The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has received 4 million Euros (approx. US$ 4.4 M) from the Finland government to support the agency’s work in Myanmar in the areas of democratic governance, local development and environmental sustainability.
Jarmo Kuuttila, Chargé d' Affaires of the Diplomatic Mission of Finland said his government looked forward to deepening their partnership with UNDP. 
“One of Finland’s development priorities is to support the democratization of political institutions and to improve equal opportunities of all people to participate in political decision-making. Similarly we aim to support the strengthening of public administration and the judiciary to produce better public services that are accessible to people," he said. 
According to the UNDP, this is the second tranche from the Nordic country towards UNDP’s five-year country programme for Myanmar (2013-2017), following allocation of 2 million Euros in 2014 which contributed to implementation of such important UNDP initiatives in Myanmar as strengthening of the parliament; rule of law; local governance mapping; public administration reform and many other programmes.
UNDP Country Director, Toily Kurbanov said that he was encouraged by the confidence and generous funding provided by the Government of Finland.
“With funding from Finland, UNDP has supported Myanmar’s transition in many ways. We helped rural women have a greater voice through the formation of the Rural Women’s Network. We are helping government improve service delivery through the step up of one-stop shops. At the Union level, we have supported the Hluttaw staff and the incoming parliamentarians,” he said.
“The new funding from Finland comes right in time to support next generation of reforms by the next Government in Myanmar and, by strengthening democratic institutions, it will go a long way in improving the lives of the people of Myanmar,” said Mr Kurbanov.
Finland is an important partner of UNDP and the UN around the globe. In Myanmar, Finland provides funding also to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC).