Case Study: Central and Northern Rakhine State Case Study: Revisiting emergency response and recovery projects in disaster and conflict affected communities

Description: 

"ES1 The Rakhine case study contributes to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Myanmar Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) from 2011 to 2016. This case study seeks to provide a collective picture of FAO emergency response interventions in Rakhine State over the course of the programme period under review and inform future emergency and recovery programming in the region...ES2 Central and northern Rakhine State (NRS) experienced recurrent natural disasters and several intercommunity conflicts. The region’s population is generally divided into two major religious groups further characterized by their ethnic origins. These differences, in addition to other factors, have resulted in violent confrontations beginning in 2012, causing loss of life and destruction of farms and infrastructure. Floods, mudslides and cyclones along with the sporadic violence have displaced many households over the years. Those who remain in their villages face similar risks, with limited attention and support services...ES3 The study covered six emergency and recovery/rehabilitation projects where FAO responded to humanitarian emergencies brought about by disasters or conflict from 2011 to 2015 in six townships in central and northern Rakhine State. This includes: Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk U, and Sittwe. The study involved review of project documents and consultations with various stakeholders in Rakhine, and interviews with beneficiary households and communities...ES4 FAO’s response provided seeds for rice, pulses, ground nut, and vegetable, fertilizers, bio-pesticides and agricultural inputs, livestock (cattle, goats, poultry), fishing gears and equipment, rehabilitation of infrastructure, training in improved agro-technological and livestock production...ES5 There is general positive feedback on the inputs provided by FAO in various projects gathered from post-distribution surveys and group discussions. Among the positive characteristics are the good quality in the rice, legume and vegetable seeds, fertilizers and livestock (cattle and buffalo are more preferred for farming)...ES6 FAO’s strong partnership with the government provided needed support for its activities. However, there is general weakness in FAO’s partnership with other development agencies and civil society organization in Rakhine...ES7 The impact of FAO’s intervention has been in preventing farmers from spiralling into further debt; however, the positive impact of FAO’s support remains short-term due to the recurring shocks faced by communities over the course of a year. A number of the project areas were beset with landslides, floods and saltwater intrusion due to strong wind and rains during or immediately after project implementation...ES8 There is conscious effort in FAO implementation to target women, female headed households and vulnerable groups with limited economic opportunities, especially in the distribution of poultry and small ruminants. Communities appreciate the specific targeting of landless, women and elderly...ES9 The impact of FAO’s intervention has been in preventing farmers from spiralling into further debt. FAO-assisted communities have been more stable and are more able to re-engage in their farming activities following shocks...ES10 FAO should explore developing a Rakhine programme focusing on building resilience of Rakhine and Muslim agriculture communities. Through a programmatic approach, FAO could address immediate and medium-term needs around emergencies and shocks while addressing the underlying causes of vulnerability and contributing to social cohesion and peacebuilding over the long-term..."

Creator/author: 

Source/publisher: 

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Date of Publication: 

2017-07-01

Date of entry: 

2019-06-18

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Countries: 

Myanmar

Language: 

English

Local URL: 

Format: 

pdf

Size: 

1.47 MB

Resource Type: 

text

Text quality: 

    • Good