The DaNa Facility, in collaboration with UNCDF and ADB Ventures, virtually organized the Fintech Challenge Myanmar (FCM) 2020 Pitching Day on 19 Nov, to provide 19 shortlisted fintechs the opportunity to present their capabilities and demonstrate an updated version of their technology solutions.

This research has considered the current status of women working in the agribusiness sector in three DaNa funded projects in different field sites – Magway, Southern Shan and Rakhine. It has involved asking women and men about the levels of access women in their communities have to training and employment opportunities. It has explored the barriers that exist – and need to be overcome – to improve women’s access and agency.

A assessment report has concluded that access to finance for MSMEs is vital as the economy strives to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. The report, commissioned by the Myanmar Government’s Working Committee to Address Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Economic Impact and prepared by the DaNa Facility in close partnership with the ITC and the UNCDF, assesses the real sector impacts of COVID-19 and provides recommendations for an effective policy response.

This assessment report examines the views of Myanmar-based garment operators on the impacts of COVID-19, on the government’s responses, and on the potential for PPE production. The survey and research was carried out under the COVID-19 response technical assistance initiative carried out by the DaNa Facility for various agencies of the Myanmar government.

In order to better understand the economic impact of COVID-19, The Asia Foundation carried out a nationwide telephone survey of businesses in Myanmar to see how the pandemic has affected businesses’ profitability, workforce, and access to finance, as well as how businesses have benefited from some government policies. This COVID-19 survey uses elements of the most recent Myanmar Business Environment Index (MBEI) 2020 survey to assess changes in the business environment since February 2020. All elements of MBEI are funded by UK Aid through the DaNa Facility.

Findings from the 2019 Myanmar Business Environment Index

In 2019, The Asia Foundation released the first ever Myanmar Business Environment Index (MBEI). This wealth of data provided an opportunity for additional research to look deeper into the topic. Good Practice in Subnational Economic Governance in Myanmar: Findings from the 2019 Myanmar Business Environment Index takes this research a step further. It attempts to identify the reasons why some states, regions, or townships have scored high or low on a MBEI indicator. The purpose is to identify government successes and good practices that have contributed to a good business environment. It provides examples of how individual government offices even at the township level have shaped the business environment for the better. It also provides concrete ideas for making the business environment better.

The DaNa Facility signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Myanmar Pulses, Beans, and Sesame Seeds Merchants’ Association (MPBSMA) to develop a robust, sustainable, competitive and dynamic sector for pulses, beans and sesame in Myanmar.

The purpose of this study is to help donors, humanitarian and development practitioners, local enterprises, and other stakeholders improve their understanding of private sector development in Kachin State.

This report examines the actors engaged in economic governance in Myanmar, the factors that shape their authority, and the ways they can contribute to improved economic governance outcomes. It connects the MBEI, which focuses on the views and experiences of Myanmar businesses, with The Asia Foundation’s work on governance, particularly reports such as State and Region Governments in Myanmar. In this report, we lay a foundation for further research into best practices in economic governance in Myanmar. This future research will outline actionable strategies that can be adopted by subnational levels of government to improve economic governance outcomes.

Myanmar’s states and regions are increasingly looking to attract more investment to support development and regional businesses. Investment projects can unlock the potential of businesses to provide inclusive growth, particularly for women and other vulnerable groups, by creating jobs and decent incomes.

The report describes and analyses the textile value chain in Myanmar with a special focus on local textiles. It includes a detailed analysis of the value chain, as well as the various challenges and opportunities affecting textiles, and it concludes with recommendations for improvement.

The Economic Governance Index (EGI) is a tool that has become widely accepted by governments to understand economic growth, attract investors, and engage in public-private sector dialogue. The Myanmar Business Environment Index (MBEI) follows in this tradition by adapting the EGI model to the Myanmar context. The MBEI is designed to provide Union and state/region government leaders, as well as stakeholders such as business managers, with a tool to understand and address the challenges Myanmar businesses face, and thereby encourage sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

The initial Making Access Possible (MAP) Diagnostic was developed in Myanmar in 2014 based on the 2013 FinScope demand survey. Following this, a Financial Inclusion Roadmap was subsequently developed and it has been partially implemented over the past three years (2016–2018). This Diagnostic was prepared as of November 2018. Given the fast-changing pace of Myanmar’s financial markets, the limited life of demand-side data, and the need to fine-tune the focus of national financial inclusion activities, a 2018 MAP study was undertaken to update the financial inclusion priorities and generate a revised Roadmap.