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| Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business | |
|---|---|
| Name | Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business |
| Formation | 2013 |
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Headquarters | Yangon |
| Location | Yangon, Naypyidaw |
| Region served | Myanmar |
| Leader title | CEO |
Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business is an independent non-profit organization established to support corporate responsibility and responsible investment in Myanmar during political and economic transition. It operates at the intersection of business, human rights, and international development, engaging with multinational corporations, donor agencies, and domestic actors to advance standards consistent with international norms such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the International Labour Organization frameworks.
Founded in 2013, the organization emerged amid reforms following the 2011 transition that replaced the State Peace and Development Council with a nominally civilian administration led by the Union Solidarity and Development Party and later by the National League for Democracy. Its creation followed dialogues involving the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, and private sector actors including the Confederation of British Industry and the International Finance Corporation. Early years included fieldwork related to large-scale projects such as the Letpadaung Copper Mine dispute and energy projects connected to China National Petroleum Corporation, reflecting contested development models that had drawn attention from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The centre is governed by a board that has included representatives drawn from international organizations, corporate sector bodies, and civil society networks including figures associated with International Alert, Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh-style initiatives, and regional bodies such as the ASEAN corporate responsibility community. Operational leadership typically comprises an executive director, research directors, and programme managers who coordinate teams focused on sectors like extractives, agriculture, and finance. Administrative headquarters are in Yangon with stakeholder engagement across state capitals including Naypyidaw and regional hubs such as Mandalay and Kachin State.
The centre’s stated mission revolves around promoting responsible business practices aligned with international standards, advising multinational corporations such as Tata Group, Chevron Corporation, and Unilever-style actors engaged in Myanmar investments, and supporting local enterprises and civil society actors including Ethnic Armed Organisations-affected communities. Activities include capacity-building workshops for corporate compliance teams, multi-stakeholder dialogues with donor agencies like the United States Agency for International Development and the European Union, and guidance on sector-specific risks in mining, agribusiness, and infrastructure projects linked to entities such as Asia World Company and Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise.
The organisation produces research reports, legal guides, and case studies examining land rights, labour rights, and environmental due diligence. Notable outputs have intersected with work by Fortify Rights, ReliefWeb, and academic institutions including London School of Economics and Australian National University scholars. Publications have addressed issues tied to signature projects and investors such as Yuzana Company Limited, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Petronas, and have been cited alongside assessments by International Council on Mining and Metals and Global Witness for analyses on corporate risk, human rights impact assessments, and responsible supply chain management.
Partnerships include collaborations with donor governments and development agencies such as the UK Department for International Development, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, as well as technical cooperation with intergovernmental entities including the United Nations Development Programme and International Finance Corporation. Funding has come from bilateral aid programmes, philanthropic foundations like the Open Society Foundations, and corporate donors, and has involved alliances with trade associations such as the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar and international NGOs like Oxfam.
The organisation has faced scrutiny from rights groups and political commentators who argue that engagement with certain multinational investors and state-linked companies risks legitimising projects implicated by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International in alleged abuses. Critics have pointed to perceived tensions between pragmatic engagement with actors such as Myanma Timber Enterprise and principled advocacy promoted by organisations like Fortify Rights and Karen Human Rights Group. Following the 2021 political developments involving the Tatmadaw and the coup d'état, debates intensified about the ethics of business engagement in contexts monitored by bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council.
Assessments by external evaluators, academic reviewers, and international NGOs have acknowledged contributions to capacity building, clearer corporate policies on human rights, and uptake of due diligence practices among some investors including Chevron-adjacent contractors and regional trading firms. Impact has been uneven: while some multi-stakeholder dialogues influenced procurement standards and grievance mechanisms used by companies operating in sectors dominated by actors like MOGE and Asia World, independent monitors including Global Witness and scholars at University of Oxford have highlighted persistent gaps in enforcement, transparency, and access to remedy for communities affected by projects such as the Upper Paunglaung Dam and palm oil plantations linked to Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited.
Category:Non-profit organisations based in Myanmar Category:Business ethics organizations