Notice
Headquarters
Karen National Union Prepares Its Young Generation for Better Governance and Leadership
KNU Central, 14th October 2024
In alignment with its commitment to enhancing governance and leadership, the Karen National Union (KNU) conducted a month-long capacity-building training program in a remote area of Kawthoolei from September 16 to October 11, 2024. This training marks a significant step in the KNU's efforts to strengthen the skills of its district and departmental leaders, equipping them to face the challenges of governance in a rapidly changing political landscape.
The training, held for the third year in a row, focused on three key areas: leadership, governance, and public administration—essential pillars that support the KNU’s vision for effective and resilient governance within Karen territories. The program aimed to provide participants with the knowledge, tools, and frameworks necessary for leading their districts and departments with confidence, transparency, and accountability.
A total of 38 emerging leaders from the strategically important southern districts of Doothahtu, Dooplayar, and Hpa-an participated in the second part of this year’s program. The training was designed to empower these leaders, positioning them to play crucial roles in the governance and administration of their local communities.
The School of Governance and Public Administration (SGPA), an institution dedicated to enhancing governance capacity in Burma, was instrumental in the training. SGPA provided technical expertise, developed the curriculum, and offered pedagogical support, ensuring the program's quality and consistency. "The curriculum was tailored to address local governance needs while aligning with broader aspirations for a federal democratic union in Burma, specifically catering to Karen leaders in a complex environment marked by conflict, migration, and decentralization," explained Saw Kapi, the founding director of SGPA.
The KNU leadership recognizes that preparing the next generation of leaders is crucial for better governance and development in Kawthoolei. Pdoh Saw Hla Tun, Joint General Secretary II of KNU and Head of KNU's Governance Capacity Strengthening Committee, states, "Training is part of a broader strategy aimed at promoting inclusive leadership and creating pathways for young leaders to assume key roles within the KNU's administrative structure. Additionally, Pdoh Saw Hla Tun stated during the ending ceremony that (217) trainees had received training in public administration, leadership, and governance since the program's beginning".
"KNU has been working as a government because of the presence of its own people in its territory in order to achieve a better government since the beginning of the armed revolution," Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, the chairman of the KNU, said during the closing ceremony of Leadership, Governance and Public Administration Training. Additionally, he recommended and encouraged that "the Governance Capacity Strengthen Committee's training be used to accomplish KNU's political aims and objectives".
Related Activity
