Encouraging responsible business conduct in Myanmar

Founded and supported by the Institute, the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business advises Myanmar’s government and companies on responsible business

In 2013, when Myanmar was starting a political transition and most economic sanctions against the country were being lifted, the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) was founded by the Danish Institute for Human Rights and Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB). Since then the Centre has established itself as an authoritative centre of expertise in Myanmar with regard to the wider field of responsible business, working across a range of commercial sectors, the government and civil society.

Guiding and advising companies

The Centre developed a methodology for sector-wide impact assessments (SWIAs) and has conducted SWIAs on various sectors :oil and gas, tourism, mining and the information and communications technologies (ICT) sectors. The SWIAs are being used by various stakeholders including companies who are starting operations in the country. They also serve as a tool for creating dialogue amongst stakeholders at national or local level. For example, as a follow-up to the SWIA on tourism, the Centre convened over 100 stakeholders in local tourism destinations to discuss how to make sure tourism development does not harm the environment and local communities but rather contributes to sustainable development.

Informing about human rights and business risks

The MCRB has also published briefing papers on land and indigenous peoples, and guides on corruption and people with disabilities, as well as a country guide providing general information on human rights and business risks. Each year, MCRB conducts an analysis of the level of transparency of 100 of Myanmar’s largest companies (Transparency in Myanmar Entreprises), which has contributed to increased disclosure of information by a number of large companies in areas related to anti-corruption, organizational transparency, human rights, health and safety, the environment and other issues.

A model worth replicating in other countries

At an international level, MCRB could be considered a model worth replicating in other countries, meaning that its approach and positioning are not only relevant to Myanmar. This is one of the conclusion drawn from an independent evaluation undertaken in 2018 on the first five years of MCRB’s work from 2013-2018.

MCRB counts on a team of permanent staff in Yangon, supported by the Institute and IHRB experts.