Burma

FY 2001 Program Description and Activity Data Sheets

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FY 2001 Program Assistance in FY 2001 will continue to focus on three interrelated programmatic objectives that: support and strengthen the capacity of NGO and student organizations to advocate for a peaceful democratic transition in Burma. build capacity needed to manage an eventual transition in government. This will involve: (1) expanding the educational opportunities to Burmese youth living in the refugee camps and to Burmese living inside Burma; (2) providing technical and managerial skills training to Burmese living in the camps; (3) providing English, and ethnic language training to adults, and (4) supporting small-scale community development programs inside Burma. provide humanitarian assistance to refugee populations in camps along the Thai-Burma border, and where possible providing to displaced Burmese outside the refugee camps. Other Donor Activities The activities being funded under the earmark operate independently of the Burmese regime, but are coordinated with major donors supporting democracy and humanitarian assistance in Burma. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. ranked fourth among donors assisting Burma between 1993 - 1997, behind Japan, France, and Germany. Bilateral donor programs that focus on humanitarian assistance in Burma include Australia (AusAID) and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development, DFID. Multilateral donors with activities in Burma include the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Food Program, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Burma TITLE AND NUMBER: Democracy and Humanitarian Assistance, 482-002 STATUS: Continuing PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $3,000,000 CSD; $3,500,000 ESF PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $3,000,000 CSD; $3,500,000 ESF INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2002 Summary: The Burma earmark requires that a minimum of $6,500,000 be made available to support democracy activities in Burma, democracy and humanitarian activities along the Burma-Thailand border, and for Burmese student groups and other organizations located outside Burma. Earmarked funds are being used in accordance with the requirements of the legislation. Funds are channeled through U.S.-based NGOs and international organizations. Key Results: Currently there is no program strategy for Burma. Appropriated funds support the U.S. Government's overall objectives of supporting progress towards democracy, improved human rights, and providing humanitarian assistance to people displaced by war. USAID and the Department of State are presently developing indicators for this program that can be reported on in future years. Performance and Prospects: Assistance for Burmese refugees, internally displaced peoples, and pro-democracy groups continued in FY 1999. Program activities supported training and advocacy for a transition to a democratic government in Burma. Activities also supported humanitarian assistance to refugees living along the Thai-Burma border. Humanitarian activities have improved access to primary health care, helped assure the maintenance of nutrition and food security of the refugee population, and improved the education being provided to refugee children. Finally, the program has provided basic training to health care workers along the Thai-Burma border in universal precautions to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, and developed and introduced culturally appropriate sex education materials that focuses on prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS. FY 2001 funds will be used to continue existing programs. Possible Adjustments to Plans: USAID and the Department of State are exploring possible opportunities to expand capacity-building activities, especially in the areas of post-secondary training for youths, adult literacy, and technical and managerial skills training for Burmese living inside the camps. Other Donor Programs: This activity operates independently of the host government, but is coordinated with efforts of more than thirty other donor agencies through the Coordinating Council for Support to Displaced Persons in Thailand and the Burma Border Consortium. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Principal grantees include the National Endowment for Democracy, the International Relief Committee, World Education/World Learning Consortium, the American Center for International Labor Solidarity, Open Society Institute and United Nations International Children's Fund. Selected Performance Measures: Performance indicators are being developed that will encompass democracy, human rights, and humanitarian assistance efforts. Indicators will measure nutrition, health services, and access to education by Burmese border camp populations. The number of refugees receiving basic food assistance, incidence of infant mortality and rates of infectious disease, and the number of children with access to education in Thai border camps are possible indicators. U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel)

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