Agency for Basic Community Development

About us

Agency for Basic Community Development (ABC) is a Catholic humanitarian organization. Its foundation dates back to Cyclone Nargis disaster of Myanmar (a.k.a. Burma) in May, 2008. The Cyclone Nargis killed about 140,000 and affected another 2.4 million people particularly in lowland delta area. This disaster invited international civil society organizations. At the same time it helped the local civil society groups to organize themselves for cause.

Cyclone Nargis was a catalytic push for the mushrooming of local civil society organizations (LNGOs). There are an estimated 300 local NGOs in Myanmar in the aftermath of Nargis disaster. Yet, very few NGOs exist in the highland region, for example Chin State, where most of our indigenous minority live in extreme poverty.

In our efforts to expand the outreach to the mainland and highland residents, our ABC organization was founded in 2009 with the help and endorsement of our patron, His Grace Archbishop Charles Bo, SDB., DD., Archdiocese of Yangon, Myanmar. Catholic Christian in origin, ABC helps people of different faiths and social backgrounds without discrimination for the enlightenment, empowerment and transformation of Myanmar society.