Myanmar Development Assistance

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Steve Dowall

9:11pm Thursday 29 July

Myanmar Development Assistance

New Zealand does not have a bilateral ODA programme with Myanmar. Humanitarian assistance to Myanmar is channelled through multilateral organisations such as the UN World Food Programme or through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

As a member of ASEAN, Myanmar qualifies for the ASEAN-wide ODA programmes provided by New Zealand, including participation in the training programmes run by the Mekong Institute at Khon Kaen University in Thailand and English Language training in New Zealand for government officials. Projects can also be applied for under the Asia Development Assistance Facility.

Following Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, which left 84,537 people dead and devastated large areas of the Irrawaddy Delta, New Zealand contributed $3.8 million in emergency relief to Myanmar. Of this, NZ$1 million was provided to the UN Children's Fund, NZ$799,825 to New Zealand-based relief agencies and $2million apportioned between the World Food Programme and the UN Development Programme.