Over the course of 2017 we completed the feasibility studies for the project with the support of the University of Milan and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (‘National Institute of Health’, ISS) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health and Sport. Together with the Eni Foundation, we have committed to funding and managing the project through to completion.The initiatives in question are concentrated in the cities of Myothit, Magway and Minhla, all of which are located in the Magwayregion. We have set ourselves a number of objectives in the fields of agriculture, water and sanitation. By 2020 we aim to improve crop productivity and farmers' resilience by supporting the rural advisory service for the promotion of good agricultural practices (GAPs) and to optimise access to irrigation technology in the field of horticultural production and nutritional safety on both a domestic and community level. 

In terms of agricultural production, we aim to improve both the water supply and groundwater data, gathering the latter, computerising it and organising it using a multi-level management system. We want to improve access to water for irrigation at selected priority sites with seven new drinking water tanks and access to a domestic water supply in a number of high-priority villages with 16 new wells. We are committed to encouraging virtuous behaviour when it comes to maternal and infant health and hygiene and improving service delivery in rural health centres and secondary health centres through special training. Furthermore, we plan to support the ability of local authorities to educate the population about communicable diseases at regional level, improve healthcare for the elderly, provide additional nutrition and micronutrients for infants suffering from acute malnutrition and improve the link between communities and the public health system. Last but not least, we aim to improve health services by providing energy, water facilities, equipment and furniture. 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an action plan signed in September 2015 by 193 UN member states. It comprises 17 goals designed to promote the socio-economic  development of communities and territories. In keeping with Goals 3 and 6, this project is helping to promote community welfare and health (Goal 3)  and allows us to work together to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation (Goal 6).

We believe that workplace safety is a fundamental principle that we share with employees, contract workers and local communities. That is why we do everything we can to avoid accidents, including organisational models for assessing and managing risks, training plans, developing expertise and promoting a culture of safety.

We selected a number of NGOs that support the project following a tender process. These notably included the AVSI Foundation (AVSI) for the water component, which undertakes development cooperation and humanitarian aid projects all over the world, and non-denominational and non-political NGO Progetto Continenti Myanmar (PC Myanmar) for the health and agricultural components. We also work in conjunction with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (‘National Institute of Health’, ISS) and various scientific partners, including theUniversity of Milan. We also enjoyed the full support of the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation. Last but not least, the regional departments of agriculture in Magway, rural development, irrigation and water, and the regional department of public health are all directly involved in the initiatives, providing facilities, technical personnel, equipment and any other support we might require.