Kachin State, Myanmar — April 2026
MPG is pleased to highlight a significant milestone in advancing community-led HIV responses in Myanmar. The Kachin Network of People Living with HIV (KNP+) has successfully obtained its temporary registration in Kachin State, marking an important step toward institutional recognition, sustainability, and expanded program implementation.
This achievement reflects a multi-year investment in community systems strengthening, initiated in 2022 through structured Organizational Capacity Assessment and Organizational Development processes supported by UNAIDS and technically facilitated by Sagawa. Through this phased approach, KNP+ systematically strengthened its internal systems, transitioning from a community network into an increasingly formalized and operational organization.
Over the course of this support, KNP+ enhanced its governance and leadership structures, improved financial and program management practices, and strengthened its ability to engage effectively with stakeholders. These gains have increased the organization’s credibility and readiness to participate in larger funding and implementation mechanisms. Importantly, the process has also strengthened ownership and confidence within the community, reinforcing the principle that people living with HIV are best positioned to lead responses that affect their lives.
MPG has played a central and continuous role in this journey, providing hands-on mentorship and technical accompaniment to translate capacity development into operational readiness. This approach reflects MPG’s strategic commitment to localization, ensuring that CLOs are equipped not only to deliver services but also to manage resources, engage decision-makers, and sustain impact over time.
With the achievement of temporary registration, KNP+ is now able to engage more formally with government institutions, development partners, and civil society actors in Kachin State. The organization is currently implementing projects with MPG and other partners, while progressing toward becoming a Sub-Sub-Recipient (SSR) under the Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 (GC8). This progression represents a critical step in strengthening community-led service delivery within national HIV programmes.
At the same time, this milestone contributes to Myanmar’s broader transition toward social contracting and sustainable financing. MPG is supporting KNP+ to explore opportunities for mobilizing local resources, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding from the mining sector in Kachin. Such efforts are essential to reducing reliance on external funding and ensuring continuity of services, in line with the Global Fund’s sustainability and transition agenda and Myanmar’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV 2026-2030.
KNP+’s progress reflects a broader national effort led by MPG to strengthen CLOs across Myanmar. Since 2022, MPG has been supporting multiple community networks through structured OCA and OD processes, combined with sustained mentorship and technical support.
This work is positioning MPG as a key national actor in community systems strengthening and a strategic partner for advancing social contracting mechanisms in Myanmar, particularly during the 2026–2030 strategic period, when localization and domestic sustainability are expected to accelerate.
Leaders from both organizations emphasize that this progress is the result of long-term investment and partnership. The Executive Director of MPG noted that “this milestone demonstrates how sustained and structured capacity strengthening can translate into meaningful institutional growth. MPG is committed to supporting CLOs across Myanmar to become accountable, sustainable partners in social contracting and national HIV responses.”
The Chairperson of KNP+ further emphasized the importance of community leadership, stating that “we strongly believe that community-led organizations are the most sustainable solution for responding to HIV. Through the support of MPG, we have strengthened our organization step by step.” The Chairperson added that “MPG is well positioned to become a key actor in promoting social contracting in Myanmar during the 2026–2030 strategic period, helping organizations like KNP+ to take on leadership roles in service delivery and community representation.”
Looking ahead, MPG will continue to invest in strengthening CLOs nationwide, supporting their transition from informal networks into resilient and accountable institutions. The experience of KNP+ demonstrates that when capacity strengthening is systematic, long-term, and community-centered, it can lead to tangible progress toward sustainability.
This milestone represents more than organizational recognition. It reflects a broader shift toward locally led, sustainably financed HIV responses, where community leadership is fully integrated into national systems. Such progress is essential to achieving Myanmar’s HIV targets for 2030 and ensuring that no one is left behind.
