MEDA Myanmar

MEDA's Improving Market Opportunities for Women in a New Economy project aims to strengthen the participation and status of women in the Myanmar economy

Myanmar is a country in transition with a rapidly changing economy after emerging from decades of relative isolation. The country is slowly becoming an important actor in Southeast Asia but remains among the world’s poorest and least developed countries. Myanmar is still primarily a rural country, relying heavily on agriculture as a source of national income. Women play a significant role in agric

ultural production and engage actively in markets. However, while gender equality exists in laws relating to marriage, inheritance and ownership, gender equality in practice is a different story and gender-specific barriers still exist, keeping women from fully participating in the economy. Women and girls remain primarily responsible for household chores and a wide wage gap exists between women and men. Women often lack mobility and they face challenges to accessing financing, market information, and higher growth markets. The ownership and control of land and property remains a challenge for women in rural areas. MEDA, with funding from the Government of Canada, is launching a project in Myanmar aimed at increasing women’s participation in the country’s evolving economy and becoming active, respected and empowered economic actors and leaders. The project will run for five years, from 2015 to 2020, working within agricultural value chains and markets where women are already active participants. It will support 25,000 women in Shan and Kayin states to become active, respected and empowered economic actors and leaders. MEDA will work with local partners to improve the standard of living and the business environment for another 125,000 indirect clients who will benefit from the improved household incomes of producers and enhanced goods and services provided by strengthened micro small and medium sized enterprises (MSME) in the agricultural sector. Project Quick Facts:

Goal: Support women in Shan and Kayin states to become active, respected and empowered economic actors and leaders

Reaching: 25,000 women producers and their families

Funding: Government of Canada, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) www.international.gc.ca. Project length: 2015-2020

25/04/2023

20/11/2022

MEDA-supported rice miller in Kayin State continue to buy rice from the women-farmers and selling them to a buyer in Yangon who is exporting them in Thailand. Impressive!

Such a great result of the IMOW Project resulting in the linkages between the women farmers and the rice miller, then the rice miller to an exporter to Thailand.

Thank you to NAG, IMOW's Key Facilitating Partner (KFP) for continuing to support the rice miller and the women rice farmers in Kayin State.

20/11/2022

One of our IMOW Project's women Sales Agents in Shan State supported by METTA continues her business of buying and selling ginger in the IMOW-supported villages.

This is indeed a great news!

Changing An Economy Through Partnerships in Myanmar - IMOW

24/06/2021

So very proud of our team, partners, and these amazing women in Myanmar 🇲🇲

Thank you very much to the Embassy of Canada to Myanmar for all the support 👏

Changing An Economy Through Partnerships in Myanmar - IMOW This is "Changing An Economy Through Partnerships in Myanmar - IMOW" by MEDA on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

15/06/2021

Despite the challenges of COVID and the military coup in Myanmar, our project's Lead Firm Shan Maw Myae (Komeko Rice Flour Society) was able to harvest Pearl Barley in Shan. They were able to export 60 metric tons of Pearl Barley to Japan last May 30, 2021. Pearl barley is being used in Japan as raw material for healthy desserts, cosmetics, and medicines.

Congratulations Shan Maw Myae for your hard work, commitment, and dedication despite the many challenges you are currently facing to support our women farmers in Shan States.

MEDA - We mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, Orvie Bowman

27/04/2021

On Friday, April 23rd, our CFIO, Orvie Bowman, passed away after being involved in a fatal car crash while cycling in his hometown of Elmira, Ontario. He leaves behind his wife, Heather, and three children.

We have lost an important member of our community and we extend our heartfelt condolences to Orvie’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.

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Our MEDA family is shocked and all grieving for the loss of Orvie. He was such a good person and we will definitely miss him! Our MEDA Myanmar team is also extending its sympathy to the family.

To our partners and supporters, let us include Orvie in our prayers. May Orvie's soul rest in eternal peace 🙏🏼

MEDA - We mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, Orvie Bowman MEDA is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty.

18/03/2021

This is the mushroom farm of Daw Hel War Oo in Ayetharyar Industrial Zone in Pin Laung, Shan State supported by Kalaw Mushroom Production. She is a Lead Farmer and produced button mushroom and little wood mushroom. From the used compost, she can also produce vermi fertilizer. The family also has a vegetable dehydration machine that they can also use for mushroom.

Daw Hel War Oo just gave birth in her parent's home in Than Lin Township and had been in locked down for COVID and military coup. The husband is currently taking care of their mushroom farm and is happy with the harvest 👏

17/03/2021

An inspiring story from this time 🙏🏼

Kalaw Mushroom Production (KMP), one of our private sector partners in Pin Laung, Shan State still continue with their activities in providing training to the women farmers on mushroom production.

Despite the challenges they are currently facing, KMP together with the farmers still continue with their activities

KMP staff actually sent these pictures to us this evening. They are afraid that if internet will be cut down, they will not be able to show these project pictures. I am so touched and cried seeing them. So happy that despite what is going on in their country, they are still hopeful that things will get better again someday.

Please lets have them all in our thoughts and prayers 🙏🏼

Thank you KMP for supporting the farmers and inspiring all of us with your hardwork and commitment!

07/03/2021

Happy International Women's Day!!!

07/03/2021

Happy International Women's Day!!!

With support from Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada, our team and partners will help forge a gender-equal world thru our project in Myanmar!

App of the Month: Improving Market Opportunities for Women

02/03/2021

So very proud of this recognition from ESRI Canada!

Thank you very much to our donor, Global Affairs Canada, all our project partners - Key Facilitating Partners and private sector partners, and to all our amazing project team, both in HQ and in Myanmar.

The story map captured all the amazing work that we did for the past years and is really something to be proud of!

App of the Month: Improving Market Opportunities for Women Let’s celebrate International Women’s Day with this month's app, which shares the amazing programs supporting women in agriculture in Myanmar.

21/12/2020

Thank you very much to Myanmar I/NGO Forum for this beautiful video of NGO-members in the field doing their share despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shoutout to all our front liners and field workers in Myanmar!

INGO Forum COVID-19 Year Montage.mp4

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