LIFT
The Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT) is a multi-donor fund e...
LIFT
The Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT) is a multi-donor fund established in Myanmar in 2009. LIFT’s work contributes to three outcomes: 1) Improved nutritional status, particularly for women and children; 2) Increased household income and assets with greater control by women; and, 3) Reduced vulnerability of households and individuals to shocks, stresses and risks. To date, over 11.6 million people in 75 per cent of Myanmar’s townships have benefitted from LIFT’s programmes. LIFT has committed to localization and promoting local leadership, with a set of goals as priorities for 2021 and onwards. For LIFT’s 2019-2023 strategy and other details visit www.lift-fund.org.
LIFT is managed by the United Nations Office for Projects Services (UNOPS) and has received funding from 16 international donors. The current donors are the United Kingdom, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and Norway.
Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The thrust of LIFT’s work is to expand access to inclusive financial services that can serve as a catalyst for inclusive economic development. The key components of LIFT’s Financial Inclusion and Private Sector Partnerships Programme are:
Microfinance: Supporting MFIs to increase supply of a broad range of demand-driven financial services tailored to diverse market segments and increase MFI presence in remote and conflict-affected areas to support poverty and vulnerability reduction.
Microfinance capital market development: Supporting the hedging of foreign currency exchange risk to attract international investors to Myanmar’s microfinance market and contribute to growth in access to inclusive financial services across the country.
Digital financial services: Building digital financial channels, primarily targeting women.
Agribusiness finance: Incentivizing provision of financial services tailored to the agriculture sector.
Women’s inclusion and empowerment is a priority in LIFT’s Strategy 2019-2023.