ALTSEAN-Burma

What ALTSEAN-Burma does

ALTSEAN-Burma is a Bangkok-based nonprofit human rights organization founded in October 1996 that advocates for political prisoners, ethnic minorities, and pro-democracy movements in Burma/Myanmar. It is governed around three thematic priorities: Atrocity Prevention, Business and Human Rights, and Women's Participation. The organization was established in the immediate aftermath of the 1996 political crisis and has maintained continuous operations from Thailand for approximately 29 years.

Its core outputs are advocacy publications and capacity-building programs. Publication products include the monthly CoupWatch Briefers and a suite of eight Thematic Trackers (launched 2021), Special Reports, the Women's Voices book series, Signed Statements, and the archived Burma Bulletin (2014–2018). Capacity-building products include the long-running Women of Burma (WOB) Internship (since 1997), the Thai Advocacy Workshop (TAV), English Language Training (ELT), Training for Resilience and Justice (TRJ), and Weaving Women's Words (WWW). The organization reports a cumulative footprint of 491 workshops delivered to roughly 8,800 participants, with publications distributed in English, Burmese, and Thai.

The business model is donation-funded and non-commercial. All publications are provided free of charge; revenue is sourced through PayPal donations and partnership contributions from peer organizations such as FIDH, Inclusive Development International, Manushya Foundation, and the Asia Pacific Centre for R2P. The organization operates with approximately 13 full-time staff plus 1 part-time consultant, and access to UN human rights mechanisms, the World Economic Forum, and ASEAN advocacy channels is a core distribution channel rather than a paid offering.

Name

ALTSEAN-Burma

Legal name

ALTSEAN-Burma (Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma)

Website

https://altsean.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ALTSEAN-Burma is a Bangkok-based nonprofit founded in 1996 that advocates for human rights and democratic governance in Burma/Myanmar through monthly briefings, thematic trackers, special reports, and training programs for civil society actors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR) (BPADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Asylum & Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Support (BPADAHAB), Emergency Response & Search-and-Rescue (SAR) (BPAGAAAA)

Keywords

• Human rights advocacy
• Capacity building training
• Atrocity prevention research
• Civic documentation
• Women's leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangkok

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization operates primarily through donations from supporters. They accept donations via PayPal to support their work producing free monthly publications and training the next generation of democracy and human rights leaders in Burma.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ALTSEAN-Burma is a human rights advocacy NGO that produces monthly CoupWatch Briefers, eight thematic trackers, special reports, and the Women's Voices book series to document resistance to Burma's military regime. It also delivers capacity-building training programs (Women of Burma Internship, TAV advocacy training, ELT economic literacy training, TRJ transitional justice training, and WWW women writers workshops) to grassroots activists and civil society organizations from Burma and ASEAN.

Product overview

ALTSEAN-Burma (Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma) is a Bangkok-based human rights advocacy organization founded in October 1996. Rather than a technology product company, ALTSEAN-Burma offers a portfolio of advocacy publications, training programs, and monitoring tools. The core offerings include CoupWatch Briefers (monthly long-form analysis publications), CoupWatch Thematic Trackers (eight weekly-updated trackers on topics including Sham Election, Women, Conflict and Displacement, International Responses, and Business and Economic Responses), Special Reports, Women's Voices book series, and Signed Statements. Capacity-building programs include the Women of Burma Internship Program, Advocacy Training (TAV), Economic Literacy Training (ELT/ELTb), Transitional Justice Training (TRJ/TRJa), and Women Writers Workshops (WWW). The organization operates the Sham Election Tracker to monitor junta elections. All offerings are centered on three thematic priorities: Atrocity Prevention, Business and Human Rights, and Women's Participation and Leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CoupWatch Briefers Monthly long-form analysis publications documenting events resulting from the Burma military's illegal coup d'etat beginning on 1 February 2021, providing in-depth coverage of political developments, human rights violations, and resistance activities. Used by researchers, journalists, and policy makers.
• CoupWatch Thematic Trackers Eight thematic trackers (Sham Election, Women, CRPH/NUG & Other Democratic Forces, Education/Healthcare/Covid-19, Conflict and Displacement, Protests/CDM/Crackdowns, International Responses, Business and Economic Responses) that collate and centralize information on events in Burma, updated at least weekly via Google Docs.
• Special Reports Briefers and factsheets focused on topical issues and specific developments in Burma, including election monitoring, human rights analysis, and economic assessments.
• Women's Voices A series of compilation books written by first-time women authors from Burma and Thailand, aimed at amplifying narratives rarely heard in global discussions. Available in English, Burmese, and Thai.
• Signed Statements Letters and statements produced in collaboration with multiple stakeholders and friends in Burma and ASEAN to amplify advocacy efforts.
• Women of Burma (WOB) Internship Program Flagship training program since 1997 using a 'fish out of water' strategy to bring diverse women activists to Bangkok, developing leadership skills and transcending ethnic and religious differences.
• TAV (Advocacy Training) Training covering various aspects of advocacy skills, replicable and modifiable for different contexts, from general advocacy skills to specific topics or campaigns.
• ELT (Economic Literacy Training) Training enabling activists to understand macroeconomics in the context of human rights and development in Burma/Myanmar, including ELTb focused on Business and Human Rights frameworks.
• TRJ (Transitional Justice Training) Training developing capacity for truth-seeking, accountability, reparation, and institutional reforms to prevent recurrence, including TRJa focused on atrocity prevention.
• WWW (Women Writers Workshop) Workshops for women developing creative writing skills and ability to use story-telling for advocacy, with contributions to Women's Voices books.
• Sham Election Tracker Online tracker monitoring sham election developments since 2021, documenting election fraud, voter boycotts, and junta manipulation related to the junta's scheduled sham election.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Manushya FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration on Women's Storytelling for advocacy workshop. Manushya Foundation partnered with ALTSEAN-Burma to conduct workshops for women to develop creative writing skills and strengthen their ability to use storytelling for advocacy. Many participants contributed to ALTSEAN Burma's Women's Voices books.
• FORUM-ASIAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint panel participation at International Women's Day dialogue on women's rights and gender equality. FORUM-ASIA hosted the event with ALTSEAN-Burma Coordinator Debbie Stothard speaking on a panel with women and civil society leaders from across South and Southeast Asia.
• FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint fact sheets and statements including on Burma's faltering peace process, need for ICC referral, and condemnation of Reuters journalists' sentencing. FIDH and ALTSEAN co-published reports on ongoing attacks against civilians.
• Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to ProtectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Four Steps Closer to World Peace toolkit for youth working in atrocity prevention, human rights advocacy, peace-building and peace-keeping. The toolkit was created for and in collaboration with a youth network working in atrocity prevention and youth empowerment in Burma/Myanmar.
• Rotary Peace Fellowship ProgrammajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported the creation of the Four Steps Closer to World Peace toolkit through Rotary Peace Fellowship program funding and collaboration.
• Middle Path Group, BrisbaneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the development of the Four Steps Closer to World Peace toolkit for youth in atrocity prevention and peace-building.
• ICAR (International Corporate Accountability Roundtable)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint report 'Shadow NBA on Business and Human Rights in Burma' published December 2017. This was one of the most comprehensive studies on the relationship between business and human rights in Burma/Myanmar.
• Inclusive Development InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint investigation on Myanmar ESG Files revealing how 'Environmental, Social and Governance' investment funds have funneled more than $13 billion to corporations with ties to the Myanmar junta.
• Women's League of Burma (WLB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured joint general-secretary Nang Moet Moet in International Women's Day 2022 video series. WLB is a key partner in women's rights advocacy work.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Manushya Foundation: Bangkok-based human rights and women human rights defenders organization; documented ALTSEAN partner on Women's Storytelling workshops. Comparable in focus on women, human rights, and Bangkok-based operations.
• Fortify Rights: SE Asia-focused human rights organization that produces rigorous documentation and advocacy on Myanmar, including war crimes and refugee issues. Comparable in mission, methodology, and audience (international policy forums).
• Progressive Voice: Burma-focused civil society organization conducting advocacy and producing research on human rights, democracy, and peace in Myanmar. Named as an ALTSEAN distribution partner - comparable in mission, methodology, and geographic focus.

Regional players

• Burma Campaign UK: UK-based advocacy organization focused exclusively on human rights and democracy in Burma/Myanmar. Comparable in subject-matter focus but operates primarily with UK/EU audiences rather than ASEAN regional stakeholders.

Broad incumbents

• International Crisis Group: Multinational conflict-prevention think tank producing regular analytical reports on Myanmar. Comparable in producing analytical publications targeting policymakers, but more think-tank oriented and globally diversified.
• FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights): Paris-based international federation with a global mandate; FIDH is a documented strategic partner of ALTSEAN producing joint fact sheets and statements. Larger and more diversified but directly comparable on Myanmar-specific work.
• Amnesty International: Global human rights NGO with active Myanmar research and advocacy programs. Comparable mission and methodology but global, membership-funded scale.
• FORUM-ASIA: Bangkok-based regional human rights organization covering all of ASEAN. Documented ALTSEAN partner hosting joint panel dialogues. Comparable in regional mandate and Bangkok-based operations, broader geographically.
• Human Rights Watch: Global human rights organization with a dedicated Myanmar division producing country reports, advocacy, and crisis documentation. Comparable in function (documentation + advocacy) but vastly larger and global in scope.

Emerging players

• Inclusive Development International: US-based NGO focused on corporate accountability and community-led development, including the joint Myanmar ESG Files investigation with ALTSEAN. Comparable in the business-and-human-rights niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/altsean
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxGewEL0TjCkSUdsvE57TYA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ALTSEAN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/altsean-burma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ALTSEAN-Burma