Assessment of hydropower impacts on the livelihoods of the local communities relocated by the upper paunglaung hydropower project in Myanmar

Author: Way Way Hlaing

AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.RD-20-02

Year: 2020

Academic Program: Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP)

Type: Thesis (M. Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2020

Examination Committee: Sylvia Maria Szabo (Chairperson); Sangam Shrestha, Thi Phuoc Lai Nguyen (Examination Committee Members)

Abstract: This study aimed to trace livelihood pathways of local communities relocated by Upper Paunglaung hydropower project in Myanmar by assessing the changes in livelihood assets, responses to changes through coping and adaption strategies, livelihood outcomes and project performance on the resettlement program. Primary data were collected from 297 randomly selected households and key informant interviews. The conceptual framework was adopted from the DFID‘s Sustainable Livelihood Framework. The results of descriptive analyses explained positive changes in human, physical and social capital, and negative changes in natuaral and financial capital. Ordinal logistic regression models were applied to test the effects of adaptation strategies (livelihood diversification and migration) on the livelihood outcomes (income, food security and satisfaction level). The results suggested that livelihood outcomes were not associated with livelihood diversification, but positively associated with household‘s engagement in high return sectors. Migration has played as a large contributor to household income, a less influencing factor on food security and non-influencing factor on satisfaction level. The development gaps and opportunities in the resettlement process were also identified through qualitative analysis. The findings indicate the necessary measures for specific study area and policy implications for ensuring sustainable livelihoods of local communities resettled by the projects.

Scholarship Donor(s): Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE), Myanmar; Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) Technical Assistance Programme

Note: A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Regional and Rural Development Planning, School of Environment, Resources and Development

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Search keywords index: Way Way Hlaing Assessment of hydropower impacts on the livelihoods of the local communities relocated by the upper paunglaung hydropower project in Myanmar Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP) Water-power — Myanmar;”Hydroelectric power plants — Myanmar”;”Sustainable development — Myanmar”;