To help increase cooperation for development projects in Mon State the Mon State Government held its first meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and International non-governmental organisations (INGOs) on 6 January.
The state prime minister U Ohn Myint, the state parliament chairman U Kyin Phay, the state attorney general, ministers and department officials held a meeting with UN organisations, CSOs, NGOs and INGOs at the Aung San Hall in the state government offices of Mawlamyine City, Mon State.
The state prime minister U Ohn Myint explained that even though such organisations are in touch with the state government they still do not have enough information to do their work properly, which shows that the government have a communication problem. To combat this the organisations are going to work and cooperate more with local authorities such as township level supporting committees, municipal committees, and land management committees.
U Kyaw Kaw Soe, head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Mon State and the representative for all the development organisations working in Mon State suggested that the state government employ someone to liaise with the development organisations.
At the meeting with the development organisations the state prime minister appointed a director from the Mon State Planning and Economic Ministry as a liaison officer. He has been charged with maintaining contact with International non-governmental organisations (INGO) and NGOs in Mon State.
U Kyaw Kyaw Soe from the UNDP project said that having a specially appointed liaison officer would improve cooperation between the state government and CSOs, NGOs and INGOs. The liaison officer has also been invited by the CSOs, NGOs and INGOs to attend their internal meetings.
U Kyaw Kyaw Soe said: “This is a positive sign, we even had some results before the meeting. The prime minister knew what he had to do and now he has done it [appointing a liaison officer].”
He added that following the meeting with the development organisations state development projects could be smoothly implemented without any delays. This was the first time there had been such a meeting.
U Kyaw Kyaw Soe wants to see a system where there is effective cooperation between all parties.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
