About SMART
The SMART Factories Programme is funded by the European Union and co-funded by private sector partners (retailers and factories). SMART builds capacities across the industry to improve working conditions, promoting improved labour and environmental standards and reducing labour right abuses in Myanmar's textile, clothing and footwear industries.
SMART is the largest component of the Multi-Stakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in the Myanmar apparel industry. MADE's three components include:
- The SMART Factories Programme
- The Forum on Supply Chain Conduct
- The Centre for Women's Advancement
MADE in Myanmar fosters cooperation among actors in the textile, clothing and footwear industry's international supply chain, especially those in Europe and Myanmar, to improve their collaboration, to replicate and scale-up successful sustainable practices in the garment and textile sector. Activities include training, social and environmental factory assessments and advisory support for factory managers and workers on such topics as workplace safety, labour law compliance and environmental practices, as well as facilitating dialogue between workers and employers.
During April 2020 - December 2022, the SMART project team and local partners also designed and implemented the EU Myan Ku Fund - - a 10 million EUR emergency cash transfer support mechanism to directly assist approximately 95,000 unemployed garment workers, 85% of whom women, who were negatively impacted by the global pandemic and subsequent economic and political crisis.
