 Mr. Yuxue Xue, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative gave a welcoming statement at Knowledge Fair, jointly organized by UNDP and Department of Local Administration. |
“Transparency and Accountability are Essential Ingredients for Effective Local Governance”
UNDP and Department of Local Administration of Royal Thai Government Showcase Best Practices in Democratic Local Governance at Knowledge Fair
11 December 2007 – A UNDP and the Department of Local Administration of the Royal Thai Government organized a one-day knowledge fair where they showcased information about best practices in democratic governance, accountability and anti-corruption in Thailand through the active engagement of local communities. The findings and results of a joint UNDP and DLA project entitled “Enhancing Democratic Governance and Accountability through Gender Sensitive Engagement of Local Communities” (ENGAGE) were also presented.
ENGAGE addresses two priority issues related to Thailand’s efforts in improving democratic governance: transparency and accountability in local government. Together with the DLA and five participating local governments from Chiang Mai and Lampang Provinces, the project has produced several knowledge products in the forms of tools, indicators and best practices in transparency, accountability and public participation.
The knowledge fair, held at the BITEC Exhibition Centre in Bangkok, brought together about 1,000 local government leaders and officials from the Central and Eastern Regions, as well as students, academics and media representatives.
The event featured a presentation on the People’s Audit Project conducted by King Prachathipok Institute in partnership with UNDP. Inaugurated in 2003, the People’s Audit project sought to encourage pluralistic unified participatory democracy, promoting citizen politics and the principles of good governance. By inspiring and preparing regular people to take a greater role in the process of governing, the project aimed to promote the skills of local communities to enable them to improve and strengthen their governments.
A series of panel discussions on transparency and accountability in local governance were also led by Associate Prof. Kovit Puang-Ngam from Thammasart University, Associate Prof. Nuannoi Trirat from Chulalongkorn University, and Lecturer Nongpha-gna from Thammasart University.
In addition, each local government unit that has participated in the ENGAGE project presented their respective work and best practices related to local governance, at individual booths. These included presentations on:
• Transparency – by Don Kaew TAO, Chiang Mai
• Public Health and Human Development – by Muang Kaen Pattana Municipality, Chiang Mai
• Local Government Collaboration on Urban Waste Management - by Koh Kah Municipality, Lampang
• Participatory Management of Public Services – by Thapha TAO, Lampang
• Clinic Center for Public Service – by Provincial Admin istrative Organization of Lampang
• Interconnections between Environmental and Governance Best Practices - by UNDP
Opening statements were made by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Dr. Phiraphol Tritasavit, Former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Visnu Krua-ngam, and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Yuxue Xue. In his welcoming statement, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Yuxue Xue said: "People’s participation, transparency and accountability constitute the most important values of democratic governance, at national and local levels alike. Transparency and accountability allow local government officials and councillors to serve their communities most honestly and effectively."
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For more Information, contact
Mr. Suparb Pasong: suparb.pasong@undp.org, 02 288 2152, 08 9828 3572;
or Punnipa Ruangtorsak : punnipa.ruangtorsak@undp.org, 02 288 2130.
