ADB conducted consultations in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, and Yangon in Myanmar to learn more about the challenges cities are facing in the midst of rapid urbanization and to discuss measures that could make them more inclusive.

Making Myanmar’s cities more inclusive for the urban poor is challenging but not impossible. An important starting point is acknowledging the scale of the problem, as well as the current resource deficits and administrative bureaucracies to more effectively address these challenges. Enabling poor communities’ opportunities to play constructive roles in their own development is one of the best means for the government to change the dynamic. Participatory inclusion will help enhance local-level development improvements. Active community involvement, coupled with assistance synergies in housing, finance, and livelihood options, can help make substantial and meaningful inroads in addressing the current problems faced by urban poor households.