Background

Dsicuss about the Australian Assistance In Regard To Crises In Myanmar.

This report briefs the recommendations and findings of the evaluation of Australian assistance in regard to the crises in Myanmar, since 2014 to 2017. This humanitarian assistance forms a larger aid program which covers peace, development and humanitarian programs in Myanmar.

Australia has been one of the oldest donor to Myanmar and has always offered support during its transition to democratic government in the recent times. Eve after gaining independence, the country still faces challenging humanitarian condition. The country is also prone to natural disasters, armed conflicts in certain parts of the country, inter communal tensions. These types of situation create a crisis which demands humanitarian attention. This evaluation report will analyses the effectiveness, relevance and efficiency of Australian assistance which particularly focused on displacement in Rakhine and Kachin states. This report mainly focusses on the performance of the humanitarian program in regard to the current strategies and priorities.

The purpose of this evaluation report is to review the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of Australian humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. The current situation in Myanmar is characterized by the current scenario in three different contexts: conflict in the northern region, ongoing communal tensions and displacement of people in Rakhine state and displacement of refugee in the camps of Thailand. Hence, this evaluation report mainly covers the humanitarian assistance in two of these states which are Rakhine in south west and Kachin and Shan states in northern Myanmar. The rationale for the evaluation was to check the appropriateness and relevancy of the assistance provided in these two states. It also analyzes the effectiveness and efficiency of the assistance. Lastly, the Australian assistance in restoring the local and national leadership.

The Australian humanitarian act was conducted on the basis of various data and information it had on the two states of Myanmar i.e. Rakhine and Kachin. The DFAT’s collected data on number of displaced people in these two states, number of children who were not accompanied by the parents or family members, the data on domestic violence, data on generic based violence and reproductive and health related problems in women, girls etc. These data were the basis in which the aids were distributed in different sectors to help the people’s in need.

The Shan and Kachin states had more than 120,000 people who were in the need of assistance which also included 98,000 displaced people because of the conflict (Annan, 2017). The 50% of these displaced people live outside the reach of government where the access to assistance was least. Around 77 to 78% of camp resident in Kachina state were women and children. Similarly, over 400,000 people in Rakhine needed assistance. The communal violence of 2012 displaced 145,000 people and among these 120,000 remain displaced till the mid of 2017. 79% of people in IDP camps were women and children. The security operations of 2016 and 2017 further displaced 20,000 people and approximately 70,000 displaced to Bangladesh. These data helped in planning and successful implementation of humanitarian assistance. 

Evaluation Criteria

Methodology: This section used both qualitative and quantitative approach to triangulate key findings. The qualitative approach included stakeholder interviews, group discussions and desk review. While the quantitative data set included OCHA financial tracking system and Australian humanitarian funding allocations. There were also short sight visits in the state of Rakhine and Kachin to capture the actual experience of the people affected in this region (About OCHA Myanmar, n.d.).

In this review, 113 documents were analyzed which included strategic documents, UN and implementing partner strategy documents, proposals and papers etc.

The semi structured interview included 27 women and 19 men. While the key informants included 21 implementing partner representative, 13 DFAT staff, 2 donor and 3 other stakeholders.

This was conducted to capture the view of the affected population on the service or assistance provided and the way in which the groups (sex segregated) participated in and influenced the partner programs. Out of 107 representatives involved in group discussion, 6 communities which represented internal displaced camp and community population in Rakhine and Kachin were the consultant. The other consultation included 7 representatives from disabled people organization in Yangon. The main objective of this discussion was to understand the barrier and priorities for persons who were living with disabilities in condition of protracted crisis.

All the participants of this evaluation were informed before the data collection process. The consent for taking photographs were also taken. The process for the person with disabilities was explained through translators.

All the figures and facts used in the report were verified through triangulation

The entire evaluation was completed in 3 months’ time. Due to time constraints, the visits to Rakhine and Kachin were briefed and only selected partner sites were visited. The reports of partner varied in detail, format and comprehensiveness.

Due to this the evaluation could not validate all the partner activities and outputs or present the complete analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of every partner program.

The Australian humanitarian program is based on the essential values of solidarity and humanity. Its objective and implementation are based on the underlying principle of impartially, independence, non-discrimination and neutrality (Aid Investment Plan Myanmar: 2015-2020, 2015).

In general, the aid is distributed without any discrimination, ethnic group, color, race, sex, age, ethnic group, nationality or political beliefs (Myanmar Humanitarian Crisis, n.d.).

The main criteria for humanitarian aid is need. The department of foreign affairs and trade (DFAT’s) identified disability inclusion, women’s empowerment, gender equality, protection and monitoring evaluation and learning as priorities and central to all of Australian aid to Myanmar (Review of Australia’s Humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, 2017). The Australian aid shifted its focus on gender protection and equality in the past couple of years by funding protection partner. This step contributed in ensuring safety and dignity of women, men, girls, boys among several states in Myanmar. DFAT’s along with other organizations provided support mainly in the state of Rakhine and Kachin in response to protracted crisis (Development assistance in Myanmar, n.d.).

Methodology

The European Commission unlike Australia DFAT’s provides all kinds of support at the time of need regardless of politics and relation between the European Union and the country which is affected (Development Assistance, n.d.). Therefore, the European Union is nonpolitical in character to which it adds value to the humanitarian efforts. The European Union gives more important to the principle of neutrality in its own work and in those attached with it. Lastly, we can conclude that the main objective or aim of organization providing humanitarian aid to human and gives priority in maintaining or restoring safety and dignity of affected population.

The NGOs and other organization which participated in the evaluation are ICRC, CARE, UNFPA, DRC, UNICEF, BRAC, IOM, Action Against hunger etc.

Each organization had their own role and function in helping the peoples of Myanmar.

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF): It played major part in providing food, shelter, water with a target to protect the children and women. In order to avoid the distribution of water on daily basis, this organization installed water pumps and deep tube wells in the camps. It also provided supplements and therapeutic foods to malnourished children along with vaccination to 15000 children to prevent measles, polio and rubella.

UNHCR: This organization has been working with Rohingya migrants since 1978. It provides shelter materials, emergency aid, protection and help the unaccompanied children, survivors of rape and trauma.

BRAC: it directly serves the refuge population and also trains them as volunteers. Its main aim is to focus on health, protection of women and girls and education

World Food Program (WFP): WFP is an UN agency that distributes energy biscuits to migrants in Bangladesh.

Doctors without Borders: It helps in treating ailments like diarrheas, injuries, serve dehydration, sexual violence etc.

Save the Children: It is an independent organization focusing mainly on children right and improvement in the children’s health it also helps by distributing tents, hygiene kits, cooking kits to the Rohingya. Its main aim is to help children especially those who are not accompanied by their parents or family members.

Hence, along with department of foreign affairs and trade, these organizations also play foreign affairs and trade, these organizations also play s important role in helping the displaced refugee.

To evaluate the actions and achievements were whether effective, appropriate and efficient, it was measured on 3 criteria.

• Was the assistance provided by Australian humanitarian to protracted crisis in Myanmar were relevant and appropriate?
• Was the assistance provided to protracted crisis in Myanmar effective and efficient?
• Did the Australia’s humanitarian assistance helped in restoring the local and national leadership?

The purpose of International Federation Red Cross and Red Crescent Society is to guide on how the evaluations are managed, planned, implemented or conducted and used. This framework is mainly formed to promote useful, reliable, ethical evaluations which contribute to organization accountability, learning and its mission to serve those who are in need (Burma: Ensure Aid Reaches Rohingya, 2017).

Role of NGOs and Organizations

Its committed to transparency and provide publicly accessible document to all those members so that they can understand properly and shows their involvement in the evaluation process. The framework also shows IFRC’s involvement and commitment to improve the significance and utility of evaluation, designing formidable and practicing legitimate actions as leading actor in the humanitarian sector (Adam, 2017).

The IFRC defines evaluation as a systematic and objective assessment of a completely or an ongoing project, program or policy its modelling or desired results. The main aim of IFRC is to establish the significance and completion of objectives, its development efficiency, its effectiveness, effect and sustainability. The process of evaluation should provide information which are useful and credible which enable the organization in making correct decision beneficial for donors and recipients. The key purpose of IFRC secretariat are:

1. Improving and ultimately its mission to help the people in need

The evaluation of current process helps to improve the organization performance by correct assessment of success and failures. This evaluation also helps the management and decision-making processes like policy and programme design, budgeting, programming, planning, implementation and lastly reporting. This also helps to rectify the impact and relevance of results, proper use of resources and which helps helps in maximizing the satisfaction level and output of the work.

1. It contributes in organizational learning

The evaluation process forms the framework for learning and helps in proper management and delivering of services and programmes. They also provide chance to reflect upon and discuss the learning and experience to enhance the collaboration so that the organization can gain full benefit from what they do, how they do to build their strength as a leader in humanitarian field.

1. Transparency and accountability

The periodic evaluation must be transparent and accountable to the stakeholders at various levels like donors, beneficiaries, partner organization and governments nation societies and other key partners in the humanitarian sector. The evaluation also helps in identifying whether the work is done as per the terms of agreement in compliance to established standards. This also provides opportunities to the beneficiaries to give their feed back and inputs related to work so that the organization can adapt according to the changing needs

1. Promotion and celebration:

The evaluation through reliable sources can be used for the mobilization of resources, advocate and realizing and celebrating the organization achievements. The promotion through evaluation is often not considered as a marketing agenda because the evaluation provides unbiased and independent assessment of organization performance and its results which adds credibility to accomplishments. This helps in promotion of humanitarian act on global level eventually benefitting those people in need.

Impact and Effectiveness

The Australian humanitarian assistance differed in its framework than IFRC as it mainly focuses on its services in the states of Kachin and Rakhine. It prioritized on gender equality and women empowerment instead of serving other fractions as well who are also in the need of aid to sustain their daily life.

It also had limited time due to visit in all the sits in Kachin and Rakhine state due to which the evaluation could not validate all the implementing activities going in those places. This further led to discrepancy in reporting format, details which is vital for organization so that it can improve its short comings and work on the mission to help the people in need. in overall evaluation process could not analyses the efficiency and effectiveness of partner programs and thus making the evaluation program in efficient.

The Australian assistance in health sector was less in comparison to other areas like protection, food security, shelter, livelihoods, education and water. It contributed to 15 hospitals and reached over 18,000 through mobile clinics. It also aims to protect the people from injuries and harms. These includes wounding, killing, torture, protection from exploitation and coercion, cruel and inhumane treatment and protecting people from deliberate deprivation like denial of food, medical care, shelter or water.

The DFAT’s also priorities the protection agencies to address the issues related to protection. The organization increased its investment that focuses on gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health of both women and girls. the protection concern also addressed issues like human trafficking, risk of alcoholism, drug use domestic and gender-based violence.

Although the disability inclusion was almost absent from Australian assistance programmes with an exception of providing support to person with physical disability who can access ICRC supported medical centers which was originally for mine victim but how its serving all the members with rehabilitation needs. The programs to engage the people with psycho-social disability is very rare but UNFPA supports women and girls with mental health needs.

The evidence suggest that the partners are beginning to consider disability inclusion in their future programs. The request from the DRC to Australia in amending its contract in order to carry out a disability analysis and is also working with UNHCR to search people with disabilities and design programs according to their needs. The engagement of handicap international by the partners to provide training on disability shows the increased awareness and long-term goal of the organization to work in this area.

The achievements of Australia assistance in regard to the protracted crisis in Myanmar was more than the noticeable. The Australian assistance amounted to more than 40 million to the crises and has helped more than 500,000 people per ear. Australian humanitarian act has made noticeable contribution in various sectors by infusing funds through a different range of partners like UN and NGOs that have good track in delivering effective services to those in need by upholding humanitarian principle. The key achievements of Australian assistance in response to protracted crisis in Myanmar since 2014 are: –

It reached in total of 200,000 people in Rakhine and Kachin states with food, relief and cash items.

The shelter was provided to more than 90,000 individuals.

The improved production capacity and resilience for over 6000 households.

More than 10,000 households got unconditional monetary transactions.

 It also provided support to more than 15000 people in understanding the risk of end mines.

It provided support to more than 100,000 women to access gender-based violence support and sexual and reproductive services.

It also trained more than 1,700 security and justice personnel in safe response towards gender-based violence and its prevention.

It helped more than 95,000 people with improved access to water facilities.

It also helped in training teachers and providing proper support to provide safe school environment, free of violence.

It contributed in establishing more than 20 temporary learning spaces to facilitate 3700 students.

It provided support to more than 15 hospitals and also reached more than 180,000 through mobile clinics.

France has contributed more than 2.3 million euro in an international effort to help the needs of Rakhine state. This humanitarian aid which France funded through French NGO’s is directed to help the displaced people and those who were affected by violence. It also provides food aid to the displaced people of Rakhine state (Humanitarian aid in Myanmar, n.d.)Bur. The amount dedicated for the food aid in 2017 as 865,000 euros. It is also providing support of 900,000 euros to the people migrated towards Bangladesh border (Myanmar/Burma, 2018).

The European Union is also one of the major contributor in providing aid to support the humanitarian act. The European commissioner declared 12 million euros in 2015, out of which 5.2 million were spent on sanitation and providing food aid to the people of Rakhine state. The European Union is additionally providing 3.8 million euros to the refugee staying in Bangladesh (EU steps up humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh and Myanmar, 2017).

The United States of America also declare aid package of 32 million dollars to help the Rohingya who fled Myanmar due to violence to the violence to neighboring Bangladesh US (Kosinski, Cohen, & Gaouette, 2017). Britain declared an amount of 25 million to help the affected people in both countries i.e. Myanmar and Bangladesh. Canada provide 2.5 million dollars aid for the women and children of Rohingya tribe Canada (Abedi, 2017).

Conclusion:

From the above paper it is apparent that, the condition of people living in the state of Rakhine and kachin is critical and demands humanitarian assistance. More than 520,000 in these are in need of assistance. The communal tensions, armed conflict in specific areas of the country and violence have forced people to live miserable life and migrating to neighbouring countries. The Australian humanitarian aid focused its attention and attention in these two states and help people in every possible way. The department of foreign affairs and trade though different organisation infused funds in different areas to maximize the output of humanitarian assistance. The report also showed the limitations of evaluations along with its relevance, efficiency and effectiveness.

References

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