Myanmar

Myanmar is one of the largest countries in South East Asia in terms of its mass of land and population of about 60 millions. Myanmar has vast ethnic diversity comprising of majority Bamars and minority groups such as Shan, Kachin, Kayin, Kayah, Mon, Rakhine, Chin. Myanmar is a multi-ethnic society and a diversity of indigenous cultures exists. The majority, 89 percent of Myanmar’s citizens are Buddhist. After decades of military rules, a democratic government took office in 2011.

UN classifies Myanmar as a Least Developed Country( low income, weak human resources and economic vulnerability). The majority of the population (70%)  live and work in rural areas. Livelihoods are subsistence-based, supplemented at times by cottage industries and marketing of surplus produce. Access to markets is often limited and transaction costs are high. Education services are very limited. In general, there are high enrolment levels but low completion rates. Health services face problems due to insufficient number and capacity of qualified health workers. Rural livelihoods in various parts of the country are further compromised by civil unrest, climate factors and natural disasters including flood, fire and storm like Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 100,000 people.  Migration from rural areas is continuous, through trafficking and urban drift.