Overview : For over 2 decades, UNDP’s Country Programme in Myanmar (owing to restrictions placed by the UN General Assembly and UNDP’s Executive Board, (GA/EB) has focused predominantly on livelihoods and food security activities through its flagship Human Development Initiative (HDI). At the height of the HDI initiative, over 8,000 villages in 63 townships across Myanmar received assistance and more than 5503 SRGs were formed. Subsequently and as noted in the independent evaluation of the HDI transition (concluded in 2013), more than 170 Cluster Leading Groups (CLGs) and 28 Township Leading Groups (TLGs) were formed as part of the HDI transition activities. As of April 2014, 31 TLGs exists as apex institutions of village based SRGs. These TLGs support some 112 cluster groups which in turn are comprised of 1979 SRGs. In total, some 22,000 women are part of the 3 tiered organizational structure based out of 31 Townships in the country. (Refer Annex 1 for a full list of TLGs by Townships).
UNDP now intends to implement a grant facility to support the institutional development and capacity building of the 31 TLGs with the intention that they evolve into more stable and recognized Community Based Organizations (CBOs). A recent study in 2014 further compliments the logic of the approach and sees potential for these TLGs to play leading roles in advocating specific issues on improving rural development and the advancement of women in leadership roles. It also proposes the formation of a national network of TLGs that will give national level prominence and visibility to these TLGs. However there are various limitations in the capacity of the TLG leaders to receive and implement the grant to achieve the intended outcomes. Thus the primary objective of this consultancy is to create awareness amongst the beneficiaries (i.e. the 31 TLGs) on the requirements of the grant support mechanism and the criteria in which they would qualify to receive this support. Further the registration of the TLGs and the setting up of bank accounts is seen as the primary outputs of this assignment. |