MYANMAR

Myanmar is a multi-ethnic, multilinguistic and multicultural state. Despite the country’s rich natural resources, Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia.

The peaceful development of society requires support for the well-being of its people: sustainable societies cannot be built without an adequate standard of living and access to education. Nearly half of the population in Myanmar is under the age of 27. A large proportion of young people belonging to ethnic minorities are either unemployed or unskilled, low-paid workers. The level of education is low, and the quality of vocational education is not sufficient to meet the needs of employers. High unemployment and low levels of education can threaten social stability and jeopardize the transition towards the peaceful development of the country. With the right support, young people can play a key role in it.

Gender-based violence against women is particularly prevalent in conflict-affected areas. Livelihood opportunities are often limited, which increases women’s economic dependence and exposes them to violence.

Finnish Refugee Council in Myanmar

Between 2009 and 2014, FRC supported refugees from Myanmar in Thai refugee camps, providing literacy and language education and supporting livelihoods. FRC has been working in Myanmar since 2015 to support the resilience of populations living in conflict affected areas, internally displaced persons and to contribute the region’s peaceful development.

FRC’s work in Myanmar focuses on 3 main pillars:

1. Youth skills development

FRC organizes short vocational and life skills development courses including pre-vocational training and on-the job training for young people to improve their employability. The courses also include training and support on enhancing interpersonal skills, transferable skills for the workplace, entrepreneurship skills, career guidance, and internship opportunities. Since 2016 FRC in Myanmar has provided life skills training to more than 2 000 youth with funding from the Government of Finland (Ministry for Foreign Affairs), the Livelihoods and Food Security fund (LIFT) and Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF).

2. Promoting leadership and strengthening organizational capacity of women and youth led local organizations

FRC Myanmar, works hand in hand with youth-led and women-led civil society and community based organizations in conflict affected areas in Myanmar to promote the leadership and organizational capacities of the local actors for them to deliver inclusive humanitarian and protection assistance to the most vulnerable people in Myanmar.

3. Prevention of and responding to gender-based violence against women and girls

FRC has enhanced the Gender Based Violence protection for women and girls by raising GBV awareness at community level, facilitating GBV survivors’ access to response services (e.g., emergency support such as health care, food, clothes, safe accommodation, psychosocial support, and legal assistance, and counselling), connecting with relevant local service providers and delivering technical and life skills trainings for women and girls.

Project summaries

Inclusion, Capacities and Resilience Enhanced for the Forcibly displaced People in Myanmar

The project will offer trainings to displaced youth especially women and girls in order to improve their employability and livelihood opportunities. The trainings will include e-learning in interpersonal and vocational skills, and in-person technical and vocational training. Additionally, work-based-learning and on-the-job-training will be organised with local employers. For those interested in entrepreneurship a 6-month business setup coaching support will be offered with the aim to create viable small businesses. Protection work will be implemented in cooperation with local women-led organisations which have been trained on sexual and gender-based violence issues and have experience providing awareness sessions in the communities. Psychosocial support is provided through community-based counselling in peer support groups. The project will also support the operations of local civil society and community-based groups, especially youth groups, through various targeted trainings while the youth groups will also be supported to implement community-led initiatives focusing on community development and social cohesion.

Duration: 4 years
Start date: January 2026
Budget: 1 189 500 €
Type/sector: Basic life skills for youth and adults, democratic participation and civil society, ending violence against women and girls, small and medium-sized enterprises development, promotion of mental health and well-being
Donor: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Inclusion, Capacities and Resilience Enhanced for the Forcibly displaced People in conflict affected areas in Myanmar

FRC plans to implement the project among internally displaced people in conflict affected areas. The project aims to provide essential response services such as essential non-food items, psychosocial support, and protection to women, girls and those who are in survival needs.

Budget: 728 235 €
Duration: 12 months
Start date: January 2026
Type/Sector: Emergency response
Donor: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Contact:

Massimo Lanciotti
Head of Humanitarian Operations and Global Grants
massimo.lanciotti(a)refugeecouncil.fi
+358 44 709 5807

Myanmar office:

Finnish Refugee Council FRC
#40, Room-101, Myay Nu Street, Myaynigone North Ward,
Sanchaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar

officeygn@refugeecouncil.fi

Stories from Myanmar

Women’s Centers Support Internally Displaced People in Myanmar

Conflicts between ethnic groups and political unrest have driven Myanmar into a severe humanitarian crisis ...

04
Mar

A society must include all its members to truly progress

Every year on December 3rd, the world pauses to mark the International Day of Persons ...

05
Dec