CSO-DRD Meeting

Myanmar Community Driven Development Project
Consultations Summary

On 28th January, 2013, the CDD Project Secretariat meets CSO IFI Watch Myanmar group at Meeting Hall of Department of Rural Development. This note summarizes key issues discussed.

The following DRD officials attended:
U Khant Zaw, Director
U Hla Khaing, Deputy Director
U Kyaw Swa Aung, Deputy Director
Dr. Zarni Minn, Assistant Director

The following CSO team members attended:
U Si Thu Maung, Program Officer
Daw Khin Hnin Hlaing (a) Liz, Consultant
Daw Wah Wah Yu, Coordinator
Daw Phyu Phyu Thi, Manager
U Bo Bo Aung, Coordinator

The meeting starts at 08:00 am.

U Khant Zaw, the Director, addresses a speech as follows:- DRD is implementing the CDD project, by the help of World Bank. The first year of project will be implemented at three townships in three different region/state, namely, Chin, Shan and Taninthari. The secretariat is accepting and looking for various consultations of stake holders.

CSO: The project mechanism should also take into account/ consideration for the possibility of the rising tension between villages

DRD: The Department of Rural Development has shared the project selecting criteria and clarified that, the project will implement by township basis, not model-village approach, so that all villages in the Township will benefit. The Department had experienced many department budgeted infrastructure developments, tension between townships was not evidenced, for example, we implemented a rural water supply project in Nyaung-U, but no other township did not complaint on it.

CSO: To invite Local CSOs/NGOs to the workshops / forums hold at the region and state cities
DRD: The Department has difficulty to get the contact person and his/her address. If the CSO can help the department to dispatch the invitation letter, it is appreciated. CSO commit to send the contact information of Local CSO networks and to help sending of information.

CSO: To allow Local NGO / Firms in the competition of work contract before it is registered, and to allow to register after it is being chosen
DRD: The competition of unregistered NGO/ Firms in selecting contract firm, but it will not possible to sign if it is not registered, so it will need to register before contract signing. The Department will help registering of selected NGO/ Firm.

CSO: The grass-root is not ready to express grievance, still dare not express, because there still exist threatening
DRD: Firstly, the Department Officials shared about the Grievance Mechanism at village, village tract, township and union level. Then, shared about the Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism, in which, both the committee and informal volunteers will monitor, so that if a person is not dare to express grievance official, he/she can inform to informal volunteer groups.

CSO: How will the Inclusion of Women and marginalized group, they are still not ready in reality at the village level?
DRD: As the project is in the very beginning, the 100% inclusion cannot be expected. But the participation is expected to increase by time. As the project period is quite enough in length to participate, so the required participation can be achieved. And, the project is based on transparency and accountability, the trust and participation can achieve shortly.

DRD invited CSOs to participate in the CDD Projects according to their Capacity. The meeting finished at 10:00 am.