Myanmar is still a rural based economy with 70% of the population living in rural areas and an agricultural sector roughly weighting over 40% in the GDP. The majority of farmers are small-scale farmers and the proportion of landless people is quite high, ranging from 30 to 70% of the rural population depending on geographical area. Myanmar has not been able to fully take advantage of its tremendous agro-ecological potential. Even though the country produces some food surplus at national level, food insecurity at local and household levels remains widespread. Poor social policies, weak agricultural policies (low access to capital, extension services, and technology for example), in a country vulnerable to natural disaster, affect the poorest and lead to food insecurity.
In this context, EC has issued an open call for proposals for the “Innovative Approaches to Combat Food Insecurity” program in Myanmar.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The global objective of this Call for Proposals is to contribute to the improvement of the food security of the poorest and most vulnerable people in Myanmar.
The specific objective of this Call for Proposals is to encourage the adoption of innovative and sustainable solutions to combat food insecurity in Myanmar.
Priority Areas
In terms of priority areas to be considered under this Call for Proposals, a broad range covering the 3 pillars of food security (availability of food, access to food, and nutrition) will be accepted. For indicative purposes only, some of the relevant themes for Myanmar include:
i) Interventions related to production and market linkages:
- Sustainable improvement of smallholder fisheries / aquaculture;
- Sustainable improvement of smallholder crop production, including organic production and high value crops;
- Improved access to land and other factors of production;
- Value chain approaches;
- Improved storage and post-harvest practices;
- Improved market access;
ii) Off-farm income generation opportunities.
iii) Cross-cutting interventions:
- Promotion of efficient producers’ organisations;
- Sustainable natural resources management (including adaptation to climate change);
- Promoting improved nutrition;
- Improved financial services (institutional building and product development. This does not include provision of seed capital to micro-finance organisations).
Last date for submission of proposals is October 3, 2011
For more information and details, please visit this link.
