|
Responsive Governance |
The UNDP-Thailand partnership on responsive governance is targeted at both ends of the democracy spectrum – the decentralized grassroots level and the central national level.
At the local level, UNDP supports on-going efforts to promote participatory development planning and decision-making, building capacity for effective implementation of poverty reduction and development programmes, empowering women, and generally works to create a stronger voice for people in local governance. UNDP also facilitates partnerships between local authorities and local non-governmental organizations and community groups.
At the national level, UNDP provides strategic support to Thai institutions, both governmental and non-governmental, working in areas such as decentralization, civic education, anti-corruption, rule of law, transparency, right to information, women's political empowerment, and human rights. UNDP facilitates policy dialogue and knowledge-sharing within Thailand, as well as with other countries faced with similar challenges.
Current Programme
Much of the current work of the UNDP Thailand Governance Programme focuses on issues of decentralization, transparency and accountability in local public administration.
UNDP, in partnership with Mae Hong Son government offices and other local beneficiaries, run a two year project, "Integrated Community Development for Livelihoods and Social Cohesion" (project brief, project document), aiming to improve and promote fair and equal treatment and access to resources and services among the different comunities residing in Mae Hong Son province, with special attention given to women and children.
The “ENGAGE” project (project brief, project document) supports the Thai government in establishing anti-corruption measures and standards of practice for sub-national governments to increase accountability and encourage a participatory approach with local communities. It also raises awareness about people’s rights to information about and participation with local government, particularly among women, the poor and vulnerable groups.
Another project focuses on the current status of decentralisation of public administration in Thailand (project brief, project document), and the impact of decentralisation on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The research side of the project focuses on the effectiveness of implementation of decentralisation over the past decade.
These projects, having components relating to civic education, involve media engagement as well as production of advocacy materials for the public and municipalities, to increase awareness of human rights and civil rights in local administration.
Another two-year project called “Capacity building to support the Thailand Mine Action Centre” (project brief, project document), focuses on enhancing capacities of Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) and relevant government agencies to collect accurate and up-to-date disaggregated data, for policy planning and priority setting purposes. The project also aims to minimize immediate safety threats for local communities, promote participation by local authorities and communities and increase their sense of ownership of mine awareness and risk management. It is also hoped that the project will contribute to an increase in Thailand's capacity to meet the obligations of the Ottawa Treaty.
15 December 2009
A Decade of Decentralization: Much achieved, much more to do, says new UNDP report
11 December 2008
Transparency and Accountability are Essential Ingredients for Effective Local Governance