 Jun 2021 -
Financing Plan Grant Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 3.45 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 0.00 07 Jan 2022 0.00 2.58 86%
Counterpart 0.45 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 3.00 07 Jan 2022 0.00 2.17 72%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating - Satisfactory - Satisfactory - Unsatisfactory

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Title Document Type Document Date
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Audited Project Financial Statements (April-September 2018) Audited Project Financial Statements Apr 2019
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Audited Project Financial Statements (April 2017-March 2018) Audited Project Financial Statements Sep 2018
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor Project: Progress Report (July-September 2017) Executing Agency Progress Reports Jan 2018
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Audited Project Financial Statements (15 August 2016-31 March 2017) Audited Project Financial Statements Dec 2017
Grant Agreement (Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction) for Grant 9184-MYA: Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor Project Grant Agreement May 2016
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor Project: Report and Recommendation of the President Reports and Recommendations of the President Nov 2015
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Project Administration Manual Project/Program Administration Manual Nov 2015
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Gender Action Plan Gender Action Plans Nov 2015
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Project Data Sheet (Myanmar Language Translation) Translated PDS Nov 2015
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Procurement Plan Procurement Plans Apr 2015

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

Title Document Type Document Date
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Updated Social Safeguards Due Diligence Report Safeguards Due Diligence Reports May 2020
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Social Safeguards Due Diligence Report Safeguards Due Diligence Reports Sep 2019
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Social Safeguards Due Diligence Report Safeguards Due Diligence Reports Jul 2019
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Social Safeguards Due Diligence Report Safeguards Due Diligence Reports Apr 2019
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor Project: Environmental and Social Safeguards Monitoring Report Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports Dec 2018
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Social Safeguards Due Diligence Report Safeguards Due Diligence Reports Nov 2018
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Nov 2015

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.

Related Publications

None currently available.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Financial Specialist (Project Management Unit - Accountant) Individual - Consulting Closed 20 Mar 2020 26 Mar 2020
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor Individual - Consulting Closed 07 Sep 2019 13 Sep 2019
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor Individual - Consulting Closed 28 Dec 2017 07 Jan 2018
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor Individual - Consulting Closed 11 Dec 2017 17 Dec 2017

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
TECHNICAL AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT PACKAGE Grant 9184 06 Sep 2017 ORIENT INTEGRATE DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS | UNIT518 5THFLOORUNIONSQUARECONDOMINIUMS CUBAO QUEZON CITY REP.UNION OF MYANMAR Ministry of Hotels and Tourism 402,606.00 —