[{"bbox": [72, 106, 304, 136], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [84, 176, 1144, 231], "category": "Text", "text": "The action addresses strategic elements of the overall EU's support to the SDGs in response to the rapid deterioration of poverty indicators in Myanmar, in particular those supporting:"}, {"bbox": [121, 270, 1145, 403], "category": "List-item", "text": "*   **Resilient Livelihoods:** More efficient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems are needed to support the country's economic resilience, to improve livelihoods, food and nutrition security of the most vulnerable and to reduce the negative environmental impacts of the food chains. Furthermore, local forests, land, fisheries and other natural resources need to be managed sustainably as they are key to people's livelihoods and their resilience to climate change events."}, {"bbox": [121, 404, 1145, 485], "category": "List-item", "text": "*   **Responsible Business Conduct:** Decent jobs of responsible business need protection, social and environment standards need to be addressed, sustaining livelihoods and helping to build the foundations of sustainable development."}, {"bbox": [84, 524, 279, 547], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Resilient Livelihoods"}, {"bbox": [84, 555, 1145, 847], "category": "Text", "text": "**Most social, economic and environmental challenges will be faced in rural areas of Myanmar,** where 72% of the population lives and 87% of poverty is concentrated, alongside most natural resources. The majority of rural households rely on smallholder subsistence farming, representing the most food and nutrition insecure group country-wide, alongside large numbers of migrants who have returned to rural areas due to insecurity, loss of jobs and income. Recent data¹⁸ shows that rural households are particularly under stress given that access to agricultural inputs continues to be difficult, while they face challenges to sell their products and employment opportunities are severely reduced. Women in landless households are particularly vulnerable in terms of worsened workload and increased tension in the household as a result of COVID-19 and the military coup. As a result, agriculture and rural development will be central to people's livelihoods and the socioeconomic recovery of Myanmar in the coming years, making this action vital towards strengthening the socio-economic and sustainable resilience of the poorest rural households in the country."}, {"bbox": [84, 854, 1145, 986], "category": "Text", "text": "Rural households depend on forests for a range of material benefits, ecosystem services, and cultural values. Forest resources are important for livelihoods, particularly for the poorest rural communities and women. Agro-forestry is a sustainable technique that may support ecosystem services and provide additional income. Forests provide ecosystem services that underpin agriculture, mangrove fisheries, resilience against coastal storm surges and tsunamis and soil degradation."}, {"bbox": [84, 993, 1145, 1072], "category": "Text", "text": "Since the military coup the already endangered Myanmar forests have been further drained by a proliferation of logging of primary rainforest, reportedly being illegally exported to the surrounding countries. The consequences in the long term are to be seen as the military junta has historically used logging as a short-term revenue flow¹⁹."}, {"bbox": [84, 1078, 1145, 1184], "category": "Text", "text": "Prior to the military coup, Myanmar had adopted relevant development plans and strategies, including the Sustainable Development Plan 2018-2030, the Myanmar Climate Change Master Plan 2018-2030 and the Myanmar Climate Change Strategy 2018-2030. In addition, efforts were carried out to identify needed adaptation actions through National Adaptation Plan Actions (NAPAs) and with the intention to adopt a National Adaptation Plan (NAP)."}, {"bbox": [84, 1224, 365, 1249], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Responsible Business Conduct"}, {"bbox": [84, 1257, 1145, 1389], "category": "Text", "text": "**The military coup may lead to a reversal of the progress witnessed in the private sector over the past decade.**\nEuropean business are reconsidering their involvement in Myanmar with 49% of the companies admitting in a Eurocham survey from March 2021 that they are likely to re-evaluate their presences in Myanmar. Supporting responsible business²⁰, with a focus on EU businesses, in the wake of the coup will be essential to maintaining good practices, for the benefit of Myanmar people. This support is conditional to the EU sanctions regime."}, {"bbox": [84, 1395, 1145, 1448], "category": "Text", "text": "The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark were invested in promoting responsible business practices before the coup. The EU will build on the results of their programmes."}, {"bbox": [72, 1515, 836, 1540], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁸ International Food Policy Research Institute data. https://www.ifpri.org/country/myanmar"}, {"bbox": [72, 1540, 1156, 1586], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁹ Deforestation in Conflict affected areas. CE OBS April 2021. https://ceobs.org/assessment-of-recent-forest-loss-in-conflict-areas/#3i"}, {"bbox": [72, 1588, 1157, 1637], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁰ Responsible business conduct entails above all compliance with laws (including international laws), such as those on respecting human rights environmental protection, labour rights (OECD)"}, {"bbox": [1051, 1663, 1157, 1687], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 20"}]