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 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 |
|
||||
| Strategic Agendas | Inclusive economic growth |
||||
| Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Knowledge solutions Partnerships |
||||
| Sector / Subsector | Public sector management / Public administration |
||||
| 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) $0.17 million |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Dina, Stefania |
| Responsible ADB Department | Southeast Asia Department |
| Responsible ADB Division | Myanmar Resident Mission |
| Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism [email protected] Building No. 33, Nay Pyi Taw, Union of Myanmar |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 07 Nov 2014 |
| Fact Finding | 31 Mar 2015 to 08 Apr 2015 |
| MRM | - |
| Approval | 15 Dec 2015 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 31 Mar 2020 |
Grant 9184-MYA
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 15 Dec 2015 | 17 May 2016 | 17 Aug 2016 | 30 Jun 2020 | 30 Jun 2021 | - |
| Financing Plan | Grant Utilization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
| Project Cost | 3.45 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
| ADB | 0.00 | 15 Dec 2015 | 0.00 | 2.14 | 71% |
| Counterpart | 0.45 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
| Cofinancing | 3.00 | 15 Dec 2015 | 0.00 | 1.77 | 59% |
| Status of Covenants | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Sector | Safeguards | Social | Financial | Economic | Others |
| Rating | - | Satisfactory | - | - | - | - |
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.
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.
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.
-
Branding Brings Economic Opportunities for Women in Southeastern Myanmar
Through the ‘Made in Mon’ branding of local handicraft, women and the poor in Southeastern Myanmar are getting gainful employment opportunities. -
Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor in Myanmar
The project seeks to increase gainful employment opportunities for women and the poor. -
ADB, Japan to Help Boost Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in 4 Mon Towns
Japan and ADB are supporting a project that aims to scale up incomes and new employment opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs selling crafts and local food to tourists and residents in four townships in Mon state
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 | Contractor Address | Executing Agency | Contract Description | 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 | Consulting Services | 402,606.00 | — |
Procurement Plan
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Empowerment of the Poor and Women in the East-West Economic Corridor: Procurement Plan | Procurement Plans | Apr 2015 |