Mingalar Myanmar

Overview

Mingalar Myanmar (MM) is a private, non-profit, local organization that has been working in the country for several years for sustainable development of Myanmar.  MM was founded by Myanmar groups composed of academics, lawyers, businessmen, social workers and community leaders.  MM’s pre-cyclone focuses were on civil society, livelihood and sustainable environmental programs in coastal areas.

Immediately after cyclone Nargis hit the Ayeyarwady delta, Mingalar Myanmar (MM) mobilizes a large scale relief effort. MM’s current priorities including community based livelihoods, environmental health, replanting mangroves and other civil society programs.  MM is fully recognized by the government.  MM’s programs are funded by UNICEF, DFID, Action Aid, Internal Medical Corps (IMC), the Government of Singapore and private citizens of Myanmar.

 

Vision

• To strengthen civil society
• Sustainable development of vulnerable area in the country
• To develop institutions as social mechanism for interlocking social needs and expectations into sustainable development.

 

Goals

• To enhance ability of the grass-roots to participate in sustainable development programs
• Food security for the villages affected by the Cyclone Nargis.
• The recovery of the cyclone affected community including physical and mental health
• To reduce disaster risks
• To restore the cyclone damage coastal ecosystem

 

Objectives

• Rebuilding the livelihoods of the affected communities by providing emergency food, shelter and the materials for planting for the forthcoming season for food security.
• To assist in the recovery of physical and mental health of community members, by supporting the recovery village life.
• To restore mangrove and other protective trees in the affected area by means of community participation for protecting from future storms and cyclones. 

 

Activities

MM has 12 staff members and almost 80 volunteers, most of them are currently responding to the crisis in the delta.  MM Relief Program reached 49,039 beneficiaries from 11,428 families in 143 villages in 4 townships (Bogale, Dedaye, Kon Chan Gone, Pyapon) received food and non-food assistance.

In cooperation with International humanitarian organizations MM has been supporting hundreds of farmers with hand tractors, fuel, seeds, fertilizers, and farming equipment.  With the arrival of the monsoon, people need to complete planting by end of August 2008. MM had assessed and identified 27 villages in three townships (Bogale, Pyapon, and Dedaye) where help is most needed that have been received planting support.

In order to effectively carry out program activities and meet the program demands in time, MM will rapidly build knowledge of MM staffs and volunteers through on the job trainings in the overall early recovery strategy and implementation of programs to humanitarian standards, including rapid SPHERE standards training.  Trainings will also be conducted in program management, administration, and finance.  MM has been attending UN cluster meetings and has been introduced to working within the UN cluster system. 

 

The Board

1. Dr. Phone Win, President of Mingalar Foundation, CEO of MM
2. Dr. Swe Thwin, Chairman of MCCS (Myanmar Coastal Conservation Society), Retired professor of Marine Science Department, Malamyaing University, Director of MM
3. Yuza Maw Htoon, Director of MDF (Myanmar Development Foundation), Director of MM
4. U Aung Din, Retired Director of Ministry of Forestry, Director of MM
5. U Zaw Zaw, Director of MM