Myanmar interim country strategic plan (2024–2025)

ICSP approved at EB November 2023 session

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is suffering from prolonged crisis characterized by political instability, conflict, displacement and economic turmoil. The crisis began just as the worst impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic were hitting the country, and the result has been a dramatic deterioration of the humanitarian situation in which 17.6 million people require assistance in 2023. Based on the latest estimates, 15.2 million people are food insecure. Food consumption and nutrition outcomes are declining across the country and the crisis has exacerbated the causes of low agricultural productivity and unsustainable food systems.

WFP will react by enhancing its crisis response efforts while continuing interventions to safeguard livelihoods and human capital. WFP’s primary focus for 2024–2025 will be on providing life-saving assistance for the increasing number of people affected by food insecurity and conflict in Myanmar. To address immediate and long-term food and nutrition insecurity, WFP will implement multifaceted nutrition interventions and build resilience in order to address some of Myanmar’s longstanding drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition and challenges related to food systems. This work will include strengthening the capacity of non-governmental and community-based partners and delivering a programme of asset creation and livelihood support.

The interim country strategic plan for 2024–2025 has been informed by the Myanmar humanitarian response plan for 2023 and is aligned with the United Nations transitional cooperation framework for 2024–2025. It is in line with the WFP strategic plan for 2022–2025 and includes four interim country strategic plan outcomes:

➢ Outcome 1: Crisis-affected people in Myanmar meet their food and nutrition needs all year round.

➢ Outcome 2: People vulnerable to food and nutrition insecurity and shocks in Myanmar have better nutrition, health and education outcomes throughout their life cycle by 2025.

➢ Outcome 3: People and communities in Myanmar that are vulnerable to food insecurity have improved livelihoods and resilience in the face of climate change and other shocks and stressors by 2025.

➢ Outcome 4: Humanitarian and development partners in Myanmar have access to reliable common services on demand all year round.

WFP will leverage its standing as the largest humanitarian organization in Myanmar and its strong relationship with partners working at the humanitarian–development–peace nexus to provide and facilitate support to those in need, in a context of escalating conflict and access challenges. Protection, gender equality and women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, nutrition and accountability to affected populations will be mainstreamed across WFP interventions. WFP will be guided by humanitarian principles and conflict sensitivity and will ensure a participatory approach throughout the implementation of the plan.

While fostering partnerships with donors, WFP will work with other United Nations entities, bilateral and multilateral institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society actors to deliver concerted action on the growing challenges faced in Myanmar and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2 (zero hunger) and 17 (partnerships for the goals).