Background History of the Department
1. Office of the Work Committee for the Development of Border Areas and National Races established with (49) officers and (158) staff, totally (207) staff was formed as a separate office by the State Law and Restoration Council’s office Order No. (17/92) on 8th April 1992 to perform the functions and duties of the Work Committee for the Development of Border Areas and National Races. As more national groups came into the legal fold, for the multi-sectoral development of their regions, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the Central Committee for the Development of Border Areas and National Races attended the meeting held in the meeting hall of Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs, Ministers’ Office on 8th September 1995 and gave necessary guidance on organizing the department from the Work Committee office.
2. In accordance with the guidance by the Chairman of the Central Committee for the Development of Border Areas and National Races, organizational structure was approved from the Cabinet Meeting No. (40/95) held on 25th October 1995. By this approval, the office of the Work Committee for the Development of Border Areas and National Races was reorganized as Progress of Border Areas and National Races Department Under the Organizational structure of Progress of Border Areas and National Races Department, (94) civilian officers, (1872) staff, (105) military engineering officers and (3420) other rank staff totally (5,591) staff were organized under the department.
Objectives
The main objectives of carrying out development measures for border areas and national races are as follows:-
1. To develop the economic and social works for basic infrastructure development for national races residing in border areas, in accordance with the aims which are non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of the national solidarity perpetuation of the sovereignty of the State.
2. To prioritize and implement for the equitable and proportionate development among the territories of the Union;
3. To strengthen the amity among the national races;
4. To eradicate totally the cultivation of poppy plants by implementing alternative development works;
5. To preserve and maintain the security, prevalence of law and order and regional peace and tranquility of the border areas.
Department Policies, Missions and Functions
The Department Policies are as Follows-
(1) To Develop Border Areas .
(2) To Develop Socio-economic life of the National Races .
(3) To Strengthen the Union Sprit.
Missions of the Ministry
(a) To preserve and maintain the security, prevalence of law and order and regional peace and tranquility of the border areas.
(c) To develop socio-economy of national races by establishing infrastructune in border areas.
(e) To propagate religious affairs in the border areas.
(g) To serve the development of their respective Regions by their willingness.
The duties and functions of the Department are as follows:-
(a) Determination of special development areas;
(b) Drawing up the long-term and short term plans for the development of border areas;
(c) Implementing the long-term and short-term plans which are approved by the Central Committee for the Development of Border Areas and National Races;
(d) Implementing the development works which have been prescribed by the Work Committee for the Development of the Border Areas and National Races for immediate performance;
(e) Implementing socio-economic infrastructure for the border areas with annual plans such as:
i. Roads and Bridges;
ii. Water Supply;
a. Agriculture
b. Drinking Water
iii. Electricity;
a. Hydropower
b. Solar Energy
iv. Housing.
v. Development Activities for Peace Making
a. Roads & Bridges
b. Education
c. Health
d. Housing
(f) To set up the culture exchanging programs in order for all Nationalities Youth in Development areas to enrich a wider knowledge.
(g) To carry out national affairs as a priority in accordence with the desire of Nationalities Youth.
(h) To make arrangements for the promotion and propagation religious affairs in the border areas.
(i) To make arrangements for establishing crops cultivation, livestock breeding and cottage industries in substitution for poppy cultivation.
(j) To protect and preserve border boundary pillars and markers.
(k) To cooperate with the United Nations Organzations, International Organzations, Regional Organzations and persons in responsible position with the intention of implementing the development work programs in border areas more effectively.
Department Structure
For the systematic implementation of border areas development measures, the following sections/ branches and sub-offices are opened and measures are being undertaken:
(a) Progress of Border Areas and National Races Department (Headquarters)
(1) Admin Section
(2) Work Section (1) (Kachin State, Chin State, Sagaing Region)
(3) Work Section (2) (Shan State)
(4) Work Section (3) (Mon State, Kayin State, Tanintharyi Region)
(5) Work Section (4) (Rakhine State, Kayah State)
(6) Planning and Auditing Section
(7) Engineering Section
(b) State/ Region Development Supervisory Offices
Sr. No | Region | Regional Development Supervisory Office |
Sub-Regional Development Supervisory Office |
District Development Supervisory Office |
Township Development Supervisory Office |
1 | Myitkyina | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
2 | Taunggyi | 1 | 2 | 10 | 18 |
3 | Loikaw | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
4 | Pha-an | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
5 | Mawlamyine | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
6 | Dawei | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
7 | Sittway | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
8 | Monywa | 1 | 4 | 8 | |
9 | Haka | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
10 | Mikehtila | 1 | |||
11 | Yangon | 1 | |||
12 | Pyinmana | 1 | |||
Total | 9 | 2 | 31 | 64 |
Master Plan for the Border Areas Development
The Master Plan for the Development of Border Areas and National Races was drawn. The first short term 3-year plan from 1993-1994 to 1995-1996 fiscal year, the first medium term 5-year plan from 1996-1997 to 2000-2001 fiscal year and the second medium term 5-year plan from 2001-2002 to 2005-2006 fiscal year and 13-year Master Plan was implemented. At present, 20-year long term plan for border areas development is being carried out from 2011-2012 to 2030-2031 fiscal year.
Cooperation with UN Agencies, Bilateral and INGOs under Process
No. |
Organization |
Region |
Project Title |
Duration |
Contribution (US$) million |
1 |
The Republic of India |
Chin State and Naga Self-Administered Zone |
Myanmar-India Border Area Development |
2012 to 2017 |
25.00 |
2 |
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) |
Northern Shan State |
Project for Eradication of Opium Poppy Cultivation and Rural Development in Northern Part of Shan State |
2013 to 2018 |
6.14 |
3 |
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) |
Mon State and Kayin State |
Project for the Integrated Regional Development Plan to Support Ethnic Minorities in South-East Myanmar |
2013 to 2017 |
6.00 |
4 |
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) |
Mon State and Kayin State |
Construction of School, Sub-health Centers |
2013 to 2016 |
7.50 |
5 |
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) |
Rakhine, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Shan, Mon State |
Livelihoods and Social Cohesion Project |
2013 to 2015 |
11.50 |
6 |
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Shan, Tanintharyi and Bago |
Capacity Building and Community Services, Livelihood |
2013 to 2015 |
9.05 |
7 |
World Food Programme (WFP) |
Kachin State, Chin State, Rakhine State, Shan State, Mon State, Kayin State and Magwe Region, Yangon Region and Tanintharyi Region |
Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations "Supporting Transition by Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition among the Most Vulnerable" |
2013 to 2015 |
167.69 |
8 |
Nippon Foundation, Saetana |
Shan State |
Education for Peace and Development Project |
2013 to 2018 |
5.00 |
9 |
Nippon Foundation, Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ) |
Rakhine State |
School Construction Project |
2013 to 2018 |
6.00 |
10 |
GRET |
Chin State |
Improving Food Security and Livelihood and Natural Resources Management |
2013 to 2016 |
3.48 |
11 |
Malteser International |
Shan State and Kayin State |
Integrated Health and Water/Sanitation Programme |
2013 to 2016 |
4.23 |
12 |
SWISSAID |
Kachin State and Shan State |
Community Based Rural Development Programme |
2013 to 2016 |
3.03 |
13 |
Welthungerhilfe (Whh) |
Nothern Shan State |
Sustainable improvement of Food Security Livelihood |
2013 to 2016 |
3.05 |
14 |
World Vision |
Kayin State and Kokang Self-Administered Zone |
Community Based Rural Development Programme |
2011 to 2014 |
3.18 |
15 |
Terra People Association (TPA) |
Southern Shan |
Creation of Symbiotic Society Project |
2012 to 2015 |
1.95 |
16 |
Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) |
Nothern Shan State |
Community Development and Healthy Village Program |
2012 to 2014 |
1.56 |