Burma 2021

Burma

Solidarity Center (SC)

Strengthening Trade Union Capacity and Worker Voice

$763,907

Public Summary: To strengthen their structural and operational capacity to defend worker rights, the Center will provide training, mentoring, and research support to workplace-level unions and union upper structures in Burma. The Center will identify and cultivate key leaders, staff, and activists within union federation structures, labor NGOs, and workplace-level unions to become effective trainers, mentors, and organizers. The Center will also develop model structures and language for union constitutions, which are critical to building a democratic union movement capable of improving working conditions in the future.

Burma 

Democratic Ideas, Values, and Norms

Burmese-Language Current Affairs Journal and Political Resource Center
$85000
Public Summary: To present in-depth commentary and editorials and to maintain a resource center that will nurture a new generation of human rights defenders and provide a cooperative and safe space where a network of democratically-minded civil society leaders can convene and strategize. The project activities will include the publication of a monthly public affairs journal, an intensive training for potential Rangoon-based youth leaders, and the maintenance of a political resource center to advance democratic learning, dialogue, and coordination. 

Burma 

Universal Rights

Encouraging Political Participation Among Mon Youth
$47000
Public Summary: To encourage youth to take a more active role in their communities and become local leaders in different sectors of Mon society. The project activities will include the production of a quarterly Mon and Burmese-language journal on youth issues and managing a capacity building and community-organizing program designed to encourage increased cooperation, understanding, and leadership among Mon youth. 

Burma

Universal Rights

Advancing Civic and Political Engagement for Minorities
$30000
Public Summary: To strengthen the civic and political engagement of civil society to advance policy change and the expansion of rights. The project activities will include   a series of community empowerment trainings, interethnic dialogues and convenings, and engagement with key domestic and international policymakers and advocates. 

Burma 

Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values

Promoting Under-Represented Voices Through Research, Training, and Advocacy
$100000
Public Summary: To facilitate dialogue about the critical political issues facing Burma and promote greater understanding and cooperation among diverse religious and ethnic groups. The activities will include conducting workshops and research on the problems of under-represented populations and advocate solutions to these issue as well as strive for improvements in local governance. 

Burma 

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Promoting Rights-Based Solutions to Deep-Rooted Social and Political Problems
$45000
Public Summary: To promote human rights through education, capacity building, community organizing, and advocacy. Project activities will include a series of human rights education program and its work on human rights violations amid the COVID pandemic, inter-communal tensions, child- rape and marriage, programs to advance women’s rights, land confiscation, and criminalization of peaceful assembly and expression. 

Burma 

Rule of Law

Assistance for Political Prisoners and Human Rights Advocacy
$200000
Public Summary: To support the release, rehabilitation, and re-integration of political prisoners, and advocate for the ratification of international human rights treaties and prison reform. The project activities will include documentation of the situation of political prisoners; assistance to political prisoners, former political prisoners, and their families; and domestic and international campaigns about the situation they face.  In addition, the organization will conduct human rights, and transitional justice trainings. 

Burma

Accountability and Transparency

Research and Analysis on Burma’s Financial Sector and Extractive Industries
$70000
Public Summary: To research and promote public awareness of Burma’s financial sector and extractive industries, and its implications on good governance and human rights in the country. The project activities will include conducting research and publishing analytical reports on the broader e financial sector, extractive industries, and investment projects, creating a platform to increase both the public’s and key stateholders’ of awareness of this space and to support media campaigns and targeted advocacy based on the findings and recommendations of the research.

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting Student and Youth Participation in the Democratization Process
$50000
Public Summary: To raise awareness among youth about human rights, transitional justice, democracy, and democratic federal systems. The activities will include building the organization’s profile and a series of workshops, forums, and exchange trips designed to establish trust and increase understanding and coordination between majority and ethnic minority youth activists throughout Burma. 

Burma

Universal Rights
Advancing Awareness and Respect for Human Rights in Shan State
$55000
Public Summary: To advance awareness and respect for human rights in Shan State. Activities will include gathering firsthand information about human rights violations, producing and distributing thematic advocacy reports and documentary videos on significant human rights issues, conducting a corresponding advocacy campaign targeting regional and international actors, and organizing a human rights documentation training for an emerging cadre of youth activists. 

Burma

Universal Rights

Advancing Justice for Victims of Mass Atrocities
$45000
Public Summary: To strengthen the capacity of Rohingya civil society to raise awareness of human rights abuses and pursue justice. The activities will include the mentoring of a cohort of local documenters and the publication of an expansive human rights documentation report featuring victims’ testimonies. The organization is a membership network for victims of serious international crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. 

Burma

Universal Rights

Human Rights Monitoring and Advocacy for Burma’s Muslim Minorities
$55000
Public Summary: To monitor and build awareness of the human rights conditions of Burma’s Muslim minorities and to promote international support for a greater respect of minority rights in Burma. The activities will include monitoring and documenting human rights abuses committed against Muslim communities in Burma, conducting a series of advocacy meetings with targeted diplomatic missions and human rights organizations, and producing periodic human rights reports. 

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Promoting Political Awareness of Ethnic Minority Perspectives
$50000
Public Summary: To promote political awareness of ethnic minority perspectives in Burma. The organization will publish a quarterly journal focused on ethnic rights, public policy, and federalism; run a resource center to provide a library as well as research and information services for elected officials; and host quarterly policy and political dialogues among members of parliament. 

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Promoting Gender Justice and the Political Participation of Shan Women
$50000
Public Summary: To increase ethnic Shan participation in Burma’s democracy and gender justice movement and to provide Shan women with the skills necessary to assume decision-making positions in their communities and organizations. Projects will include political outreach, women’s empowerment and capacity building workshops; documentation and advocacy on the situation of women in Shan State; and a gender equality mainstreaming across its range of democracy promotion and humanitarian response programming. 

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting Freedom of Movement and Diversity
40000
Public Summary: To promote freedom of movement and the fundamental principles of human rights and democracy. The project activities will include organizing a series of training workshops and group discussions designed to create a more active and engaged citizenry, producing policy-oriented research and analysis to reform various laws that restrict the freedoms of movement, advocating on these rights, and conducting educational programs on these principles for networks of people throughout the country. 

Burma

Freedom of Expression

Investigative Journalism to Promote Transparency and Accountability
$250000
Public Summary: To promote transparency and accountability by increasing the public’s access to credible information through investigative reporting on social and political issues. Project activities will include the maintenance of Burmese and English-language websites and social media pages, featuring monthly investigative reports and  weekly news updates and independent analysis covering a range of issues.

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Empowering Citizens to Protect Their Rights
$50000
Public Summary: To increase coordination among networks of citizens seeking to protect their rights and livelihoods. The project will seek to improve the legal framework regarding the protection of farmland, to highlight land grabbing issues, and focus attention on agricultural and fishery problems. Additional activities will include the publishing of a report focusing on farmers’ rights, building the organizational capacity of network members, and supporting activists to organize human rights and democracy initiatives for farmers. 

Burma

Freedom of Expression

Independent News and Information Service
$26000
Public Summary: To support independent media and to provide independent news and information about Burma. The project activities will include the publication of a monthly, Burmese-language current affairs magazine, which will incorporate independent analysis, focusing on Burma’s post-coup political environment, human rights and media freedom, and business issues.  

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting and Advocating for the Human Rights of Karen Communities
$76000
Public Summary: To inform internationally and within the Burmese democracy movement domestically of the human rights situation in southeastern Burma through the promotion and protection of grassroots community voices.  The activities will include carrying out a domestic and international human rights campaign to build networks among advocacy partners and local community leaders, informing key stakeholders of pressing human rights issues through credible reporting and analysis, and facilitating workshops to empower grassroots organizations and communities with tools to redress rights violations.

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting the Fundamental Human Rights of the Rohingya
$90000
Public Summary: To increase international and domestic political pressure for the rights and protection of the Rohingya community, along with mechanisms for accountability and justice. The activities will include a series of regular advocacy meetings with targeted diplomatic missions, governments, rights-based organizations, and media briefings. Activities will also encourage a more coordinated advocacy movement and to build upon and broaden support for accountability by strengthening alliances between Rohingya advocates and a diverse cohort of Burmese human rights defenders.   

Burma

Universal Rights

Human Rights Documentation and Civil Society Development in Mon State
$80000
Public Summary: To promote increased understanding among the Mon people of human rights, democracy, the environment, community empowerment, and the rights of women and children. The project activities will focus on four core issues: human and political rights documentation, monitoring of and advocacy on foreign direct investment (FDI), women and children’s rights documentation, and advocacy on the rights of various Mon communities as it relates to land and natural resources. 

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Promoting Women’s Political Participation
$55000
Public Summary: To strengthen the capacity of ethnic women to engage and participate in the political sphere by promoting their understanding of human rights, democracy, community development, and the fundamental rights of women. The project activities will consist of a series of trainings and a gathering of training alumni centered on women’s empowerment and providing practical skills in human rights documentation and research, tools for preventing gender-based violence and human rights violations, and political awareness sessions to build the potential for an increased number of female political leaders.

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting Civil Society’s and Women’s Roles in Burmese Politics
$50000
Public Summary: To expand civil society’s role in Burma’s in the struggle for democracy and promote women’s rights in Burma. The project activities will include advocacy on a variety of issues affecting civil society, particularly women’s rights and the role of women in Burmese society; and a series of workshops designed to empower women and develop their leadership skills.

Burma

Universal Rights

Enhancing Democratic Awareness in Kachin State
$67000
Public Summary: To train political activists and youth from northern Burma in human rights, democracy, politics, and foreign affairs. The focus of the project will be conducting a year-long school-based democracy education program, strengthening civic awareness, and building the capacity of youth and political activists to push for genuine democratization in Kachin State.  

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Strengthening the Civic and Political Participation of Ethnic Youth
$40000
Public Summary: To expand and strengthen a network of youth activists in Shan State and to increase youth participation in politics and within civil society. Activities will include workshops and forums designed to build the capacity and cooperation of youth in the areas of human rights, democracy, community organizing, and the role of youth in promoting peace and engaging decision-makers.

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting Mon Women’s Political Participation
$45000
Public Summary: To empower Mon women to participate in politics and assume decision-making positions in their own communities and organizations. The organization will adapt to the current political environment and respond to the coup but also will attempt to expand civil society’s role in determining the political future of the country. The program will include a range of activities to support women’s political participation, including human rights and political empowerment trainings for Mon women in Burma.  

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Promoting Civic Participation and Political Dialogue in Upper Burma
$80000
Public Summary: To promote civic participation and political dialogue in Upper Burma. Project activities will include a series of trainings for civil society activists and university students on issues relating to democratic transitions, political strategies, policy implementation, and leadership; regular public discussions and lectures on political topics; policy research and analysis on local government services; and maintenance of a book club and community library.  

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting Democracy and Human Rights in Southern Shan State
$50000
Public Summary: To expand a network of emerging youth democracy and human rights advocates in Shan State to promote democratic principles and provide local communities with tools for redress. Using a complementary media and civic engagement model, the activities will include a set of intensive trainings and workshops; community-based dialogues and gatherings; and an online platform to disseminate credible information and to hold decision-makers to account.

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting Democratic Leadership and Dialogue
$50000
Public Summary: To strengthen the coordination among a diverse cohort of pro-democracy activists in civil society, political parties, and the think tank community by providing a neutral space for dialogue, strategy building, and increased engagement with constituents. The series of activities will be aimed at increasing civil society coordination and alliance-building, and encouraging more meaningful engagement between civil society, political parties, and the general public, particularly ethnic minorities.  

Burma

Policy Analysis and Public Debate

Policy-Oriented Research and Analysis
$175000
Public Summary: To provide policy-oriented research and analysis to the Burmese general public and policymakers.  The project activities will include a series of high-level roundtables and workshops; the publication of a quarterly analytical journal; mentoring of emerging researchers; and the dissemination of news and analysis through a website and social media outlets, all of which will be designed to contribute to an informed debate about the most important issues in the country.  

Burma

Freedom of Expression 

Chin State News and Information Service
$40000
Public Summary: To provide accurate and reliable information about political, social, and economic developments in Chin State and promote an increased understanding among the ethnic Chin community of democracy, federalism, and ethnic rights. The project activities will include the production of news reports and the maintenance of various multimedia news platforms that feature independent coverage and analysis of political news and ethnic issues that affect Chin communities.

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting Civil Society in Mon State
$87000
Public Summary: To empower and build the capacity of Mon community leaders and human rights defenders to advocate for civil and political rights and support communities in raising their voices to policymakers. The activities will include supporting information and outreach campaigns conducted by fledgling civil society organizations and supporting activists to organize and build networks of like-minded activists.

Burma

Universal Rights

Advancing Human Rights and Democracy in Burma
$100000
Public Summary: To amplify the work of Burmese civil society, human rights defenders, and the prodemocracy movement and to strengthen informed policymaking on Burma. The project activities will include the publishing of a series of briefers, engaging with leading policymakers and the media, and advocacy that highlights the causes of affected communities in Burma.

Burma

Freedom of Expression

Supporting Reliable and Timely News in Northern Burma
$47300
Public Summary: To support freedom of information and provide accurate, timely, and reliable information about political, social, economic, and ongoing developments in northern Burma. The activities will include producing online news reports, building the capacity of citizen journalists, maintaining the organization’s social media pages and website, and publishing news for hard-to-reach communities.  

Burma

Freedom of Expression

Promoting Independent Journalism in Arakan State
$60000
Public Summary: To promote credible and independent reporting and to foster an appreciation for the basic principles of media freedom, human rights, and democracy among journalists and communities in Arakan State. The activities will include maintaining a website and social media platform and producing multimedia broadcasts to serve as a primary news source for both domestic and international audiences for breaking and investigative news from Arakan State.

Burma

Universal Rights

Human Rights Monitoring and Advocacy for Burma’s Chin Minority
$20000
Public Summary: To document, report on, and raise awareness about the human rights situation in Chin State and western Burma. The activities will include on-going documentation and reporting of human rights abuses, advocacy both in Burma and internationally on indigenous rights and challenges to freedom of religion, building the capacity of a network of human rights defenders, promoting human rights awareness among key political leaders, and facilitating networking and coalition-building opportunities for civil society and human rights activists across ethnic communities.

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Strengthening the Political Leadership and Coordination of Shan State Civil Society
$70000
Public Summary: To bolster the capacity of emerging leaders from Shan State and to increase minority youth participation in the country’s struggle for democracy and accountability. The project activities will include a series of workshops on community organizing and social justice aimed at increasing the strength and cooperation of a diverse community of primarily Shan State-based civil society, political, and religious figures.

Burma

Freedom of Expression

In-Depth Investigative Journalism
$100000
Public Summary: To provide the Burmese people with independent media and high quality, in-depth, and ethical investigative journalism. The project activities will include the maintenance of Burmese website and social media pages, which will focus on investigative news pieces, independent analysis, and long-form in-depth video features. The group seeks to report on challenging issues, encourage policy changes through in-depth and investigative news stories, and improve skills for local journalists through training workshops.

Burma

Freedom of Expression

Independent News and Information Service
$50000
Public Summary: To support independent media and to provide independent news and information about Burma. The project activities will include producing online news reports and maintaining organization’s social media pages, which will focus on Burma’s post-coup political environment, human rights, and media freedom. 

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting and Advocating for the Human Rights of Pa-O Communities
$28000
Public Summary: To increase the capacity of ethnic women and youth to promote human rights and participate in the prodemocracy movement. The activities will include the bolstering of a diverse network of prodemocracy and human rights actors to raise awareness of rights abuses taking place in local communities through the compilation of a human rights report and an advocacy campaign.     

Burma

Freedom of Expression

Documenting Violations of Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Assembly
$60000
Public Summary: To document violations of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and to raise awareness of these fundamental principles of human rights and democracy. The project activities will include producing policy-oriented research and analysis regarding violations of media freedom and human rights abuses committed by the junta.  

Burma

Universal Rights

Strengthening Efforts to Maintain and Expand the Democratic Space in Burma
$85000
Public Summary: To increase awareness about and deepen analysis of political developments in Burma.  The project activities will include coordinate international advocacy efforts to promote respect for human rights and to ensure that the voices of leading ethnic minority, pro-democracy activists, and duly elected officials in Burma are heard by the international community in the aftermath of the coup.

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Promoting Human Rights and Political Mobilization among Shan State Youth
$50000
Public Summary: To promote civic engagement and political mobilization among ethnic minority Shan State youth and emerging political leaders. The project activities will include a series of intensive civic education and democratic leadership trainings, along with support for a network of interconnected ethnic minority youth leaders poised to monitor human rights abuses and identify opportunities for cross-ethnic organizing.   

Burma

Universal Rights

Reclaiming Rohingya Identity and Agency Through Visual History
$30000
Public Summary: To strengthen the agency of Rohingya and Rohingya youth to advocate for their community and to promote awareness of and solidarity for the Rohingya community’s contribution to the prodemocracy and human rights landscape. The activities will include a global archival effort of Rohingya history, led by Rohingya youth; the launch of a website and book; and a series of events and discussions featuring Rohingya youth to raise awareness within the international community and key Burmese stakeholders.

Burma

Universal Rights

Supporting a Network of Human Rights Advocates
$150000
Public Summary: To build the leadership skills of civil society, especially youth, and to encourage them to take a more active role in the advancement of peace and democracy. The project will include a series of networking trips and trainings to establish trust and expand cooperation in an effort to build a network of human rights and democracy advocates.  

Burma

Universal Rights

To Support Victims of Human Rights Violations
$30000
Public Summary: To support and provide financial and material assistance to victims of human rights violations and political prisoners. The project activities will include providing financial assistance to human rights lawyers to represent victims in Kachin State, supporting the victims while they are in prison, and conducting documentation activities through the cases in which the lawyers are participating.  

Burma

Political Processes

Social Media Research, Public Opinion Surveys, and Civic Education Workshops
$125000
Public Summary: To increase Burmese citizens’ civic awareness and understanding of the political landscape in the post-coup environment. The project activities will include social media influence research, public opinion polling and the development of a civic education curriculum that will be used in training courses for civil society organizations as well as local communities throughout the country.  

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting Women’s Rights and Empowerment in Kachin State
$50000
Public Summary: To narrow the gender gap between Kachin women and men in decision making at all levels of society and equip grassroots activists with the knowledge and skills to become effective advocates for women’s rights, democratic governance, and peace building. The project activities will include workshops, research, and advocacy initiatives on meaningful women’s participation in decision making at all levels of society.  

Burma

Universal Rights

Human Rights Monitoring and Advocacy for Burma’s Chin Minority
$115000
Public Summary: To document, report on, and raise awareness about the human rights situation in Chin State and western Burma. The activities will include on-going documentation and reporting of human rights abuses, advocacy both in Burma and internationally on indigenous rights and challenges to freedom of religion, building the capacity of a network of human rights defenders, promoting human rights awareness among key political leaders, and facilitating networking and coalition-building opportunities for civil society and human rights activists across ethnic communities. 

Burma

Freedom of Expression

Kachin State News and Information Service
$63500
Public Summary: To provide accurate and reliable information about political, social, and economic developments in Kachin State and northeastern Burma. The organization will continue to publish its stories, features, reports, and interviews on its Burmese-language website and social media pages. The organization will also continue to work with other national and international news outlets to disseminate its stories to inform a broader audience about developments in Kachin State.  

Burma

Rule of Law

Legal Aid for Victims of Human Rights Abuses in Kachin State
$85000
Public Summary: To promote legal reform, raise awareness of citizens’ rights and responsibilities, and provide legal assistance to people whose rights have been violated in Kachin State. The project activities will include conducting legal awareness trainings, organizational management workshops, and legal assistance and representation for victims of rights violations, as well as providing support to human rights lawyers to help sustain their work.  

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Promoting Peace and Political Awareness in Arakan State
$60000
Public Summary: To promote peace and political awareness among ethnic and religious minority youth, as well as strategies for defending civic space. The project activities will include an intensive youth leadership program focused on peace and civic education, an outreach and education program designed to promote pluralism and civic engagement, and a research initiative aimed at providing strategic analysis and recommendations for civil society.   

Burma

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Policy-Oriented Research and Civic Education in Mon State
$65000
Public Summary: To provide policy-oriented research and analysis of politics in Mon State and to encourage Mon citizens to participate in the post-coup political environment. The organization will conduct civic education activities as well as provide policy-oriented research and analysis of post-coup politics in southern Burma. The organization will also coordinate with other civil society organizations and academic institutions to push for democratization and to promote peace building activities.  

Burma

Policy Analysis and Public Debate

Policy-Oriented Research and Advocacy
$70000
Public Summary: To provide research and analysis to the Burmese general public and leading political figures, along with international policymakers on pressing issues related to governance, public opinion, and prodemocracy organizing. The project activities will include a series of research papers and high-level roundtables and briefings on the reports’ findings; and mentoring and support for a network of researchers and emerging thought leaders, designed to contribute to informed debate and policymaking about the most important issues in the country.   

Burma

Accountability and Transparency

Development and Resource Extraction Policies in Kachin State
$60000
Public Summary: To promote and advocate for a fair and equitable natural resource extraction and development policy for the people of Kachin State. The activities will include a series of workshops, awareness raising activities, and discussions on natural resource management and development policy with civil society and community leaders in resource extraction-affected areas.

Burma

Freedom of Expression

Shan State News and Information Service
$75000
Public Summary: To provide credible and independent reporting to the ethnic Shan and wider Burmese communities, as well as international audiences, on critical political updates impacting communities in Shan State. The activities will include broadcasting TV and radio news programs, along with the maintenance of the organization’s multilingual website and social media news platforms. 

Burma

Universal Rights

Human Rights Documentation and Advocacy
$85000
Public Summary: To investigate, document, and disseminate credible information on the condition of human rights in Burma. The project activities will include investigating human rights violations, engaging with leading policymakers and the media, and amplifying the causes of human rights defenders, civil society organizations, and affected communities in Burma and the region.     

Burma

Universal Rights

Promoting Freedom of Movement and Diversity
$20000
Public Summary: To support networks of democracy and human rights activists. The organization will provide modest financial support to networks of workers, farmers, students, ethnic youth, and monks as well as help to maintain offices for activists to continue their pro-democracy advocacy. The organization will also produce policy-oriented research and analysis on the post-coup political situation.