Tag Archives: Italian Agency for Development Cooperation

ITALY PROVIDES VITAL SUPPORT TO YANGON GOVERNMENT COVID-19 RESPONSE

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Joint News Release

21 January 2021

YANGON, MYANMAR – The Yangon Region Government, Italy, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)  today marked the contribution of 1 million EURO from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in support of the COVID-19 response, with a ceremony at Aung Myint Moh treatment center in South Dagon Township, Yangon Region.

The Italian contribution has helped WFP provide daily nutritious meals for over 16,000 people, who were receiving medical and quarantine care at Aung Myint Moh, the largest COVID-19 treatment center in Yangon Region in terms of bed capacity.

The Ambassador of Italy to Myanmar, Alessandra Schiavo, said, “COVID-19 is a humanitarian tragedy of global proportions, which requires a strong and coordinated approach. Italy is close to Myanmar and its people and will continue to engage worldwide to overcome the pandemic, by supporting populations in need, by strengthening and funding the research for a vaccine, and by organizing the Global Health Summit, next 21 May in Rome, to make sure we will all get better prepared for future health challenges. Our support today to the Yangon Region and WFP is part of this vision, and part of our longstanding commitment in support of  Myanmar’s sustainable development and stability.”

H.E. U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of the Yangon Region Government said, “The fact that there are good-will supporters for the people of Myanmar really raises up the spirits of those receiving medical care at COVID-19 centers like here.”

The assistance is guided by WFP’s expertise in meal preparation and high levels of food safety standards.

WFP’s Deputy Country Director Marcus Prior said, “Thanks to the excellent coordination by the Yangon Region Government and generous contribution from Italy, our food assistance have reinforced the Government of Myanmar’s front-line fight against the second surge of COVID-19 in an area with one of the most pressing needs for support.”

Yangon has been the most affected region in Myanmar following an exponential increase in local transmission of COVID-19 since mid-August. WFP meals are prepared with high food safety standards, adequately meet daily nutrition needs for patients, including those being treated for COVID-19 infection.

Assisting the Government in curbing the pandemic has been a priority for the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation since the beginning of the health crisis.

“With this specific intervention, we want to provide our contribution to alleviate the direct consequences of the pandemic on the most vulnerable populations. The support of the international community has become imperative in order to complement the efforts of the Myanmar Government in this direction, and today AICS confirms to be an active stakeholder, thanks to the strong and effective collaboration with WFP,” said Walter Zucconi, Head of Office, AICS Yangon.

In Rakhine State, WFP has provided food assistance to 60 quarantine sites in eight townships since September 2020. Over 100,000 returning migrants undergoing quarantine in 11 states and regions have also received food and nutrition support from WFP.

Fisheries and food security in Myanmar: A new initiative approved by the Italian Development Cooperation

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On October 12th the Italian Development Cooperation approved “The Mediterranean model for supporting food safety and security in the Myanmar fishery sector” initiative. The project is funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation-AICS and will be implemented by the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari-CIHEAM. It is configured as the coherent evolution of a previous pilot project carried out by CIHEAM for the institutional support of the development of the artisanal fishing and aquaculture sector.

The new program aims to improve the quality of local production systems in the fisheries sector through the application of Mediterranean best practices in terms of food safety and health of fish products while simultaneously strengthening cooperation between Italy and Myanmar for the development of the sector in line with the 2030 Agenda and with the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan 3,26 million Euros will be granted over a three year period for this project.

The initiative is also aligned with the guidelines on COVID-19 defined in the Economic Relief Plan, published in April 2020 by the Government of Myanmar, contributing to mitigate the effects of the socio-economic crisis generated by the pandemic.

At the institutional level, the partners and first beneficiaries of the project are the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of Myanmar and the Yangon City Development Committee, the administration charged with the management of local fish markets. On a private level, the project will work in synergy with the associations of the Myanmar Fishery Federation and with the traders of the small and medium-sized fish enterprises, with particular involvement of female workers in the main fish markets of Yangon.

“Recent data confirms that about 70% of the population’s protein nutritional intake comes from the fish supply chain in Myanmar. Moreover, a significant number of the local small and medium enterprises, including export-oriented, work in this specific sector. It is therefore essential to improve and to consolidate production processes and quality by applying models that guarantee quality standards – such as the international Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) practices that guarantee the hygienic safety and edibility of food products -, and by supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises ”, explains Walter Zucconi, Head of Office of the AICS Yangon, after the approval.

The best practices of the Mediterranean model promoted and replicated in the country through the implementation of this initiative also aim to contribute to the implementation of the specific Millennium Development Goals n. 2, “Zero Hunger”, n. 5, “Gender Equality”, n. 8, “Decent work and economic growth” and n. 14, “Life underwater” of the Sustainable Agenda for Development 2030.