UNICEF commissioned this diagnostic of the delivery of social services at sub-national level in Myanmar, as part of their ongoing assistance to data strengthening, planning and budgeting at sub-national level, in support of Myanmar’s decentralisation plans. UNICEF wished to have a clearer understanding of opportunities for States and Regions to take more of a leading role in the provision of essential social services, particularly those with the highest impact on children.

Mokoro’s team obtained and reviewed relevant background documents, completed a legal framework analysis, and conducted fieldwork interviews with government stakeholders at national and sub-national levels, and with development partners, research institutes and charities. A full Diagnostic Report was drawn up and presented to UNICEF and Government of Myanmar representatives.

The diagnostic found that there was a stated commitment to decentralise, but that further legislation, policy development, and clarification of mandates, systems and processes would be needed to realise this fully, and other national priorities tended to have more urgency. It identified short-term opportunities for UNICEF to support relevant research, costing and capacity building, to engage at different levels of government, to advocate for best practice, and to continue to make service-specific recommendations. Medium-term opportunities included advocacy and technical support, particularly around public financial management; improvement of planning and service delivery mechanisms and sharing successful decentralised models used elsewhere.

Mokoro’s team obtained and reviewed relevant background documents, completed a legal framework analysis, and conducted fieldwork interviews with government stakeholders at national and sub-national levels, and with development partners, research institutes and charities. A full Diagnostic Report was drawn up and presented to UNICEF and Government of Myanmar representatives.