29 June 2018, Yangon: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today signed cost sharing agreement with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)/Sweden to support its new country programme 2018-2022.

Sweden will provide 61 million Swedish krona (equivalent to USD$6.8 million) for a three-year period towards UNDP’s Support to Effective and Responsive Institution (SERIP) project, Leadership, Effectiveness, Adaptability and Professionalism (LEAP) Project as well as the Cooperation Partners Group Secretariat.

The Support to Effective and Responsive Institutions Project (SERIP) seeks to strengthen the effectiveness of Myanmar’s machinery of government in developing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based and demand-driven public policies. Through the project Myanmar’s capacities to meet its poverty alleviation, social equity and environmental resilience goals will be strengthened. Key to this will be planning for, allocating and using public funds effectively in a manner that reaches the most vulnerable people in Myanmar.

The LEAP Project supports the Myanmar Civil Service to be more effective by improving the motivation and behaviour of civil servants through addressing gaps in the civil service regulations, strengthening the personnel management procedures, transforming the existing top down management systems and overcoming the challenges of decentralisation.

Sweden has been a long-term partner of UNDP in Myanmar and at the global level.

“We are grateful for the generous support provided by Sida/Sweden for UNDP’s new country programme which will help strengthen government institutions, enhance transparency and support Myanmar’s democratic transition. With Sweden’s support, we also hope to promote better coordination amongst development partners and help Myanmar to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Peter Batchelor, UNDP Country Director.

“Sweden is a key partner and donor to UNDP globally as well as in Myanmar. Sida has extensive experience from working with UNDP in Myanmar, and has today decided to continue this partnership by signing a new three-year agreement with UNDP. Sweden will earmark its support to SERIP and LEAP since we believe these projects will continue to strengthen the effectiveness of state executive and legislative institutions on all levels as well as enabling the Myanmar civil service to reform and adapt its management system to become more effective. Sweden will also fund the Cooperation Partners Group along with other donors since Sida strongly believe that better coordination amongst development partners will support Myanmar’s democratic development”, said Mr. Anders Frankenberg, Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden, Section office, Yangon.

UNDP’s new country programme 2018-2022 works with a range of partners to promote inclusive and sustainable development in Myanmar.