Youth and Community Development Network - YCDN is an independent and a non-profit organization, founded on 9, September, 2012 by the youth leaders’ group who had about 20 years of working experience with CSO, LNGO, INGO in order to enhance the livelihood, income generation and resilience of the vulnerable population by promoting the capacity of youth and community through agro-ecological practice under the sustainable agriculture and community leadership, upgrading human rights, emerging peace, positive development in Rakhine state. YCDN was registered officially through register number. 2 / Rakhine / 073 as state level Civic Society Organization (CSO), head quarter office is in Sittwe, Rakhine state.
YCDN was linked with different networks as stakeholders in Rakhine State in Myanmar. It is part of the Food Security Working Group (FSWG) which is network member of the Agro-ecological Learning Alliance in South East Asia (ALISEA) and network member of livelihood cluster in Rakhine state, Myanmar and member of Rakhine state level CSOs network.
Currently in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine state, the YCDN has been hosting a professional three-months training program, namely the YIELD (Youth Integration Empowerment & Livelihood Development). The main topics of the program are Interpersonal Skills: Leadership skills & Management, Effective Communication, Presentation, Facilitation skills. Livelihood Skills Development : Making Straw Compost / Liquid Compost / IEM / Fish Amino, Super-Bokashi, RHV, Bio-pesticide, Making Liquid Soap, Making Bread, muffin, Mushroom Cultivation. Organization Development : Role / Responsibility & Accountability, Team Building, Organizational Structuring, Creation Basic Principle, Policy, Goal & Objective, Human rights, Social and Gender equality and Social Cohesion- Basic human rights, Citizen rights, Social cohesion, sustainable approach, Project Cycle Management : Data collection, Data Entry, Data Identification, Data Keeping, Creation Tools, Project Planning & Designing, Monitoring & Evaluation, Proposal writing, Reporting. Sustainable Community Development : Environmental Issues, Environmental Conservation- Waste management, Water, Ecology & Diversities, Forest, Climate change, Community leadership, Sustainable Agriculture Development - Agro-ecological Practice, Rice seed production-SRI, Making and application the Bio-Inputs, Super-Bokashi, RHV, Leaves compost, Liquid compost, IEM, Bio Pesticide, Vegetable seed production, Inter cropping, Crop rotation, Pest and Disease management, Home gardening and Nutrition, Nursery farming, Green House, Mushroom Production. And then the program provided the TOT for the youth to be technicians able to support the community.
This program has been running since 2018 in order to promote the capacity of the young people from a diversified ethnic groups in 13 townships of Rakhine state, be a support to continue to join higher education, and then to provide technical support for the activities implementation will be done by YCDN and other relevant CBOs, CSOs, LNGOs, and international humanitarian organizations.
The 412 young people (60 percent are women and 40 percent are men) from diversified ethnic groups of 14 townships in Rakhine state and 2 townships from Chin State, were graduated for 4 months professional training program (YIELD- Program) through 10 training programs in 2018-2023. Out of them, about 40 percent of alumni are working with INGOs, LNGOs in humanitarian and sustainable community development projects and 45 percent of alumni are supporting as a volunteer in Rakhine state with the CBOs, CSOs, LNGOs, INGOs which are implementing the activities in their villages and 15 percent of alumni had chances to extend their knowledge in other related education programs. The YIELD 4 months professional training program was implemented by partnership with the technicians from GRET Myanmar. This project is implemented under the supervision of young woman leader named Saw Saw Khine she is one of graduates of YIELD program-YCDN.
Moreover, Humanitarian assistants for Livelihood skills development project which is implemented in order to promote the livelihood skills of the women who living in the IDP camps through clothes mask making, liquid soap making training at 12 IDP camps from Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships, Northern Rakhine state, by partnership with PIN- Myanmar.
Livelihood recovery support project in Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships, Rakhine state by partnership with UNDP. The main activities of the project are cash for work (Basic infrastructure development), Fishery (Fish, Crabs Farming), Climate smart Agriculture, (Technical training on agro-ecological practice, Bio inputs making), Livestock breeding (Local Chicken farming), Small & Micro business activity (Soap making) and awareness raising on environmental conservation & DRR (November 2021 – August 2022).
YCDN implemented the culture for peace project (October 2021-September 2022) by partnership with LRC / Access to Health in Sittwe. The main activities of the C4P project are public library, Youth Exchange, Knowledge sharing, Youth talk, youth innovation award, social and culture events, social and gender equality training and social cohesion workshop among the diversified youth.
YCDN also has been running the humanitarian assistances and emergency response activities such as the activities for COVID-19 collective response project, (August 2020- December 2022) has been implementing in 228 villages and 8 IDP camps in 5 townships ( Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Pauktaw and Maungdaw, Rakhine state, by providing TOT training on COVID 19 awareness to 107 young people ( 56 females and 51 male) who are YCDN-YIELD alumni, in order to apply their knowledge practically in the targeted villages. Currently, YCDN has been working for COVID 19 response project in 5 townships by partnership Local Resources / Access to Health, this project. YCDN is also working for CSOs strengthening activity by partnership with RAFT-Myanmar.
YCDN has been running the projects of Empowering Women Through Community Led Small Businesses and Minorities Integration and Livelihood Development-MILD project through mushroom production and Bio-inputs products by the youth groups under the Skills development for vulnerable youth in Rakhine state by partnership with GIZ in 4 IDP camps and 5 villages from Sittwe township, Rakhine state, in November 2022 – February 2023.
YCDN has been running the project (FAO / TCP / MYA / 3902) of Services related to enhancing the resilience and livelihoods of vulnerable people in Rakhine State through capacity building on improved agriculture production and community-based disaster risk reduction in 16 villages from Kyauktaw and Pauktaw townships, Rakhine state by partnership with FAO (food and Agriculture Organization- United Nations in November 2022- November 2023.
YCDN has been running the project (OSRO / MYA / 205 /CHA ) provision of Lifesaving emergency livelihood support to vulnerable food-insecure farming households through agriculture inputs package and multipurpose cash assistance through contribute to safeguard and improve food and security nutrition of the most vulnerable, conflict-affected small-scale farming, returnees, host community households, and / or affected persons through the provision of agriculture inputs package in 28 villages from Pauktaw township, by partnership with FAO ( United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations ) in May – November 2023.
YCDN has been running the project (2022 / UNDP / MMR-RTNP-04) of Transitional support for vulnerable people from emergency needs to recovery and resilience through Basic infrastructure development activity (Road construction and Ponds renovation through cash for work methodology) in Kyauktaw and vocational skills development activities for the vulnerable youth from IDP camps and host communities in Sittwe and Kyauktaw townships, Rakhine state by partnership with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) in January -October 2023.
YCDN has been running the project (2023 / UNDP-MMR / RTNP-09) of Early Recovery Initiative for cyclone affected communities in Rakhine Project in 60 villages from Buthidaung and Maung Daw townships, Northern Rakhine state. The main objectives of the project are, to provide early recovery support to the communities affected by MOCHA cyclone by distribution, paddy seeds, vegetable seeds cast net, crab trap, fishing net, organic fertilizers, compound fertilizers, water pump, and tarpaulin by partnership with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) in June -December 2023.
YCDN has been running the project for Holistic nutrition outreach for real change in Northern Rakhine State, by partnership / consortium with ACF, funded by LIFT. The project will be implemented in 43 villages from Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships through integrated approach methodology such as nutrition sensitive home gardening, nutrition awareness and WASH activities in June 2023 to May 2024.
YCDN has been running the project (TCP / MYA / 3906) which is Live-saving emergency livelihoods assistance to vulnerable food-insecure farming households in Ponnagyun and Pauktaw Townships, Rakhine State, Myanmar by expectation of 1,000 of the most vulnerable farming households improve access to nutritious and adequate food through vegetable production and improved technical capacities on Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) in vegetable production, and nutrition and 500 women and men representing the most vulnerable households increase income through rehabilitation / construction of small-scale community infrastructures in 20 villages from Pauktaw township, Rakhine state during September 2023 to February 2024.
YCDN has been running the project (OMMY / 2023 / BHAH-001) provision of Essential Health Care Services in the remote area, hard to reach area, 60 villages from Mrauk U and Kyauktaw township by providing health awareness activity, emergency referrer activity, mobile clinic activity, SRHR activity, integrated service center (ISC), will be done during Sep 2023 to May 2024. In the same time, the potential projects on health care services will be implemented in Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, Sittwe and Rathedaung townships, Rakhine state by Partnership with UNIOM.
We foresee every young people in our communities winning life of outstanding quality. Having a strong network of young people and being a partner with the experts in education we will expand our footprint around the Rakhine state by 2040.
Addressing a future stable society of positive developments by implementing peace and community development programs in Rakhine state.
❖ To make young people the bridge-building in order to have access to higher education or/and life-skill development education.
❖ To promote the knowledge, education and thinking level of local people and to strengthen youth and community capacity toward sustainable development goals
❖ To radically decrease unemployment, increase food security, promote sustainable development and peace
❖ To build a platform where people from diversified communities work together and Social Cohesions;
❖ To build livelihood opportunities, income generation through Agriculture investment in Rakhine state for all communities.
✫ All Inclusion
✫ Impact
✫ Aspiration
✫ Belief
✫ Courage
✫ Integrity
⚊ Respects the norms of human rights, Social and Gender equality, peace;
⚊ Working together to address peace and sustainable development with different communities;
⚊ Implements its activities regardless of religion, color, race, and belief.
- YCDN reveres Rakhine State and peaceful coexistence with its nationalities
- YCDN encourages sustainable peace and sustainable developments in Rakhine state
- YCDN respects all different nationalities live together in Myanmar
- YCDN respects others belief, religion, and perception, culture, and differences
- YCDN cooperates with organizations regardless of race, religion, and language.
▪ Rule and regulations must be followed by YCDN’s Code of Conduct and Ethics;
▪ Members must respect the international norms of Human Rights;
▪ Members who treat and work against organization rules and regulations will be punished.
YCDN has been working in the communities, Rakhine state, since 2012 by partnership and coordination with CBO / CSO ( Peace and Development Initiative (PDI), Wan Lark Foundation, Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC), Peasant Legal Aid Network (PLAN), Arakan Peasant Union (APU), People for People (PFP), Green Journey, Peachuang Institute, Rakhine women Union, Rakhine Women Initiative Organization, Rakhine Women Network, AGE, LNGO (Local Resources Centre / Access to health, Food Security working Group-FSWG) and INGO (GRET - Myanmar), PIN, RAFT, UNDP, Access to Health.
YCDN is going to work with every organizations which are working for diversified communities in Rakhine state under the Value and basic principles of YCDN.
YCDN has 107 local community mobilizers as volunteering based (56 females and 51 males) in 11 townships, Rakhine state who have experience to work in the community with the projects, 27 technical paid staff, 21 technical staff, and 6 support team members (Finance, HR, Admin, Logistic, Casher), and Volunteer / Part time (3 programmers and 7 Board of directors, 2 international Advisor and 2 National Advisors.)
At the heart of all YCDN activities are youth including women empowerment and community development, which it believes to be a crucial pillar to support fair, inclusive and sustainable development in Rakhine State.
YCDN also respects and values diversity and is committed to working with all communities. YCDN applies a participatory approach and methodology in all of its activities, making sure that communities, including the youth and other local stakeholders are involved at all stages of the project cycle, from designing activities based on the identified needs of the communities, throughout implementation and until the project evaluation. YCDN believes that this approach ensures the sustainability of its activities as it promotes community ownership.
YCDN also takes gender equality and women empowerment very seriously in both its programming and within the organization as it recognizes the important contributions women make to community development in Rakhine State. YCDN takes care not to reduce its gender approach to having a certain number of women beneficiaries, but also understands the need to consider women’s experiences, perceptions and the expectations of women when seeking to provide opportunities for their empowerment in YCDN activities. In 2021, 50% of YIELD graduates are women who credited the YIELD program with improving their self-confidence and ability to engage in public spaces.
YCDN is rooted in the realities of communities living in Rakhine State, aims to promote diversity as one of the state’s sources of wealth. YCDN makes sure that throughout the project cycle, YCDN adopts a Do No Harm approach and promotes interaction and engagement between and among communities.
Based on YCDN networks and members, YCDN targeted Northern Rakhine state, which are as below
1. Sittwe
2. Rathedaung
3. Buthidaung
4. Maung Daw
5. Ponnagyan
6. Kyauk Taw
7. Mrauk U
8. Minbyar
1. Where are YCDN's offices in Rakhine?
1. Sittwe Office (headquarter)
2. Pauktaw Office
3. Buthidaung Office
4. Rathedaung Office
5. Kyauktaw Office
6. Mrauk-U Office
7. Ponnagyun Office
• Food Security, Livelihood and nutrition,
• Disaster risk reduction,
• IDP returning and
• Youth empowerment including women empowerment activities.
• Understanding needs in a post-emergency and fragile context, YCDN also will focus on activities that will support:
♦ Access to diversified food for vulnerable populations;
♦ Farmers’ resilience through sustainable agriculture practices;
♦ Communities’ resilience in case of natural disaster;
♦ Interaction and networking between different communities.
• YIELD Training Program (already 12 batches with trained youths from all Rakhine state)
• Nutrition program
• Food Security & Livelihoods
• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
• Agriculture (paddy growing, winter crop, etc.)
• Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
• Community Infrastructure Development
• Essential Health Care Services
• UN FAO
• UN IOM
• UN DP
• GIZ
• LIFT (consortium project with ACF)