Khaing Thandar Soe
About me
Thandar is a agroforestry, integrated land-use, climate-resilience and livelihoods specialist specializing in social forestry and agricultural economics, with over 10 years of experience advancing food security, climate-resilient livelihoods, and natural resource governance in Myanmar. She has contributed to high-level policy processes and development programs with organizations including CIFOR-ICRAF, Mercy Corps, FAO, and UNDP, notably co-developing Myanmar’s first Agroforestry Roadmap and supporting the technical formulation of the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted to UNFCCC. As a PMP®-certified professional, she is recognized for driving structured delivery, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and ensuring that strategy translates into measurable impact. Her expertise lies in bridging research, policy, and implementation to deliver evidence-based, results-driven programs in complex environments that shape both national frameworks and field-level interventions.
Khaing Thandar Soe, PhD
Project Management Professional (PMP) certified
Pyinmana, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
Email: khaingthandasoe@gmail.com | Phone: +95-9-76966-7829
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/| ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/
Professional profile
Agroforestry, integrated land-use, climate-resilience and livelihoods specialist with over 10 years of experience working with international NGOs, research institutions and UN agencies in Myanmar and Southeast Asia. Specialist in agroforestry, climate change adaptation, sustainable land use, food security, inclusive livelihoods and applied policy research. Experience with designing and implementing interdisciplinary research and development assignments, leading stakeholder consultation processes, developing practical recommendations for climate-resilient land-use systems and supporting farmer-oriented training and capacity building. Contributed to Myanmar’s National Agroforestry Roadmap, Southeast Asia’s first Agroforestry Outlook Study, national climate policy processes and restoration-related concept development in Myanmar and the wider region.
Core competencies
• Agroforestry systems and landscape restoration
• Climate change adaptation and resilience
• Farmer training and capacity building
• Policy analysis and strategy development
• Environmental and economic assessment support
• Value chains, food security and enterprise support
• Mixed-methods research and technical report writing
• Stakeholder engagement and facilitation
• Myanmar agricultural and rural development context
Professional experience
Consultant
Myanmar Rattan and Bamboo Entrepreneurs Association (MRBEA)
2024–Present
• Leading the development of Myanmar’s first Forest Harvest Collective Mark guideline and standards for rattan products through a participatory process involving private sector actors, civil society and community producers
• Conducting supply-chain mapping and analysis for rattan products
• Designing and facilitating multistakeholder dialogue and knowledge-sharing sessions to support sustainable sourcing and improved traceability
• Coordinating audit simulations for pilot export factories to assess readiness for certification compliance
Consultant
Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), Republic of Korea
2024–2025
• Reviewed and updated forestry profiles of 12 Asian countries through analysis of national laws, policies, and development strategies
• Delivered technical inputs on forest management, biodiversity conservation, and climate-related forestry initiatives
• Synthesised regional trends to support evidence-based decision-making at intergovernmental level
Consultant
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Myanmar
2024
• Co-led research and writing for an analytical report on climate change, food security, and the agricultural sector under the Myanmar Development Observatory
• Conducted extensive review of policy documents, publications, and national data to inform strategic recommendations
• Identified priority intervention areas and recommendations to strengthen adaptive capacity in the agriculture sector
Environmental expert (consultant)
Thura Swiss Firm (WWF Myanmar Project)
2023
• Contributed to a strategic value-chain assessment of charcoal production and use in the Ayeyarwady Delta
• Supported stakeholder interviews, field assessments, and data validation to support sustainable energy and livelihoods analysis
• Provided technical inputs for development of localised interventions for improved governance and livelihoods support
Research fellow (voluntary)
Global EverGreening Alliance
2022–Present
• Contributing to research and innovation initiatives aligned with sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration
Postdoctoral fellow
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF)
2020–2022
• Co-led development of Myanmar’s first National Agroforestry Roadmap through consultation with over 15 national stakeholders and participation in global technical exchange
• Drafted strategic components including vision, mission, and implementation framework for long-term agroforestry development in Myanmar
• Developed landscape restoration concept notes for Myanmar and Cambodia
• Served as a Technical Advisory Panel member for Myanmar’s NDC submission
• Contributed to Southeast Asia’s first Agroforestry Outlook Study through analysis of agroforestry contributions to climate adaptation and community resilience across Myanmar’s ecological zones
• Mapped stakeholders for work on responsible and inclusive business innovation in agricultural land investment that supports rights, livelihoods, and sustainable food systems
Graduate research student and research associate
Seoul National University (UNEP-funded project: Forest restoration to enhance ecosystem services in Afghanistan)
2017–2020
• Co-led and co-mentored a six-member research team on systematic review design and methodology, coding, data collection, data analysis, and publication
• Delivered training and lectures to research team members and graduate students on meta-analysis and systematic review methods
• Facilitated capacity-building workshops for researchers and university faculty on forest ecosystem restoration
• Mentored multi-country research teams assessing household energy-use behaviour and restoration willingness
• Contributed to development of forest restoration knowledge products
Business support officer
Mercy Corps Myanmar (LIFT Delta 2 Programme, Labutta Township)
2012–2013
• Conducted post-cyclone needs and impact assessments for farming communities and trained approximately 15 field staff
• Developed survey tools and supported baseline and post-support assessments of farmer-owned rice mills to inform eligibility and support decisions
• Supported delivery of training to approximately 200 farmers on bookkeeping, basic economic literacy, and leadership
• Assisted organization and coordination of agribusiness forum to improve market access
• Co-facilitated partnerships between SMEs and agribusiness enterprises, including support for financial and contractual arrangements
Graduate research student
Yezin Agricultural University (survey experience in research projects in Myanmar)
2010–2012
• Conducted research on ecosystem approaches to sustainable farming systems and farm household food security
• Conducted research on crop diversification and consumer consumption patterns in Yamethin Township, Dry Zone Myanmar
• Conducted research on consumer behaviour and per capita rice consumption in Pyinmana Township, Myanmar
Education
PhD, Forestry (Forest Environmental Science)
Seoul National University, Republic of Korea | 2014–2019
M.Agr.Sc., Agricultural Economics
Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar | 2009–2012
B.Agr.Sc., Agribusiness Management
Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar | 2004–2008
Selected relevant contributions
• Co-author, Myanmar’s Nationally Determined Contribution report to the UNFCCC
• Peer-reviewed publications on forest governance, community forestry, NTFPs, and agroforestry systems
• Designed and implemented mixed-methods research using household surveys, FGDs, and statistical analysis
• Led and supported systematic review and meta-analysis methods for regional research projects
Technical and analytical skills
Software and tools: SPSS, R, KoboToolbox
Methods: Mixed-methods research, quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, policy review, systematic reviews
Languages: Fluent in English and Myanmar, conversational in Korean
Affiliations, honours and awards
• Technical Advisory Panel member, Myanmar NDC process
• Research Fellow, Global EverGreening Alliance
• ITTO Fellowship Award
• International Postdoctoral Fellowship, CIFOR-ICRAF
• Global Korea Scholarship
• Scholarship for Summer School Postgraduate Programme, University of Freiburg
• Support for professional participation through IUFRO, Science Assistance Programme, and FLARE Network events
Other Memberships/Affiliations
Degrees:
Peer Reviewed Publications
Siriluck T., Hee H., Dokrak M., Liangzhen Z., Yoonkoo J., Khaing T.S., Joosang C. (2021). Non-timber forest product utilization under community forest management in northern Thailand. Forest Science and Technology, 17-1. https://doi.org/10.1080/21580103.2020.1862712
Shin, S.M., Soe, K.T., Lee, H.E., Kim, T.H., Lee, S.E., & Park,M.S. (2020). A Systematic Map of Agroforestry Research Focusing on Ecosystem Services in the Asia-Pacific Region. Forests,11, 368. https://doi:10.3390/f11040368
Soe, K.T., & YOUN Yeo-Chang (2019). Livelihood Dependency on Non-Timber Forest Products: Implications for REDD+. Forests, 10(5), 427. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10050427
Soe, K. T., & YOUN Yeo-Chang (2019). Perceptions of forest-dependent communities toward participation in forest conservation: A case study in Bago Yoma, South-Central Myanmar. Forest Policy and Economics, 100 (November 2018), 129-141 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2018.11.009
Lin, T., Catacutan, D.C., van Noordwijk, M., Finlayson, R.F., Rogel, C.N. and Orencio P. (eds).2020. State and Outlook of Agroforestry in ASEAN: Status, Trends and Outlook 2030 and Beyond, Bangkok, FAO, ICRAF, CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry, SEARCA. (as contributing author) https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FAFD-50.-AF-status-and-outlook-Final-210809.pdf
Other Publications
People’s Dependence on Forests and their Participation in Forest Conservation in Myanmar, 2019 (Ph.D dissertation)
IPBES (2018): The IPBES regional assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services for Asia and the Pacific. Karki, M., Senaratna Sellamuttu, S., Okayasu, S., and Suzuki, W. (eds). Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Bonn, Germany. 612 pages. (as contributing author)
Assessment of Sustainability in Rain-fed Cropping System in Natmouk township, Myanmar, 2012 (M.Sc. dissertation)
Price Forecasting and Relationship among Food, Fuel and Gold based on Market Information in Myanmar (2008) (B.Sc. dissertation)