The Myanmar Cooperation Treaty (MCT) 

Shared Principles for Federal Cooperation

Overview

Since the 2021 military coup, communities across Myanmar have demonstrated extraordinary resilience under conditions of conflict, fragmentation, and institutional collapse. Across many areas, local administrations, ethnic organisations, humanitarian networks, and community structures have stepped into governance vacuums to support civilian populations under extremely difficult conditions.

The Myanmar Cooperation Treaty (MCT) provides a voluntary political and ethical framework to support this reality. Drafted and stewarded by the Institute for Peace and Federal Democracy (IPFD) and its partners, the MCT enables democratic, ethnic, governance, and civil society actors to commit to shared principles, responsible conduct, and structured cooperation.

The MCT does not seek to replace existing political structures, impose political uniformity, or pre-empt future negotiations. Rather, it establishes shared principles intended to guide responsible coordination, strengthen accountability, reduce harmful fragmentation, and support more coherent cooperation under conflict conditions.

The MCT is grounded in a simple recognition:

Federal democratic systems are not built only through constitutional agreements. They are built through repeated acts of shared responsibility grounded in shared principles.

Core Principles

1. Ethical Operations – Signatories commit to international humanitarian law, civilian protection & disciplined conduct, recognising that legitimacy depends on behaviour as well as intent.
2. Unity and Non-Fragmentation – Signatories commit to resolving disputes through agreed mechanisms, agreeing to cooperate, avoid duplication & advance collectively toward a federal democratic union.
3. Shared Responsibility – Political and humanitarian efforts are coordinated so they reinforce rather than undermine one another contributing to regional stability.
4. Accountability and Transparency – Agreed monitoring & compliance mechanisms support responsible use of resources and strengthen trust with communities and international partners.
5. Civilian Oversight and Inclusion – Civilian leadership, gender equality, & ethnic & faith inclusion are embedded across decision-making & coordination structures.

Institutional Arrangements

The MCT establishes a framework for structured cooperation and coordination rather than a centralised governing authority.

• Structured Coordination Framework: Participants engage through agreed coordination processes intended to strengthen communication, collective discipline, conflict-sensitive engagement, and practical cooperation under conflict conditions.
• Voluntary Participation: Participation is voluntary and grounded in adherence to shared principles, responsible conduct, and continued engagement with coordination processes.
• Shared Governance Foundations: The MCT provides the ethical and political foundation upon which practical coordination, governance, and dialogue-support mechanisms can develop over time.
• Civilian Oversight & Compliance: Coordination processes supported through the MCT are intended to strengthen transparency, responsible use of resources, civilian accountability, and credible engagement with communities and international partners.
• Coordination in Support of Civilian Protection: Participants commit to improving communication, coordination, and responsible conduct in ways that support civilian protection, reduce harm, and strengthen overall stability.

Why it’s important

• Values and Legitimacy: Supports the emergence of credible democratic actors committed to responsible governance, civilian protection, accountability, and disciplined cooperation.
• Conflict Sensitivity and Stability: Reduces the risk of harmful fragmentation and supports more predictable, responsible coordination across conflict-affected areas. Contributes to more disciplined and conflict-sensitive engagement in border and non-military-controlled areas.
• Foundations for Peace: Strengthens dialogue readiness, coordination discipline, and conflict-management capacity as essential foundations for any future political process.
• Economic Security and Responsible Partnership: Supports opportunities for cooperative economic initiatives, diaspora engagement, responsible investment pathways, and more accountable approaches to governance and stabilisation.
• Credible International Partnership: Helps international partners engage more coherently, transparently, and responsibly with Myanmar stakeholders committed to shared principles and practical cooperation.

Opportunities for International Partners

• Engage more coherently with Myanmar stakeholders committed to shared governance, accountability, civilian protection, and disciplined cooperation.
• Support governance and capacity-building initiatives that strengthen civilian administration, public financial management, accountability safeguards, and service delivery systems in non-military-controlled areas.
• Coordinate humanitarian assistance through accountable, civilian-oriented structures and conflict-sensitive engagement pathways.
• Support dialogue readiness, coordination, and governance processes that strengthen conditions for long-term peace and federal democratic transition.

Summary

• The Myanmar Cooperation Treaty (MCT) is a disciplined, voluntary framework designed to reduce fragmentation and strengthen responsible cooperation under conflict conditions.
• Through the MCT, participants make a visible commitment to shared responsibility, civilian protection, accountability, coordination, and practical cooperation across political and geographic divides.
• The MCT is intended to support the long-term development of more coherent governance, dialogue readiness, and federal democratic cooperation, creating stronger foundations for peace, stability, and responsible international engagement over time.