Networking, advocacy campaign and media

The overall aim of this program is to strengthen local, regional and international campaigns and networks on rivers, indigenous knowledge and biodiversity conservation and to advocate for policies that ensure people’s participation, ownership and management, and gender equity and environmental sustainability in the developmental processes. KESAN works with a number of issue-based networks as part of its campaigning and advocacy work through the following advocacy campaign.

Burma Environmental Working Group (BEWG) campaign

KESAN is playing a convening role in the Burma Environmental Working Group (BEWG). The Burma Environmental Working Group (BEWG) brings together Burma focused ethnic environmental and social organizations. Each member organization monitors Burma development policy and advocates for alternative development policies meeting their specific traditional and comprehensive understanding of local sustainability. BEWG provides a forum for member organizations to combine the successes, knowledge, expertise and voices of ethnic peoples in pursuit of not just local livelihoods, but sustainable and peaceful national, regional and international development policy. Members collaborate on research, reporting, advocacy campaigns, capacity-building initiatives and policy formulation. . (Click for more information)

River biodiversity protection campaign -Our Rivers, Our Life

"Our River, Our Life-OROL" campaign is run by the Southeast Asia Regional Working Group. This regional campaign comprised of comprised of 7 country members (Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines). OROL campaign focuses on the protection of river biodiversity with the active participation of children and youth in Southeast Asia where many local and indigenous communities depend on rivers for their livelihoods. (Cliick for more information)

Anti-Dam advocacy

KESAN works with a number of partners to advocate against large-scale dams and hydropower projects that devastate local communities and only serve to benefit the short-term economic interests of companies and governments. KESAN working with many organizations in its Anti-Dam campaigning and advocacy work, these include: the Karen Office for Relief and Development, the Karen Youth Organization, the Karen Women’s Organization, the Karen Student Network Group, Karen Human Rights Group, Burma Issues, the Federal Trade Union of Kawthoolei, Burma River Network, Living Rivers Siam, Towards Ecological Recovery Regional Alliance, Salween Watch, International Rivers, Burma Rangers, and Earthrights International. (Click for more information)

Policy and rural development plan

KESAN is working to advocate for environment policies and practices and development priorities that are environmentally friendly, culturally beneficial, economically viable and socially equitable for both men and women. KESAN is also part of a working group that is developing an environment policy that addresses the problems and needs of the Karen people. KESAN work with various KNU administration departments such as the Karen Forestry Department, the Karen Agriculture Department and the newly formed Kawthoolei Environment Committee on policy development and implementation as well as advocating for legal frameworks based on participatory processes and mechanisms. (Click for more information)

Media Advocacy

KESAN use media (Print, broadcast, electronic, and video) as outreach tools in campaign and advocacy as well as for community awareness raising and education.  Media coverage focused on issues related to climate change, community efforts on natural resource management, livelihoods security and disaster risks management. These is published in Thulei Kawwei Magazine, Karen Student Network Group's radio (six 5-7minute per year) and KESAN’s website. (Click for more information)