The centre this month signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS). According to the MoU, MCRB will be the research partner for Myanmar for the second edition of the Doing Good Index 2020 (DGI2020), which will be published in January 2020.

Hong Kong-headquartered CAPS is an action-oriented research and advisory organisation committed to improving the quantity and quality of private social investment in Asia.

In 2018, CAPS produced a multi-country comparative study on policy and environmental factors affecting the giving and receiving of philanthropy in Asia known as the “Doing Good Index 2018” (DGI). The inaugural Doing Good Index examined the enabling environment for philanthropy and private social investment across 15 Asian economies. Composed of four areas – tax and fiscal policy, regulatory regimes, socio-cultural ecosystem, and government procurement – the Index discloses how Asian economies are boosting philanthropic giving.

MCRB has volunteered to partner with the Index due to its interest in corporate governance, particularly concerning philanthropic giving by companies and related issues concerning business integrity, tax and transparency.

In addition, MCRB has an interest in using the DGI process to clarify Myanmar’s regulatory framework for social enterprises, which under the 2017 Companies Law are now able to register as companies limited by guarantee. However, tax treatment for those organisations and those that contribute to them remains unclear. The DGI presents an opportunity to build links with other Asian countries and learn from their experiences.

As research partner for Myanmar, MCRB is responsible for research and data collection, which will be carried out through a survey for social delivery organisations which can include civil society organisations, NGOs and not-for-profit companies and social enterprises. Expert consultations will be held in January next year.

CAPS will analyse the data and compare it with other economies in Asia, publishing the report in early 2020. The Index serves as a unique and useful body of data for Asian governments, as well as for non-profits, foundations and charities in across the continent, to learn from each other.

Myanmar was already covered by the first DGI survey in 2018. The country scored low due to lack of relevant laws and regulations governing the sector, particularly concerning individual or corporate charitable giving. Social delivery organisations find what regulation there is difficult to understand. Along with Indonesia, Myanmar is considered the worst at catalysing philanthropic activities and promoting the development of social delivery organisations.

Significantly, DGI2020 will show if the regulatory and enabling environment has changed in Myanmar and how the country fares compared to its Asian neighbours.

Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/doing-good-index-2020-will-show-myanmars-reform-progress.html