Shae Thot: The Way Forward

Duration: September 2011 - September 2016
Donor: USAID

On September 26, 2011, Pact, in collaboration with USAID's Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA), launched "Shae Thot: The Way Forward," a new, five-year program to provide humanitarian assistance to communities in central Myanmar.

Pact is the lead implementer of the project, building on fourteen years of experience working in Myanmar in the sectors of health, income-generation, micro-finance, livelihoods support, and disaster management. Shae Thot will provide resources and technical assistance to increase community-based knowledge and strengthen the innate capacities of local communities, encouraging community participation and sustainable solutions in the areas of maternal and child health; livelihoods; food security; and water, sanitation, and hygiene.

To create sustainable change, Shae Thot implementers work in close consultation with communities to ensure activities are driven by local priorities and commitment. Shae Thot's approach to improving maternal and child health includes both community-based action and mobile clinical services. Volunteers trained in safe pregnancies, diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses and facilitation of emergency care lead their communities toward improved health. Community groups manage health funds to support health-related expenses. Mobile clinics provide services such as pregnancy monitoring, prenatal care, tetanus toxoid, family planning services and deworming.

Shae Thot takes a comprehensive approach toward improving livelihoods and food security. Credit provision services -- both institutional and savings group models -- are combined with microenterprise training to promote income generation. Shae Thot provides technical assistance and resources in support of agricultural diversification and intensification, including new techniques, improved irrigation and livestock management. Shae Thot also targets specific interventions to the most vulnerable members of communities.

With extensive community participation, Shae Thot expands access to sufficient quantities of potable water while improving hygiene behaviors. After communities identify and prioritize their greatest needs related to water, Shae Thot provides assistance and resources to communities to contract local providers to build infrastructure. Community volunteers are trained on upkeep and maintenance. Training community volunteers on hygiene promotes sustainable behaviour change across the community.

Shae Thot brings together a unique partnership of experienced organizations with more than 40 collective years implementing assistance programs in Myanmar. Implementing partners include: Marie Stopes International, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Cooperazione e Sviluppo (Cooperation and Development, CESVI), UN-HABITAT, and Myanmar Survey Research (MSR). Together these organizations will work to address pressing humanitarian needs in approximately 3,100 or more villages in Rangoon Division, the Dry Zone and Southern Shan State.

More information can be found at the US Department of State web site.

Staff contacts

Sarah Sitts
Program Officer, Washington, DC
ssitts@pactworld.org