Delegation from Afghanistan Learns about Local Governance in Thailand
3 May 2007: A delegation from Afghanistan was in Thailand from 23 April to 3 May 2007 to study the best practices of local government agencies in Thailand. The delegation, hosted by UNDP Thailand at the request of the Government of Afghanistan, was led by Mr. Abdul Malik Sediqi, the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Interior.
The visit focused on the roles of local government agencies and the regulatory framework under which they operate, as well as agencies’ relations with citizens and people’s representatives.
The delegation visited key government offices such as the Department of Local Administration, the Department of Provincial Administration, the Office of the National Counter Corruption Commission of Thailand, and King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI).
In Kanchanaburi Province, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the deputy governor, and was able to observe cooperation between local agencies on disaster management and public services.
In Chiang Rai Province, the delegations visited pilot sites for the People’s Audit, a UNDP-supported project aimed at developing customized participatory monitoring tools for public service. In Mae Chan municipality, the first district to test the People’s Audit method, the group learned about local people’s participation in watershed management, community policing, and delivery of public services. Of particular interest was the process by which national identification cards were issued in the district.
On the last day of the study visit, the Afghan delegation had an opportunity to meet with Chiang Rai Governor Amornphan Nimanant and other senior government officials. A presentation was given on the relationships between the central government, the provincial administrative system and local government units. The meeting was followed by a very fruitful discussion comparing decentralization and elections at the provincial level.
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For more information, please contact:
Nick Keyes:
nicholas.keyes@undp.org; UNDP Thailand; 02 288 1814; (Mobile) 085 115
7236
Punnipa Ruangtorsak: punnipa.ruangtorsak@undp.org; UNDP Thailand;
02 288 2130; (Mobile) 081 398 6064
