UNODC; Sustainable livelihoods and forest governance, phase 2

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

Myanmar is the second largest opium poppy growing country. Poppy cultivation weakens the environment by increasing deforestation and soil degradation, as well as causing economic and social instability and insecurity in poppy farming areas. The first phase supported by Finland and Germany has operated in a conflict area, partly under the administration of the central government and partly by ethnic armies. Drug production is a key force that maintain the conflict in the region. The villagers in the target area have reported increasing security, as the country's army have not have not intruded the villages during the project. A coffee co-operative founded by farmers has concluded a five-year sales contract with the French coffee company. Although the cooperative business is new in Myanmar, the sales contract enables to make it sustainable. The first batch of cafe was sent to Europe in October 2018. The long-term goal of the second phase of the UNODC project is supporting permanent disengagement from opium poppy farming by supporting the economically viable development of legitimate, environmentally sustainable livelihoods (coffee, community forests). The immediate results of the second phase of the project are based on sustainability: 1) improving environmental conditions and management in project areas; (2) strengthening the activities of the coffee cooperative established under the first phase of the project; and 3) creating favorable conditions for the continued development of alternative livelihoods in Myanmar.