USAID Burma Responsible Investment & Trade Activity FY2021 Quarterly Report 1

The Activity works with a broad range of international and domestic private sector firms and civil society actors to increase responsible trade and investment in Myanmar. Through a facilitative and ecosystem-strengthening approach, the Activity helps firms operating in or entering the market in Myanmar to improve corporate governance, business transparency, and competitiveness. The Activity contributes to USAID Burma's Development Objective 2 "Inclusive economic growth strengthened" and Intermediate Result 2.2 "Responsible and transparent private sector expanded." The Activity's approach to strengthening the private sector is guided by four objectives: increasing fair and responsible trade and investment in Myanmar, improving corporate governance and business transparency, promoting economic integration and investment for the benefit of Myanmar citizens in non-urban areas, and empowering women to participate more fully in the economy. The Activity achieves these objectives through various strategies, including identifying and supporting transactions that bring new investments into Myanmar, increasing gender-lens investing, de-risking investments in firms located in non-urban areas, building the capacity of businesses to improve corporate governance, and strengthening corporate accountability through civil society and media. The Activity uses grants and a flexible Investment and Technical Assistance Facility (ITAF) to collaborate with and co-finance business advisory service providers, firms, and associations. The Activity has established a network of partners, including business advisory service providers, civil society organizations, associations, and training institutes, to ensure local ownership of results. The Activity's models work to demonstrate pathways to success and catalyze growth through strategic communications, collaboration, and learning. The Activity's progress is monitored through indicator performance tracking, which provides a way to monitor performance against targets on a quarterly and annual basis. The Activity's key results to date include the establishment of a network of partners, the development of a flexible ITAF, and the implementation of various strategies to promote responsible trade and investment in Myanmar. The Activity has also made progress in increasing gender-lens investing and de-risking investments in firms located in non-urban areas. However, the Activity faces challenges in building the capacity of businesses to improve corporate governance and strengthening corporate accountability through civil society and media. The Activity's approach to strengthening the private sector is guided by four objectives, which are critical to achieving inclusive economic growth in Myanmar. The Activity's progress is monitored through indicator performance tracking, which provides a way to monitor performance against targets on a quarterly and annual basis. The Activity's models work to demonstrate pathways to success and catalyze growth through strategic communications, collaboration, and learning. The Activity's network of partners includes business advisory service providers, civil society organizations, associations, and training institutes. The Activity's flexible ITAF allows for collaboration and co-financing with business advisory service providers, firms, and associations. The Activity's progress in increasing gender-lens investing and de-risking investments in firms located in non-urban areas is notable, but challenges remain in building the capacity of businesses to improve corporate governance and strengthening corporate accountability through civil society and media.