Technical Assistance
to Governing Authorities
Technical Assistance to
Governing Authorities
Since the top-down approach to political reform in Burma has so far proven ineffective, SGPA adopts a bottom-up approach instead. By providing technical assistance to Burma’s ethnic resistance organizations (EROs) and enhancing the capacities of their existing administrations, SGPA hopes to reinforce the establishment of responsive and efficient local governments that cater to the specific needs of their communities.
After three years of successfully holding In-Service Executive Programs in Karen and Karenni, SGPA is now focusing on developing the internal capacity building institutions of EROs. Through the development of resources, internal guidelines, and training of trainers, we are helping EROs to develop lasting internal training models to ensure basic levels of capacity for all public administrators under their supervision. This approach ensures maximum coverage of the organisations to meet the growing demand for good governance in their areas, and ensures that EROs are taking greater responsibility of their own skills development and have sustainable models that do not rely entirely on outside support. Through this approach we are systematically strengthening the abilities of current and future leaders, as well as all staff.
Following the same broad principles as our In-Service Executive Programs, the courses and guidelines we are helping to establish focus on analyzing and solving practical problems that public administrators face in their day-to-day work lives. They also provide personnel with a deeper understanding of governance principles and practices such as accountability, ethics, the rule of law, transparency and the role of government in society.
These inputs focus on the dual challenges of empowering public administrators to fulfil their tasks today, while strengthening the foundation for a federal democratic system with permanent state governments that serve the diverse publics in their territories.
2024 in Numbers
Technical Assistance to Governing Authorities
38
30
24
Karenni
KNU northern districts
KNU southern districts
In 2024, a total of 92 ERO’s administrators underwent training in leadership, governance, and public administration. Among them, 23% were female administrators.
8
16
KNU northern districts
Male
8
22
Karenni
5
33
KNU southern districts
Female
Key Activities and Outputs
In 2025, SGPA is assisting EROs to develop their own training manuals, relay training systems, and self-sufficient budgeting models to take the lead in their own capacity building. We are also helping to develop further internal guidelines needed for basic office and administrative efficiency.
In 2024, the KNU launched the Kawthoolei Governance and Public Administration Handbook, developed with SGPA assistance. The handbook provides administrators with an accessible overview of their rights and responsibilities for governance under the KNU constitution, policies and laws. It also includes concepts, frameworks, best practices and procedural guidelines from other contexts around the world. It integrates an emphasis on gender, ethnic and religious inclusion and participatory approaches. The handbook was produced in both Karen and Burmese languages, with an English translation, and it was issued by the KNU Executive Committee, featuring a foreword by the KNU Chairperson.
So far, SGPA has distributed over 1,000 copies of the handbook, mostly to the designated administrators across all seven districts and 27 townships of Kawthoolei. Hundreds of officials have undertaken an orientation in the handbook and are using it in their daily work. Teams of trainers are being prepared in each district to provide orientations and introductory training sessions to all staff by 2026.
Finally, we are assisting in the standardisation and development of Sgaw Karen language for public administration. This initiative will support efforts at self-determination and improve the effectiveness, transparency, and fairness of the Kawthoolei governance by ensuring clear and consistent language across administration, law, and policy. It will also support education, capacity building, and international cooperation through standardised terminology and accurate translation.