This report by ODI Global’s Humanitarian Policy Group illustrates the international humanitarian system’s continued struggles in Myanmar, a country with contested governance. But the popular revolution is ongoing, gaining unprecedented ground in remaking the state. This paper focuses not just on what is, but also what could be, if aid efforts aligned with the population’s pursuit of emancipation and ending military rule.
The pluralistic state-building project underway across Myanmar features a diversity of resistance actors such as the Kachin Independence Organisation and Karenni Interim Executive Council. These actors are much more than rebel or insurgent groups – they are locally legitimate and deliver state functions, such as education, health, security and other services. This includes resource allocation to humanitarian response, demonstrating an ability to deliver state-led crisis response.
International actors must acknowledge that the pluralistic state is legitimate and leading crisis response across the country (along with Myanmar’s civil society). International assistance should be aligned with supporting and enabling the pluralistic state-led response. This must include prioritising funding to local and national civil society actors, rather than international agencies.