Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is the northernmost country of Southeast Asia; it is shaped like a kite with a long tail that runs south along the Malay Peninsula. The country is rich in natural resources. These are, however, poorly utilised. Decades of military rule and civil war with ethnic minorities have resulted in Myanmar becoming one of the world's poorest countries. 

In Myanmar, poverty is greatest in the rural areas. Here, access to public services, such as schools and health, is very poor. Consequently, we work to strengthen local communities with a focus on rights, providing opportunities to be employed in decent jobs and to earn incomes with dignity. We also help to strengthen the quality of the education offered, and specifically to provide access to kindergartens for pre-schoolers. 

Children 
We work to strengthen the Early Childhood Education centres in rural villages. This involves training teachers in good pedagogy, strengthening cooperation between school and home, raising awareness on parental responsibility, and providing guidance in school management. 

The Adolescent Empowerment Programme - Sagar Wine 
With our adolescent empowerment programme - Sagar Wine as it is called in Myanmar - we mobilise young people to think anew and approach life with positivity, and to see the opportunities that could help to change their own futures and society. The goal is to make young people proud and independent, give them knowledge about their own rights, and provide them with the opportunity to earn their own money. 

Through economic development, we also contribute to increased food security and increased dignity in livelihood and income earning. We also work to ensure that young people develop their skills through vocational training and thus contribute to securing an education and an opportunity to earn decent money. 

Read more: http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/MMR