Decentralization and Democracy in Myanmar Podcast

This podcast delves into issues of decentralization and democracy in Myanmar, a country with the world's longest running ethnic conflicts and a military coup in 2021 while suffering from the impact of Covid-19. The experts discuss how decentralization could lead the way to democracy and peace. We invite you to listen to this podcast for a deeper insight into the issues.

The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) Initiative, jointly supported by Global Affairs Canada and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), aims to strengthen Myanmar's capacity to generate sound advice for public policy and the ability to use this knowledge for policymaking.

(Note: Experts are listed in order of first appearance in the podcast)

May Sabe Phyu

May Sabe Phyu is Director of the Gender Equality Network and a recipient of International Women of Courage Award as well as the Global Trailblazer Award for her role in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Myanmar. Gender Equality Network is a diverse and inclusive network of more than 130 civil society organisations, national and international NGOs, and Technical Resource Persons working to bring about gender equality and the fulfillment of women's rights in Myanmar.
More information about May Sabe Phyu.
More information about Gender Equality Network

Only when everyone in the society enjoy equal rights and opportunities, and only then we will be living with peace.

Min Zaw Oo

Dr. Min Zaw Oo is an expert on the peace process in Myanmar. He set up the first joint-ceasefire mechanism and is adviser to the Peace Commission in Myanmar. Previously, Min was involved in election-strengthening activities in Afghanistan and the Genocide Early Warning Project. The Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security (MIPS) is a non-governmental, non-partisan think tank providing stakeholders with the insight needed to navigate the challenges of  peace and security in Myanmar.
More information about Min Zaw Oo
More information about The Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security

We have elements of religious conflict, we have the elements of ethnicity, and we have also have the elements of natural resources, economic disparity. So all these issues are intertwined and impacted by the ongoing conflict as well. The violence, generate more structural violence, and also more grievances.

Alexandre Pelletier

Alexandre Pelletier's research is on religious violence, ethnic conflict, and peace in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Indonesia and Myanmar, where he has conducted extensive fieldwork. He has a Ph.D. in political science from University of Toronto and is currently Senior Researcher and Managing Director at the Postcor Lab based at the University of Toronto. He is also a visiting fellow at the Southeast Asia Program at Cornell University.
More about Alexandre Pelletier

Of course, war is disrupting local communities. It's also disrupting the economy. It's also disrupting family life. It's disruptive of norms and values on the ground. So war has huge consequences for local communities.

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The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) Initiative, jointly supported by Global Affairs Canada and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), aims to strengthen Myanmar's capacity to generate sound advice for public policy and the ability to use this knowledge for policymaking. See more research supported by K4DM.