UNOPS is Fund Manager for the Livelihoods and Food
Security Fund (LIFT), a multi...
UNOPS is Fund Manager for the Livelihoods and Food
Security Fund (LIFT), a multi-donor fund established in 2009 to address food
insecurity and income poverty in Myanmar.
LIFT has reached more than 9.4 million people, or roughly 26 per cent of
Myanmar’s population and is active in almost half the country’s townships. For
more details visit http://www.liftfund.org/.
The Fund Management Office, which is based at
UNOPS in Yangon, has delegated authority for the management of LIFT under the
rules and regulations of UNOPS, and in accordance with the strategy approved by
the Fund Board.
Although a few of
LIFT’s existing projects include townships in Kachin and northern Shan that are
currently experiencing armed conflict, LIFT has not specifically looked to fund
projects in conflict-affected areas. As the peace process advances, the
opportunities for working in these areas have increased, and LIFT is committed
to identifying and seizing these opportunities where possible.
In 2014, the LIFT
Fund Board took the decision to design a new programme for the upland areas of
Myanmar including an embedded sub-programme dedicated to supporting areas
emerging from conflict. This was endorsed with the knowledge that it is vital
that the programme framework is underpinned by a set of conflict sensitive
principles and a communications and consultation strategy. The overriding
concern is to improve livelihoods and food security using a conflict-sensitive
approach.
Therefore, the LIFT Fund Board is seeking an
advisor on peace and conflict dynamics in Myanmar as well as the social,
political and institutional context in conflict-affected areas. Ongoing
analysis and advice to the Fund Board is required to ensure that LIFT’s
programme remain relevant and appropriate as the context changes.