Junior politicians in Myanmar must navigate a rapidly changing political landscape. The 2008 constitution has transformed the country’s system of government and left its mark on political institutions, civil society, the media, and their interactions. Myanmar’s politicians have to address old challenges while coming up with solutions for new issues as they arise. This is a demanding task.

The Political Education Programme for Junior Politicians (PEJP) is jointly organised by the GIGA, the Initiative Austausch e.V., and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES). It targets young leaders in Myanmar who are engaged in party politics and wish to pursue a career as a politician or civil servant. Participants of the programme must be between 18 and 35 years old and be active members of a political party. They must demonstrate a genuine interest in politics and a desire to pursue a career in this domain.

The programme aims to introduce participants to new ways of thinking about key political ideas and practices while acquainting them with the skills that are necessary for a political career. A five-day intensive workshop for the first cohort of 40 junior politicians was held in Yangon from 5 to 9 November 2018. Another workshop, for the second cohort, followed in late April/early May 2019 and was also held in Yangon. The workshops cover issues such as political institutions, campaigning tools, constituency work, media analysis, and good governance.

In June 2019, ten selected participants of the second cohort will travel to Germany. The GIGA offers them, on 20 and 21 June 2019, seminars on topics such as democratisation, ethnic policies, think tanks, political transitions in Southeast Asia, and Indian foreign policy. The group will subsequently travel to Berlin where a programme organised by the FES awaits them.