Finland government has opened its pockets and written a check on 4 million Euros for The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) development actions in Myanmar, supporting the areas of democratic governance, local development and environmental sustainability.
“We look forward to deepening our partnership with UNDP. One of Finland’s development priorities is to support the democratization of political institutions and to improve equal opportunities of all people to participate in political decision-making.
Similarly we aim to support the strengthening of public administration and the judiciary to produce better public services that are accessible to people,” Jarmo Kuuttila, Chargé d’Affaires of the Diplomatic Mission of Finland, said in a press release by the UNPD.
This is the second significant support from Finland to the UNDP’s five-year country programme for Myanmar (2013-2017) within recent years. Following allocation of 2 million Euros in 2014 that contributed to implementation other UNDP initiatives in Myanmar as strengthening of the parliament; rule of law; local governance mapping; public administration reform and many others.
UNDP Country Director, Toily Kurbanov said in the press release that he was encouraged by the confidence and generous funding provided by the Government of Finland.
“With funding from Finland UNDP has supported Myanmar’s transition in many ways. We helped rural women have a greater voice through the formation of the Rural Women’s Network. We are helping government improve service delivery through the step up of one stop shops. At the Union level, we have supported the Hluttaw staff and the incoming parliamentarians.”
“The new funding from Finland comes right in time to support the next generation of reforms by the next Government in Myanmar and, by strengthening democratic institutions, it will go a long way in improving the lives of the people of Myanmar,” said Mr. Kurbanov.
In Myanmar, UNDP provides support to the national political and socio-economic reforms that underpin the country’s transition. UNDP’s support is channeled through a programme that seeks to strengthen institutions of democratic and local governance, support the environment and disaster risk management, and support government efforts for poverty reduction over the three-year period 2013-2015.
(Source: The United Nations Development Programme)
