A Pulse Check is a survey that delivers data designed to inform key policy and reform processes. The Pulse Check x Myanmar gathers expert insights on how Australian decision makers should approach development cooperation in Myanmar. It collects this data by placing top, non-government experts in the shoes of policymakers and challenging them to grapple with difficult trade-offs facing the Australian development program.
These experts answered five questions about the most critical trends and development priorities facing Myanmar, where Australia should focus its resources, and how it should engage as a development partner. They were asked to allocate 100 points across the categories provided for each question, prioritising the categories according to what they considered most and least important. In addition, we asked why they allocated their points in the way that they did. Participants who consented to be so, are named, though their specific answers remain anonymised.
In light of the current conflict, the Lab chose to adapt certain elements of this methodology. Firstly, we adapted selected questions and answer categories in order to better reflect the current context in Myanmar. Secondly, we allowed for a smaller cohort of experts in both Myanmar and Australia to respond, noting the risks that participants in-country might face by engaging in research like this. All participants were given the choice to be partially or entirely anonymous.
The Pulse Check x Myanmar is part of a larger project which seeks the views of experts across Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Thailand. Full analysis of all country results, including the qualitative findings, are available on a rolling basis via devintelligencelab.com.
While this project was developed alongside the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Office of Southeast Asia to ensure its relevance to policymakers, this is an independent process, and all research and analysis reflect participant views and Lab analysis.
