Corporate social responsibility has become a major focus in Myanmar, particularly as civil society, human rights organizations, and foreign governments have called for a new and transparent way of doing business in a country that has been closely associated with corruption and exploitative practices.
The former President Thein Seinʼs government urged, and in some cases required, investors to allocate a percentage of profits to CSR projects, an initiative almost certainly to be continued by the new National League for Democracy government.
Local companies have been encouraged to undertake CSR efforts as well, going beyond traditional philanthropic efforts. In fact, Myanmar is a global leader in philanthropy, designated as the worldʼs most charitable country for the second year in a row in the “World Giving Index.”
About the author
Erin Murphy
Prior to founding Inle Advisory Group, Erin served as the special assistant for the first-ever special representative and policy coordinator for Myanmar. In that position, she participated in the most significant United States policy shift on Myanmar in decades including joining the then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on her historic trip to Myanmar in December 2011, overseeing the easing of economic sanctions, and advising and supporting the Office of the Special Representative during the unprecedented warming of U.S.- Myanmar ties. She is based in Washington, D.C.
