With support from K4DM, Tin Moe Hein has transformed his policy education into tangible action. Through grassroots trainings and public forums, he empowered teachers, students, and citizens from Myanmar while producing timely research to advance inclusive, bottom-up governance in the face of political upheaval.
When Moe graduated from the School of Public Policy (SPP) in Chiang Mai in 2024, funded by a K4DM scholarship, he did more than earn a degree — he created new pathways for civic engagement and people-centred policy in Myanmar. An activist, researcher, and trainer, Moe believes that education and policy should be shared rights, not privileges exercised by a few.
Already in his undergraduate studies in international relations, Moe was a student union leader and stood out among hundreds to receive a merit-based scholarship to join SPP. Before enrolling, he worked with the international NGO Swisscontact, focusing on stakeholder engagement and policy. It was there that he first saw how policy could be a powerful form of public action.
A Turning Point: Learning People-Centred Policy at SPP
Myanmar lacks formal public policy education — its institutions primarily focus on public administration and development. Moe’s decision to study at SPP was driven by a desire to fill that gap, and K4DM’s scholarship made this leap possible.
At SPP, Moe found more than coursework. He encountered a philosophy that policy is not only for policymakers — it should be an inclusive process centered on empathy and putting people at the centre. Early in the program, he sharpened his academic writing, gained critical networking skills, and began reframing policy as something participatory. Fueled by this perspective and new tools, Moe did not wait to act until graduation but created new platforms for Myanmar citizens to engage.
Sharing the Learning: Training Teachers, Students, and Citizens
As a first initiative during his time at SPP, Moe co-organized and facilitated a three-day seminar on “People-Centred Public Policy” with a colleague from Inya Economics, a locally based think tank in Myanmar. Delivered to 40 Myanmar students online, the workshop made a case for public policy as a participatory process — not just data-driven, but deeply local and grounded in how policy affects people’s daily lives. In a country where this approach is rare, Moe saw it as a step toward strengthening bottom-up federalism and preparing citizens for a future democratic Myanmar.
Another training targeted teachers working in liberated areas, many of whom provide alternative education with very limited resources. Moe’s two-day workshop introduced around 40 teachers to the concept of street-level bureaucracy, helping them understand their role in interpreting and shaping public policy, even within a constrained system. The teachers requested a follow-up training, which Moe delivered, helping them build confidence as active contributors to good governance.
Since many individuals do not know what is happening behind the scenes of governance and rarely get the chance to speak with government officials, Moe launched the ‘Panglong Initiative’ with two colleagues from the SPP 2023 cohort. This public policy forum offered 70 students the opportunity to engage with former government policymakers. Students could learn from past mistakes and reflect on previous policies to inform future governance models.
Growing Momentum and Its Impact
Throughout these efforts, Moe has not only transferred knowledge — he has changed how people see their role in shaping Myanmar’s future. His initiatives have demystified policymaking and enabled young citizens and educators to see themselves as part of a larger process. These changes matter deeply in a context where public voice is often sidelined, and democratic participation remains exceptionally fragile.
Moe’s work has encouraged a shift in mindset — one that values empathy, community participation, and youth leadership in policy. Participants from his workshops have expressed motivation to launch similar dialogues in their regions, and many continue to engage with each other, suggesting a growing network of civic actors.
From Training to Research and Global Advocacy
After graduation, Moe continued to expand his impact. Inspired by the 2024 K4DM Knowledge Marketplace, he pursued research on non-formal education providers in Myanmar — a topic largely ignored despite its urgency. Since the 2021 coup, poverty has surged to nearly 50% and inflation has tripled, putting formal education out of reach for many. Moe’s research examines how non-formal educators attempt to close this gap amid political repression and funding shortages.
Moe has now published two articles and hopes to have them peer-reviewed internationally. His research is contributing to conversations around education access and governance in conflict zones.
In 2025, Moe was selected for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) professional fellowship to study the role of youth in climate activism and governance — an area he sees as tightly linked to Myanmar’s resource struggles and governance. Unfortunately, due to the Trump administration’s visa restrictions, his participation was cut short. Still, Moe moved forward.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setback, Moe remained committed. He was recently accepted as a UN intern to support the Human Rights Brief on Myanmar, with a focus on non-formal education in Rakhine State. With a continued stipend from K4DM, Moe is deepening his contributions to research, advocacy, and community-led change.
Moe’s story shows how long-term support, thoughtful education, and personal commitment can come together to drive systemic change — not only in his own journey, but in the lives of the many students, teachers, and citizens he has engaged. In a country facing deep uncertainty, leaders like Moe embody not just resilience but a vision for a more inclusive and participatory future. His work reminds us that a democratic Myanmar depends on policy-making that is empathetic, locally rooted, and shaped by the people it serves.