Sida's work in Myanmar
Since the military coup in 2021, the situation for the people of Myanmar has rapidly deteriorated. Almost half the population lives in poverty, and people's need for humanitarian aid has increased since the earthquake in spring 2025. Sida has supported the civil society for a long time - in the areas of democracy, human rights, peace and health. The development cooperation is being phased out and will end on 30 June 2026, according to a decision by the Swedish government. Humanitarian aid is not affected.
Why do Sida work in Myanmar?
10 years of development undone
The conflict in Myanmar is the longest civil war in the world. The military coup in 2021, the pandemic, the military junta’s economic policies and the plight of the Rohingya community have reversed 10 years of economic and social development. About half of the population is living in poverty in 2024. Humanitarian needs have escalated sharply and continue to grow. The UN estimates that three million people are internally displaced in Myanmar.
Violations of human rights
The military does not respect human rights. People suspected of supporting the democracy movement are persecuted, tortured and detained without reason. The population is a strategic target for the military. They attack villages with fighter jets, killing many people.
Lack of access to healthcare
Since the military coup, people’s access to health care has severely deteriorated throughout the country, especially in conflict-affected areas. At the same time, people’s need for health care is increasing, due to the intensification of conflicts and systematic attacks against the civilian population and hospitals and schools. Lack of access to maternal and child health care is particularly serious. Many doctors, nurses and other health workers were involved in the post-coup resistance and have been persecuted and imprisoned.
Examples of what Sida contributes to
Strengthening people’s resilience
Despite great risks and violence, civil society has proved strong and survived. Sida has helped organisations that were forced underground to rebuild their operations and work from protected locations. The aid strengthens people’s resilience and contributes to the strength of the non-armed resistance movement against the military. Swedish aid has saved lives and provided protection to the most vulnerable people.
Supporting the democracy movement
Sida cooperates with civil society organisations working against military rule and for a more democratic Myanmar in the future. Among other things, the organisations work to ensure that the country’s shadow government and institutions are democratic and inclusive of all people. The participation of women and young people is particularly important.
Access to health care for the most vulnerable people
Sida helps ensure that people have access to basic health care and maternal and child health care.
For example, in 2023, Sida contributed to providing 4.3 million people in Myanmar with access to basic health care, including emergency care and responses to COVID-19. In areas affected by conflict, these health interventions are often the only way for people to access basic health care.
Sidas work in Myanmar
The deteriorating situation in Myanmar means that an increasing share of Sida’s long-term work is moving closer to humanitarian aid. Humanitarian and long-term work complement each other to maximise the benefits for the people.
Swedish development cooperation supports international and local civil society organisations that strengthen respect for democracy and human rights and work to hold those responsible accountable for crimes they have committed. It works to improve the rights of ethnic minorities and to improve conditions for the most vulnerable people.
Millions of people are in need of humanitarian support in Myanmar in a crisis that has worsened since the 2021 military coup and the 2025 earthquake. Sida’s humanitarian support provides people with access to urgent life-saving assistance, such as clean water, food, medical care and shelter.
Sida works with international humanitarian and civil society organisations and prioritises the people most in need of support.
Sida’s humanitarian support in Myanmar saves lives and alleviates suffering.
- International Rescue Committee IRC’s website
- Norwegian Refugee Council NRC’s website
- UN Humanitarian Fund for Myanmar on the OCHA website
- Action Against Hunger AAH’s website
- Oxfam’s website
- International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC’s website
- Danish Refugee Council DRC’s website
- Save the Children’s website*
- The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)’s website*
- Première Urgence Internationale PUI’s website*
* Flexible funding including RRM (Rapid Response Mechanism)
Learn more about Sida’s analysis of the humanitarian crisis, Sida’s support and how much money is distributed to each organisation in Sida’s crisis analysis.
Political developments in Myanmar have led to serious setbacks for democracy development. For many years, Sida has provided support to organisations working for democratic development, gender equality and free media.
Sida supports organisations that strengthen people’s resilience and support the non-armed resistance movement against the military. Sida also supports dialogue in the development of a new democratic constitution.
Here are examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
Civil society has struggled to operate since the military regained power. Several organisations have been forced to go underground or leave the country. Sida supports organisations that investigate, defend freedom of expression and digital rights, and contribute to the democratic movement.
The conflict situation in Myanmar is complex and rapidly changing. Sida helps to build peace by supporting independent organisations. For example, they work to increase the influence of women and young people in conflict management and peacebuilding and improve the conditions for civil society to actively participate in conflict resolution.
In Myanmar, 40 per cent of the population belongs to ethnic minorities, who are often discriminated against and denied access to basic social services.
Sida supports organisations working to empower people from ethnic groups in political negotiations and in the drafting of a new constitution that will distribute the extraction of natural resources fairly in a future Myanmar.
Ethnic armed groups control large parts of the country. The organisations with which Sida cooperates are working to influence those in power in ethnically controlled areas in a more democratic direction. They also work to hold armed groups accountable for crimes committed.
In Rakhine, Sida has helped to establish peace committees in villages where people from different minorities live. By working together to solve common challenges, bridges are being built across religious and ethnic divides.
People’s need for healthcare has increased due to armed conflicts and attacks on the population and civilian targets such as schools and hospitals. At the same time, access to health care has greatly deteriorated. The health status of the population is generally low, with large disparities across the country, between different ethnic groups and according to socio-economic status.
Health workers were at the forefront of the civilian movement that forms an important part of the democratic resistance to the military. Doctors, nurses and other health workers are persecuted and imprisoned, and hospitals and other health facilities are attacked.
Sida’s work in the health sector focuses on improving access to health care for the most vulnerable people and increasing knowledge of and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Here are examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
The bulk of health assistance contributes to basic maternal and child health care: preventive care, obstetric care, training for health workers and volunteers.
For example, in 2023, Sida contributed to providing 4.3 million people in Myanmar with access to basic health care, including emergency care and responses to COVID-19. In areas affected by conflict, these health interventions are often the only way for people to access basic health care.
The deteriorating security situation in Myanmar has affected young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education in schools. This has resulted in an increase in unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, child marriages and sexual violence.
Sida works with organisations that develop mobile apps and websites to raise awareness among young people. In Myanmar, for example, a website focused on sexual health reached 1.3 million users.
The Government has decided to phase out and end the development cooperation in Myanmar by 30 June 2026.
Updated: July 2, 2025