An analysis of the status of reforms targeting Myanmar’s sub-national level, presentations of perceptions of people on the ground on what has changed, how to bring services closer to the people and change the public sector mindset about service delivery, as well as how to put in place feedback mechanisms and strengthen participation, information sharing and accountability were some of the key topics discussed at the two day Myanmar Good Governance Forum 2015 that concluded in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
The Myanmar Good Governance Forum is a follow up from the inaugural event in August 2013, during which the methodology of a nationwide local governance mapping was presented. The United Nations Development Programme together the Ministry of Home Affairs embarked on the mapping exercise which consulted more than 5000 people in 56 townships across the nation to map the existing governance arrangements and to reach out to the people about their experience of a people-centered governance system being set up as part of the country’s wide reaching reform agenda. The results and reports from the nationwide local governance mapping exercise were launched at the Forum.
“As 70% of the country’s population live in rural areas, it is necessary to place emphasis on good local governance and the provision efficient public administration services. Developing good, strong governance is a steady and continuous process which will take time,” said Union Minister U Hla Tun.
“Reform of governance structures, is a long term process and change cannot occur overnight. Joint engagement in analysis and collection of information allows us to have a joint baseline, from which progress can be monitored. It can also help to inform next reform steps, as well as identify priorities, both for government and for support by partners,” said Renata Lok-Dessallien, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative.
The Forum brought in a number of eminent international experts who discussed their experiences of bringing services closer to people through one stop shops or promoting transparency and accountability through e governance.
H.E Luvsan Erdenechuluun, Mongolia’s former Foreign Affairs Minister and Ambassador to the UN and at present National Coordinator of One Stop Shops in Mongolia shared his country’s experience in establishing one stop shops and highlighted the importance of high level government commitment for sustainability.
Mr. R S Sharma, India’s Secretary Department of Electronics and Information Technology outlined the vision of Digital India and the steps India has taken and is planning to bring e-governance applications to the doorsteps of all in India.
Mr. Ivar Tallo, former member of the Estonian parliament and e-governance expert demonstrated visibly that effective e-governance indeed can cross many boundaries, by casting his vote online for the Estonian parliamentary elections through his presentation at the Forum.
Former Prime Minister of Bhutan, and member of the Club de Madrid, H. E Jigme Thinely gave an inspirational insight on Bhutan’s path and experiences of transforming government and bringing services to the people.
The panel discussions and breakout sessions at the Forum discussed important local governance issues such as development planning and participation, the role of women in governance, access to basic services and social cohesion, among others.
The Myanmar Good Governance Forum focused on taking stock as well as looking beyond the national reforms initiated. As a highlight, the reports and results on the State of Local Governance, were launched during the Forum. These reports are the result of the Local Governance Mapping, an unprecedented nationwide effort led by the Ministry of Home Affairs and UNDP to map the quality of local governance and service delivery in all 14 states and regions of Myanmar.
The two days event was attended by more than 280 people representing government officials from the Union, State/ Regions and township levels, parliamentarians and international actors from national/local government, administration, academia and research, CSOs, private organizations and the UN system. The Forum is intended to become an annual national event and a recurrent platform for exchange on Good Governance practices in Myanmar. The Myanmar Good Governance Forum was organized under the umbrella of UNDP’s local governance and local development work which is supported by the Governments of Denmark, Sweden and Japan.
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