UNDP for early recovery activities in Burma
4 Jun 2008, 1317 Hrs

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New York, June 4 (ANI): The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today presented a comprehensive early recovery package aimed at immediately re-establishing livelihoods for communities in Burmese villages.

This initiative will run parallel to the ongoing humanitarian operations in the cyclone-hit Ayeyarwady Delta region and bring together the expertise and resources of multiple UN agencies to deliver as one.

The early recovery basic services package comprises a combination of cash grants for immediate livelihoods support and cash-for-work schemes for rehabilitating social infrastructure.

The package will directly benefit 20,000 households, or about 100,000 cyclone survivors, in 250 priority villages.

The villages were selected based on the urgency of needs, taking into consideration the participating agencies' initial funding constraints. The package will enable the beneficiaries to resume their income generating activities in agriculture, poultry, fishery, homestead gardening, small trades and commercial and professional services in the next six months.

Simultaneously, this will build the foundation from which they can achieve more sustainable livelihoods.

UNDP's policy advisor, Shafique Rahman, said: "Early recovery starts from day one. The basic services package is an innovative model that provides essential support to revive and recover the villages. It can be rapidly implemented and easily replicated by other partners."

The inter-agency collaboration built into the package expands on an earlier agreement to assist farmers for the monsoon planting season. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) will provide paddy seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and power tillers, among other inputs.

UNDP will deliver these items to the farming households using its long-established distribution network. This will enable crop cultivation in 37,500 acres of farmland over the next six months. UNDP will also work together with the International Organisation of Migration and the UN's Children's Fund, UNICEF, in order to provide shelter materials.

"This will empower the survivors," said Hla Myint Hpu, consultant who has conducted needs assessment for the project.

"People want to keep their dignity; they want help to rebuild their livelihood and get back on their feet," Hpu added

UNDP, using its community mobility capacity, will set up village sub-stations with community development facilitators to monitor implementation. The outcome of this initiative will be closely monitored at township level to adjust the early recovery strategy, so that it reflects the fluid situation on the ground.

The UN agency coordination at the township level will further facilitate consolidated reporting of the outcome. The outcome analysis will ensure that the agencies can develop a new form of continued assistance, making sure the beneficiaries achieve sustainable livelihoods and more villages receive assistance in coming weeks. (ANI)