EXPANDING COMMUNITY APPROACHES IN SOUTHERN THAILAND | COVER NOTE The World Bank: Partnering for Peace and Development in Thailand’s Deep South (2007-2017) The World Bank’s ambitious goals are to work with its Phase II: The pilot project demonstrated the value of member countries to end extreme poverty and promote community development as well as of civil society shared prosperity. In upper-middle income countries, such capacity-building investments as a means to foster as Thailand, the primary value of the Bank is in ensuring understanding of local level issues and needs, and to important knowledge gained from its own development improve the capacity of civil society to effectively engage experience is shared and applied, as well as providing with the state. nancial support in times of crisis, such as in response to the economic crisis (1997), the tsunami (2004), ooding (2011) and the subnational con ict in the con ict-affected areas of Thailand’s southernmost provinces (resurgence of violence in 2004). World Bank Engagement in Thailand’s Deep South The Wor ld Bank has been engaged continually in supporting peace and development in Thailand’s Deep South since 2007. Working in partnership with a wide Phase III: For the current phase of the project (2013-2017), range of actors, the objectives of the Bank’s assistance nanced by grants from the State and Peace Building Fund have been to build con dence and trust as well as the and Korean Trust Fund, the Government and LDI requested capacities of local institutions through designing and further assistance to expand the scale of the community implementing participatory local development approaches. development approaches from 27 communities to 43 communities and six sub-districts in three provinces, Phase I: The World Bank began its involvement in the Deep integrate them into government’s local development South in 2007 with an analysis of the con ict conducted programs and processes, and also to build upon the by a consortium of peace centers from Chulalongkorn, encouraging capacity gains evident in local civil society Thammasat and Mahidol Pattani provinces. organizations and networks that emerged during the pilot phase. 1 Expanding Community Approaches in Southern Thailand To this end, the Bank has been working closely with the Project and Department of Local Administration staff Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior together have developedguidelines and trained and the Southern Border Province Administrative sub-district staff to enhanceparticipation and inclusion Centre. in local gover nment and village-level planning , prioritization and budgeting processes. Panare Por ming Pattani District Sub-district Paseyavor Sub-district SBPAC is collaborating in the project’s 43 villages and 6 Saiburi District sub-districts to align the planning and budgeting processes of relevant local activities, including those nanced by the Arsong Kok kien project, with village and sub-district development plans Sub-district Sub-district Yala thereby signi cantly increasing the reach and sustainability Raman Krong penang District Muang District of project inputs. District Takbai District Huay krathing Sub-district Narathiwas Civil Society Organizations. Primarily through the Peace- Koh sathorn building Partnership Fund (PPF), the project has gained Sub-district signi cant knowledge of the strengths, reach and apacities of CSOs operating in the south. PPF grants have facilitated the development and networking of organizations focused on policy advocacy and peace-building, speci cally those targeting particularly vulnerable groups, including the To increase interactions among local level actors, the women, orphans and youth, and strengthening the Civil project’s primary approach to building con dence, the Society Council. ECACS project (as did the CACS pilot) nances grants through two ‘windows’. Block grants support activities identi ed and implemented by communities and Emerging Findings and Lessons sub-districts using a community-driven development approach. This area-based emphasis is complemented by grants through the issue-based Peace-building Partnership The Bank’s sustained engagement in the Deep South is Fund (PPF) that support civil society organizations and their yielding positive results. The project’s participatory networks for innovative approaches and partnerships approach is adding value to government’s traditional strategically aimed at tr ust and peace-building . policies and programs. While the ECACS project is still on-going, experience to date reveals key areas in which the project approaches and activities are providing important World Bank, Government results: and Civil Society Partnerships In order to achieve its above-mentioned objectives, the project has built and continues to strengthen advisory and operational partnerships with government agencies, at both the national and local levels, and with civil society organizations (CSOs). The Project Advisory Committee, chaired by the Public Debt Management Of ce of the Ministry of Finance, and comprised of representatives from the Southern Border Province Administrative Centre (SBPAC), Department of Local Administration (DLA) and Community Development Department of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labor, Human Rights Commission, Prince of Songkhla University, National Economic and Social Development Board and Local Development Institute provides valuable guidance and strategic direction and monitoring of project progress. 2 Knowledge Management Note 1. The participatory development processes introduced by Peace-building Partnership Fund the project have helped create a platform for trust-building, based on inclusive dialogue around joint activities, between communities and local government in fragile areas. PPF grants have been awarded to 32 CSOs in the Deep South. 2. The project has provided an alternative model for local In this current phase, grants are strengthening the development in con ict-affected areas that emphasizes capacities and knowledge of key organizations strategically local priorities and strengthens governance, accountability focused on peace-building. and transparency, enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of local level actors. A civil society road map for peace-building is developed with a wide range of stakeholders in the areas. 3. Engagement in the project has strengthened the capacities of local institutions, better positioning them for Deep South Watch, a con ict monitoring center, has when peace negotiations gain traction. strengthened technically, and expanded regional ties with similar organizations in the Philippines and Indonesia. Quarterly con ict and development analytical reports are Community and Sub-district being produced. Level Block Grants Second round activities in all 43 participating communities were completed in 2016. Third round block grants in communities and second round block grant in six sub-districts are being implemented. CDD processes have generated signi cant participation and interaction at the local level, including mobilizing substantial additional resources from communities, CSOs and local governments. Efforts continue to be made to engage diverse groups in these processes. Women’s roles in community development works have expanded, creating recognition of their signi cant value to development processes. Psycho-social service curriculum is being developed and will be introduced to frontline NGOs working to provide Through project involvement, including training opportuni- support to victims of violence. ties, community leaders, village heads, sub-district staff are strengthening their leadership capacities. The Women’s network is expanding (23 organizations), and increasing the voice of women in policy dialogues on Partnerships, as described above, are helping ensure inclu- women, peace and development. sive and participatory development methods are being integrated in local government planning, budgeting and Peace curriculums for youth and community leaders have monitoring processes. been developed and are being implemented at the community level. Alignment of block grants with government processes is expected to signi cantly increase the project’s reach as A standardized curriculum with peace activities for the well as enhance civic engagement in and sustainability of Tadika schools (religious schools for young children) was local development projects, contributing to improved trust developed and endorsed by the Ministry of Education to be and con dence between the state and local communities. implemented in more than 2000 Tadika schools in the areas. Yawi script was created in partnership with the SBPAC. 3 Knowledge Sharing Designed as a learning activity, the project has undertaken a series of studies, including on livelihood development, differentiated crisis impacts on women and men and male youth, facilitating in con ict affected areas, and shared experience and learning through training, forums and documentation and dissemination of knowledge management notes. An impact evaluation, based on pre and post surveys, will help isolate and attribute project impacts. World Bank Thailand 30th Floor, Siam Piwat Tower, 989 Rama 1 Road Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 2686 8300 Email: thailand@worldbank.org http://www.worldbank.org/thailand