[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1164, 445], "category": "Text", "text": "This action will contribute to the operationalisation of the Joint Response Framework (JRF)⁴ for the education sector, which has been prepared by development partners in response to the education crisis in Myanmar. More specifically, the action contributes to the basic education component of the JRF and has been jointly developed with Finland, who is also co-financing it. The action will be closely coordinated with other programmes funded by other donors in support of the JRF. The action will ensure a do-no-harm and conflict sensitive methodology, while a specific focus will be on ensuring an inclusive and gender balanced approach aiming at equity, strongly reflecting human rights-based considerations. In the absence of a MIP 2021-27 for Myanmar, this action is prepared as a Special Measure for adoption in 2022. The action contributes to the realisation of EU's Gender Action Plan III⁵, in particular regarding the 'Thematic area - Promoting economic and social rights and empowering girls and women'. It implements the Global Gateway Strategy⁶ of the European Union through its focus on education, as well as the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific⁷."}, {"bbox": [96, 460, 1159, 541], "category": "Text", "text": "This action contributes to SDG 4 'Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all'. It also contributes to SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, and SDG10 on reduced inequalities."}, {"bbox": [85, 569, 322, 600], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 635, 234, 661], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [96, 682, 256, 705], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### General context"}, {"bbox": [96, 708, 1164, 1000], "category": "Text", "text": "More than one year into direct military rule following the 1 February 2021 coup, Myanmar settles in between consolidation of the regime in some areas, notably urban centers of the Myanmar heartland and protracted conflict in other areas, notably ethnic areas and some Myanmar rural areas. Despite a critically weak economy and massive pandemic challenges, some basic services have resumed and there is a large segment of the population that has no choice but to continue making a living. In some areas, however, the armed resistance has grown and spread throughout the country, led by pro-democratic opposition forces who continue attacking military targets and infrastructure. The de-facto authorities cannot retain control and resume basic administrative functions everywhere. Tensions between the de-facto authorities and some of the long-established Ethnic Armed Organization (EAOs), which have openly joined or voiced support for the resistance movement, have picked up leading to an escalation of conflict in Myanmar's ethnic border areas and hundreds of thousands of new Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The resisting People Defense Forces (PDF) are increasingly killing military and police personnel, although exact numbers are not known."}, {"bbox": [96, 1005, 1164, 1323], "category": "Text", "text": "In the meantime, Myanmar is experiencing a major socio-economic and humanitarian crisis with risk of massive poverty, and collapsing healthcare, education and banking sectors, while displacement numbers are both staggering and growing. UNDP's poverty analysis shows a predicted doubling of the poverty rate in Myanmar in 2022, with nearly half the population expected to be in poverty in 2022 and devastating individual impact. Many households have lost their income and are having to cut back on food, selling assets to cope and need children to contribute to the family income and/or cannot afford cost associated to education, which is keeping them from returning to education. The Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2022 identifies 14.4 million people in need⁸. In the HNO, the education cluster identified 5.4 million people in need including 4.78 million school-aged children, and 383 000 youth. The highly feminised sectors of health and education are among the first and most active in their engagement with the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and women civil servants account for at least 64% of all public employees sanctioned or dismissed. Moreover, as armed violence spreads throughout Myanmar, it is increasingly difficult for aid agencies to safely access those affected by armed violence."}, {"bbox": [96, 1329, 1164, 1436], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU and its Member States, as well as most likeminded partners, have condemned the coup and reverted to economic sanctions against the regime whilst continuing to support the people. Following the coup of February 2021, the preparation of the MIP 2021-2027 and associated Team Europe Initiatives (TEI) was abruptly interrupted. In line with the FAC Conclusions of February 2022, the EU and its Member States agreed to withhold any support for"}, {"bbox": [85, 1482, 1143, 1527], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁴ In 2022 the development partners developed a Joint Response Framework (JRF) to serve as a broad operational framework guiding engagements and framing and informing future interventions in the education sector."}, {"bbox": [85, 1527, 1143, 1574], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ Joint Communication: Gender Action Plan III 2021-2025, An ambitious agenda for gender equality and women's empowerment in EU external action, SWD(2020) 284 final, 25.11.2020"}, {"bbox": [85, 1574, 904, 1601], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁶ https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/stronger-europe-world/global-gateway_en"}, {"bbox": [85, 1601, 221, 1622], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁷ JOIN(2021)24"}, {"bbox": [85, 1622, 450, 1644], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁸ Myanmar Humanitarian Needs Overview 2022"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1681, 1143, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 25"}]