Myanmar : Strengthening Climate and Disaster Resilience of Myanmar Communities

Sovereign Project | 50403-001

Over the last few years, the Government of Myanmar has strengthened its policy, capacity, and institutional landscape for disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA). Actions includes the adoption of the National Disaster Management Law, 2013; formulation of the Myanmar Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction, 2009 (currently being updated) and the National Adaptation Programme of Action, 2009; development of the Nationally Determined Contribution; ongoing formulation of the National Climate Change Strategy; ongoing formulation of the Myanmar National Framework for Community Disaster Resilience; establishment of the National Disaster Management Fund and the Disaster Management Training Center.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Dina, Stefania
    Southeast Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Myanmar
  • Modality
  • Sector
    • Public sector management
Project Name Strengthening Climate and Disaster Resilience of Myanmar Communities
Project Number 50403-001
Country / Economy Myanmar
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 9307-MYA: Strengthening Climate and Disaster Resilience of Myanmar Communities
Government of Canada US$ 7.50 million
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Agricultural policy, institutional and capacity development

Public sector management / Public expenditure and fiscal management

Gender Effective gender mainstreaming
Description

Over the last few years, the Government of Myanmar has strengthened its policy, capacity, and institutional landscape for disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA). Actions includes the adoption of the National Disaster Management Law, 2013; formulation of the Myanmar Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction, 2009 (currently being updated) and the National Adaptation Programme of Action, 2009; development of the Nationally Determined Contribution; ongoing formulation of the National Climate Change Strategy; ongoing formulation of the Myanmar National Framework for Community Disaster Resilience; establishment of the National Disaster Management Fund and the Disaster Management Training Center.

While these advancements demonstrate the commitment of the government to adopt a proactive approach towards strengthening climate and disaster resilience, there remain further needs to strengthen resilience to extreme weather events, including improving the understanding of disaster and climate risk, undertaking investments (structural and non-structural) at all levels to reduce risk, and strengthening the financial management of residual disaster risk. In particular, there has been limited effort to develop disaster risk financing (DRF) instruments for post-disaster response. The primary ex ante DRF instrument in usethe budgetary reserve for post-disaster responseis insufficient, thus requiring the government to rely heavily on international assistance and budget reallocations in the event of a major disaster. There has been no assessment of disaster risk from a fiscal perspective or associated financing gap analysis, which is a pre-requisite for designing sustainable comprehensive disaster risk financing strategies and individual instruments, such as insurance mechanisms. The limited financial capacity of agricultural farmers and small and medium enterprises to manage disaster risk including highly limited insurance coverage places additional contingent liability on government. Moreover, the current legislative and regulatory environment further puts the private insurance companies and microfinance institutions at risk and reduces their interest in expanding coverage in hazard-prone areas. For example, the current legislative and regulatory environment does not allow insurance companies to price their policies according to risk in a specific area, thereby reducing their interest in expanding coverage in hazard prone areas.

The CDTA aims to address these issues by taking a comprehensive approach of combining disaster risk reduction, CCA, and DRF. It will include outputs related to (i) strengthening climate and disaster risk governance; (ii) enhancing capacity to undertake disaster-resilient investments in agriculture and rural development; and (iii) increasing awareness and capacity for disaster risk financing. Recognizing the novelty of DRF in Myanmar, this comprehensive approach will help establish the building blocks that are prerequisites for identifying disaster risk financing policy priorities and developing solutions, while at the same time catalyzing climate- and disaster-resilient development. Activities will be primarily implemented at the national level and with specific pilots in Ayeyarwady region, because of its high risks to natural hazards (floods, tropical cyclones, tsunamis); high socioeconomic vulnerabilities, such as high population density (being among the three most populous region in Myanmar) with 32% of population below the poverty line; and high dependence on climate-sensitive livelihoods.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Disasters triggered by natural hazardsfloods, tropical cyclones, landslides, and droughtsaffect the lives and livelihoods of a significant share of Myanmar's population. For example, Cyclone Nargis in 2008 affected the lives of more than 1.5m people in the Ayeyarwady delta and resulted in a loss of 74% of the gross domestic product of Ayeyarwady division. Modeling estimates by the United Nations indicate that Myanmar experiences an average annual loss from disasters of $2.1 billion, equivalent to 3.23% of the country's 2014 gross domestic product over the long term. The impacts of disasters derive from both large-scale events and the accumulated effects from many localized small-scale events, such as flash floods and landslides, are largely confined to local communities and especially absorbed by the poorer households, smaller businesses, and marginalized members of the community.

The interaction of natural hazards with existing socioeconomic vulnerabilities in the lives and livelihoods of local people further increase disaster risk. And with poverty remaining a key development challenge in Myanmar, the 76% of the poor living in rural areas have heightened vulnerability to natural hazards due to limited access to land and social and financial services, and a high dependence on climate-sensitive livelihoods. Women are likely to be particularly vulnerable and have least ability to cope with and recover from disastersreflecting their exclusion from land ownership; limited access to credit, trainings, and information technology (such as mobile phones); and poor representation in decision making and leadership.

With climate change, the hazard patterns in Myanmar are altering, thereby further increasing the disaster risk. It is anticipated that the potential climate change impacts could lead to higher hazard levels for tropical cyclones in coastal regions with a history of cyclone landfalls, floods in low flat regions, torrential rains in regions with long exposure to the southwest monsoon flow, and extreme temperature and drought in the Central Dry Zone. Sector vulnerability is also expected to increase in agriculture, water resources, public health, forestry, and coastal systems.

The Government of Myanmar has identified in its DRM- and CCA-related policy frameworks the increasing suffering of the population from climate-related disasters, and the need for support in strengthening resilience to extreme weather events. Accordingly, since 2015, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has supported the Government of Myanmar develop a National Framework for Community Disaster Resilience, which identifies potential opportunities for strengthening resilience of communities through investments in key sectors and themes of development, such as, agriculture, rural development, and financial inclusion, among others. The proposed technical assistance (TA) project responds to the request from the Government of Myanmar to support its implementation of the National Framework for Community Disaster Resilience.

Impact

Increased capacity for strengthening resilience, including financial resilience, to extreme weather events in Myanmar

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Climate and disaster risk governance at the national level and in Ayeyarwady region in Myanmar strengthened

Progress Toward Outcome On-going.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Capacity of government agencies to understand climate and disaster risk at the national level and in Ayeyarwady region in Myanmar improved

Capacity of government agencies at the national level and of selected communities in Ayeyarwady region to undertake disaster-resilient investments in agriculture and rural development sector enhanced

Awareness and capacity for disaster risk financing among government and the private sector in Myanmar increased

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) Inception mission was undertaken in early August 2017. During the mission a draft work-plan was prepared and discussed with all relevant stakeholders. The first Steering Committee met in November 2017. Under Output 1 the consulting firm was recruited in January 2018 and should be mobilized soon. For Outputs 2 and 3, three packages were advertised and the team is in the process of shortlisting.
Geographical Location Nation-wide, Ayeyawady Region
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design During project design a series of consultations took place gathering together several stakeholders from private sector, civil society, government, etc.
During Project Implementation The inception mission conducted in August 2017 organized a workshop gathering all relevant stakeholders to ensure effective coordination. and maximize synergies.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services

The project will require about 170 person-months of international and 213 person-months of national consulting services with expertise in various aspects of disaster risk management (DRM ), including disaster risk assessment, disaster risk management planning, disaster risk management capacity building, disaster risk management and gender, disaster risk management in agriculture and rural development, disaster risk financing, and disaster-resilient microfinance. The DRM specialist/international coordinator, DRM national coordinator, and DRM gender expert will be engaged by ADB on an individual basis and the remaining consultants through firms, in accordance with the Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time).

The TA will be implemented over 48 months, from April 2017 to March 2021.

Responsible ADB Officer Dina, Stefania
Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Myanmar Resident Mission (MYRM)
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement
Timetable
Concept Clearance 12 Jan 2017
Fact Finding 24 Oct 2016 to 28 Oct 2016
MRM -
Approval 31 Mar 2017
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 18 May 2018

TA 9307-MYA

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
31 Mar 2017 24 May 2017 24 May 2017 31 Mar 2021 - 24 Jul 2023
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
0.00 7,500,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7,500,000.00 03 Aug 2023 4,126,142.07

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.

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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
Strengthening Climate and Disaster Resilience of Myanmar Communities: Technical Assistance Report Technical Assistance Reports Mar 2017

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.

None currently available.


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
Strengthening Climate and Disaster Resilience of Myanmar Communities-Gender Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
Strengthening Climate and Disaster Resilience of Myanmar Communities-Disaster Risk Management Gender Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Package 2: Strengthening Early Warning, Resilient Agriculture and Rural Development Firm - Consulting Closed
Package 4: Disaster resilient microfinance Firm - Consulting Closed
Package 3: Disaster risk financing specialists Firm - Consulting Closed
Disaster Risk Modeling Firm - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
Capacity Development Technical Assistance 9307 03 Dec 2019 UNOPS (DEN)(DENMARK) | 11-13, Chemin des Anemonies, CH - 1219 C Geneva CHE Chatelaine, Denmark Ministry of Social Welfare,Relief and Resettlement 601,917.00
Capacity Development Technical Assistance 9307 07 Sep 2018 FRANKFURT SCHOOL OF FINANCE & MANAGEMENT(GERMANY) in association with Munich Climate Insurance Initiative(GERMANY) | SONNEMANSSTRASSE 9-11, 60314 FRANKFURT, GERMANY FAX +49 69 154008-670/f.dirkes@frankfurt Ministry of Social Welfare,Relief and Resettlement 1,222,004.00
Capacity Development Technical Assistance 9307 07 Sep 2018 FRANKFURT SCHOOL OF FINANCE & MANAGEMENT(GERMANY) in association with Munich Climate Insurance Initiative(GERMANY) | SONNEMANSSTRASSE 9-11, 60314 FRANKFURT, GERMANY FAX +49 69 154008-670/f.dirkes@frankfurt Ministry of Social Welfare,Relief and Resettlement 1,222,004.00
Capacity Development Technical Assistance 9307 09 Jul 2018 ICEM ASIA LIMITED(CHINA,PEOPLE'SREP.OF) in association with DHI WATER & ENVIRONMENT() | Suite 2006, 20th floor, 340 Queen's Road CENTRAL HONG KONG HONG KONG, CHINA Ministry of Social Welfare,Relief and Resettlement 1,850,152.00
Capacity Development Technical Assistance 9307 17 Jan 2018 DELTARES (NETHERLANDS) in association with Haskoning DHV Nederland B.V. (Netherlands) | ROTTERDAMSEWEG 185 2629 HD DELFT/Boussin DELFT 2629 HV NETHERLANDS [email protected] Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement 1,159,496.00

Procurement Plan

None currently available.