A multi-stakeholder workshop on Responsible Tourism and Human Rights in Myanmar was held in Naypyidaw from 30 September to 2 October by the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business and the Hanns Seidel Foundation.

1. Myanmar
Léon de
Riedmatten
Aye Po Po Naing
Thomas Carr

2. Independently-funded private Swiss foundation
Based in Switzerland
Founded in 2009
Also working in the Balkans, West Africa, Kyrgyzstan
WHO WE ARE

3. WHAT WE DO IN MYANMAR
PeaceNexus is responding to a request from the Myanmar Peace
Center (MPC) and the Karen National Union (KNU)
leadership to establish a local advisory structure to promote inclusive
business development in the ethnic minority/ post conflict area of the
Karen people.
Acting as a facilitator, PeaceNexus promotes broader participation
of local stakeholders in identifying inclusive and responsible business
opportunities and needs.
PeaceNexus connects its local partners with international actors,
donor agencies and private investors to tap into their resources and
expertise. It also assists ethnic groups and public/private sector actors in
Kayin State to understand and foster responsible and conflict-sensitive
business practices.

4. OBJECTIVE AND PHILOSOPHY
Project Objectives:
Promote sustainable peace by supporting inclusive business
development.
Promote human rights, local community inclusion, and local
community benefits.
Philosophy:
“Sustainable Development cannot simply take place without
practicing an inclusive multi stakeholders approach. This
means active participation and a meaningful dialogue between
all stakeholders that leads to tangible outcomes”

5. KAYIN STATE & THE SOUTHEAST
MYANMAR PROJECT:

6. Thai-Myanmar
border
Capital Hpa-an
Pop. 1.4m
Area
18,879km/sq.
(Size of
Belgium)
KAYIN
STATE
Yangon
Bangkok

7. PROJECTS
PeaceNexus conducted an assessment
in the region and four sectors were
identified:
-Tourism
-Agriculture
-Manufacturing
-Telecoms

8. Rich cultural
heritage
Spectacular
scenery
Trekking
Local products
Traditional
food
TOURISM
POTENTIAL

9. ROLE OF PEACENEXUS
PeaceNexus acts as a facilitator, not as an
implementing body.
We provide a common space for stakeholder
relations and local community consultations.
We are not experts in tourism, our expertise is in
conflict resolution, business development,
community development, facilitating multi-
stakeholder dialogue, and finding the right partners
for all our projects.

10. OUR TOURISM DEV. PROGRAM
Partners to support our programs; main partners:
Hanns Seidel Foundation and Myanmar Tourism Federation
Starting point: ‘Tourism and Peace Multi-stakeholder dialogue’ in Kayin
State in 2014
Additional workshops with the outcome to initiate a pilot project in
Thandaung Gyi.
Established a multi-stakeholder working group – Thandaung Gyi
Tourism Development Working Group (TTDWG).
Thandaung Gyi was previously a British hill stations. It is famous for its
tea and coffee plantations, as well as the Naw Bu Baw prayer mountain.
It is only three and an half hour drive from Yangon.

11. HUMAN RIGHTS CHALLENGES
Causes of human rights challenges:
•Armed conflict /Conflict over territory
•Lack of transparency
•Community living in fear - Uncertain future
•Community has been excluded from development
planning and decision-making processes
•Clientelism and patronage
Approach: Our focus is not on blaming one another for past
problems, but rather working towards a better future and
improving the human rights situation in the region.

12. Political Sensitivity:
- Governance - Regional government/
Tatmadaw/ethnic armed group
- Travel restrictions
- Lack of trust and understanding
- Difficult to find appropriate partners
Lessons Learnt:
- Necessary to reach a good understanding with the
regional authorities, relevant stakeholders
- Takes persistence – repeatedly showing that the
project is contributing to sustainable peace in the
region
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNT

13. Coordination
- Different partners to support the genuine desires of the
community.
- Individual partners may have their own objectives/egos, so it
is important to ensure that our focus is on securing a good
outcome in terms of what the community needs and wants.
- Equal contribution to both majority and minority groups
(ethnic and religious) in the area.
Ensuring ownership of the project to the
community. PeaceNexus is “scaffolding”
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNT

14. Q&A
jilldkavanagh@gmail.com
Q&A
Thank you!