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MEDA, in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, increased women’s participation in the country’s growing economy and facilitated opportunities for them to become active and respected economic actors and leaders.
IMOW stands for Improving Market Opportunities for women.
The goal of IMOW was to contribute to Myanmar’s economic growth by increasing women’s participation in the country’s evolving economy. The project also partnered with women to help them become active and respected economic actors and leaders in their communities.
The project supported 25,000 women in Shan and Kayin states and worked with local partners to improve the standard of living and the business environment for another 125,000 indirect clients.
Myanmar has a rapidly changing economy, but still experiences severe poverty. It’s economy is heavily dependent on its agricultural sector, and women play a significant role in agricultural production. Yet, gender barriers remain and prevent women from fully participating in the economy. These barriers include challenges of accessing finance, market information, and higher growth markets, and barriers to securing land and property.
By giving women access to technical expertise and market access, this will boost their livelihoods, incomes, and lead to greater sustainable development for the country as a whole.
The project ran for six years, from 2015 to 2021, and worked within agricultural value chains and markets where women are already active participants. It supported 25,000 women in Shan and Kayin states to become active and respected economic actors and leaders.
MEDA worked with local partners to improve the standard of living and the business environment for another 125,000 indirect clients. These clients benefitted from the improved household incomes of producers and enhanced goods and services provided by strengthened micro small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the agricultural sector.
