EXPANDING COMMUNITY APPROACHES IN SOUTHERN THAILAND | KM NOTE 2 Gender and Development in Thailand’s Con ict Areas Background and Rationale In January 2004, a century-long struggle in Thailand’s To complement the con ict study which focused on southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwas community-based development challenges, additional that had been dormant for decades broke into open funds were obtained from the World Bank (Gender Action violence. Since then, killings and bombings have been Plan: Just in Time) to develop a gendered understanding regular occurrences, affecting over 9,000 people, widowing of dimensions of the con ict and existing or potential soures nearly 1,000 women, and orphaning over 1,200 children. of peace and resilience. Both studies informed the design of a second phase to pilot community approaches in the In 2007-2008, the World Bank through the State and con ict-affected areas. Peace-Building Fund (SPF) provided technical assistance to the Royal Thai Government to help understand the This note, the second in a series of brief, operationally con ict and recommend ways to facilitate con ict resolution relevant pieces meant to inform a broad range of in these areas. stakeholders about the design, implementation, and results of the pilot project, is a summary of a longer report entitled “Gender Needs Assessment in Con ict-Affected 1 Areas in Thailand’s Southernmost Provinces.” 1 Social Development Notes East Asia and Pacific Series. No. 127/May 2010 (socialdevelopment@worldbank.org). 1 Expanding Community Approaches in Con ict Situations Gender Needs Assessment Objectives The objectives of the gender needs assessment were to: Add value to and complement the SPF-supported con ict study by 1) providing better understanding of the ways men, and women are affected by thecon ict, and 2) determining the needs of men and women directly affected; Add to the body of knowledge regarding women, men, and their families affected by the con ict as well as the government’s policies in addressing the con ict; and Provide input to the implementation of the Piloting Community Approaches in Con ict Situation Project. Approach, Target Groups, and Sites The gender needs assessment was conducted from August 2008 to June 2009 by a team headed by Ms. Penpuck Thonghthae, a social science lecturer at Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani Campus in Southern Thailand and guided by a panel of gender experts representing academia, Key Findings multila teral development agencies and civil society organizations. The gender needs assessment produced the following key ndings from its two parts: a review of gender relevant The needs assessment covered 12 sub-districts classi ed literature speci c to the region, and a report of focus group by government as red or yellow areas in the con ict-affected discussions. provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwas. Focused on those most vulnerable as a result of the violence and con ict, the Literature Review needs assessment involved 25 individuals in each of four groups – Muslim women, Buddhist women, Muslim men and The team reviewed 17 documents on women’s issues in the Buddhist men – all of whom were directly or indirectly impacted South written over the past 30 years on topics such as culture, by the con ict. Key characteristics of targeted individuals religious beliefs, economics, development, participation, were males classi ed by government under the “risk” group, con ict and violence, and needs. women whose husbands or children were classi ed under the “risk” group, males under investigation who have been The literature indicates that Malayu-speaking Muslim women in released from custody and their wives and children, persons southern Thailand follow Islamic rules and practices in their who have lost family members or relatives, and persons roles and duties toward husbands and families, and seek to injured and those indirectly affected by the con ict. preserve their cultural identity through marriage, language, dress and rearing children. Many continue a long Malayu tradition of par ticipating in economic activities, including small businesses, market trade, rubber tapping, and more recently factory work. Outside work provides space for Malayu-speaking Muslim women to interact with Buddhist women. The dual roles of homemaker and worker outside the home restrict the opportunity for further education. Limited education results in low and variable earnings. 2 in the Southernmost Provincesin Thailand (ECACS) Women who participate in development projects are likely to Increased scrutiny of men by security agencies prevents the have been previously involved in various community groups gathering of men, even for support group purposes, and such as savings, cooperatives and weaving groups. Buddhist restricts access to work opportunities. Those unable to work women are more likely than Muslim women to participate in due to severe injuries experience drastically reduced community development activities while Muslim women pay self-esteem and roles within the family and community. more attention to local and national elections. Muslim beliefs and practices pose some limitations on Muslim women’s While occupational status among Buddhist respondents is public participation, including constraints on women talking relatively stable, the percentage of Muslims engaged in with men other than their husbands and the lack of commerce or business is half the pre-violence levels. Levels opportunity to participate in meetings held after Friday of unemployment, the number of women reporting their ramat at the mosque attended only by men. occupation as housewife, and the number of day laborers all increased among Muslims. Recent research reports increasing numbers of women affected both directly and indirectly by violence and that Widows have to assume new roles to earn additional income women bear great burden. Sustaining family economic for the family. With the support of outside organizations, well-being falls on the woman after the death or injury of her many affected women are able to form support groups. husband. Some women whose family members are involved Where male relatives are accused of involvement in insurgent in legal cases struggle to earn an income and provide safety activities or jailed, some women have learned to access the for other relatives, while ghting to clear the family name. justice system and legal support and are voicing their concerns. Since 2004, more women and especially widows Women in general do not support violence and are potential are taking leadership roles in communities and at the peacemakers to help with the healing process. They are seen national level. to work well in providing support to affected persons and families, but require additional help to increase their involvement. Focus Group Discussions and Interviews Focus group discussions and individual interviews revealed changes in the roles of affected men and women, and identi ed four major categories of needs: security needs, social needs, economic needs and physical needs. Muslim men are expected to take the lead in all key family issues as well as participate in community activities. 3 Expanding Community Approaches in Con ict Situations Security Needs. All focus group participants indicated their Physical Needs. All respondents reported high levels of primary need as safety and an end to the con ict. Travel is stress. Some Muslim women reported inadequate nutrition. severely restricted. Stress has led to an increase in health All participants experienced dif culties sending their children issues. There is a collective feeling of injustice and human to school primarily due to costs. Quality of teaching and learning rights violations and mistrust of government and security is negatively affected by reduced school hours and con ict- of cials. Buddhist respondents felt that they did not receive related distractions. treatment and compensation equal to their Muslim counterparts. Recommendations Social Needs. Buddhists and Muslims co-existed harmoniously with mutual respect for each other’s cultural Based on the literature review, focus groups, and interviews, and religious practices for decades. Since the resurgence the gender needs assessment offers the following general of violence in 2004, those affected by the con ict experience and operation-speci c recommendations to help lay the social isolation and discrimination from others within their groundwork for peace and reconciliation: communities and even families. Compensation for speci c groups has caused discord within communities. Strengthen measures that build trust and con dence in public security and justice among local communities; Economic Needs. Safety and security concerns have resulted in reduced income due in part to shortened working Build on the perceived potential of women as peacemakers hours and fewer employment opportunities, and increased capable of bridging cultural and religious divides; debts to cover food, educational and legal expenses. Respondents requested occupational and business training Expand the opportunity and public space to ensure the and access to microcredit to start small business at or inclusion of women in community decision-making through close to home. simple adjustments in the time and location of meetings; Establish a help post where women can receive information and advice on how to implement tasks traditionally undertaken by men; Address the physical and mental health needs of impacted families of all religious and ethnic backgrounds; 4 in the Southernmost Provincesin Thailand (ECACS) Develop support mechanisms for male victims of violence; Inform concerned government agencies of speci c recommendations from the study; Provide occupational training tailored to needs and market demands; Through the Peace-building Partnership Fund support civil society organizations and networks that assist con ict-affected Link con ict-affected women and men to organizations that persons and families, especially men who may isolate provide small loans and business training; themselves; Ensure scholarship funds for students from families who lost Collect gender-disaggregated data on input, output and a breadwinner or have limited income; and outcome indicators; and Train all government of cials and security staff on cultural Document and disseminate lessons learned. and traditional beliefs and practices of Malayu-speaking people prior to deployment in the south. In the design and implementation of the Piloting Community Approaches in Con ict Situation Project, the assessment suggests the following: Conduct gender-sensitive community development training for facilitators, provincial coordinators and project staff to create awareness and understanding of gender needs and concerns in the con ict-affected areas; Mainstream gender sensitive aspects in the Operational Manual; Ensure the inclusion of men and women from various groups, particularly those affected by the con ict, in discussions and decisions on community activities while recognizing their limitations; 5 Expanding Community Approaches in Con ict Situations Influence on Project Design As intended, these recommendations informed important Target bene ciaries of PPF grants include both women aspects of the design of the Piloting Community and men affected by the con ict; Approaches in Con ict Situation Project. The objectives and ndings of the gender assessment were Relevant project monitoring indicators are gender shared during the project launch with the management disaggregated; and and staff, including community facilitators and provincial coordinators, of the Local Development Institute, A series of local, national and international consultations the project’s executing agency. As a result, allow the broad dissemination of ndings. The team of community facilitators is comprised of nine women and nine men; July 2010 T h r o u g h t h e C AC S P r o j e c t b l o c k g r a n t s a r e For more information on the project, contact: made directly to communities and sub-districts/ Pamornrat Tansanguanwong municipalities for local development activities that ptansanguanwong@worldbank.org members themselves identify, propose, implement, Poonyanuch Chockanapitaksa monitor, and sustain. The block grant social pchockanapitaksa@worldbank.org preparation and sub-project planning process is Tel: +662 686-8300 designed to include community members from all different groups within an area using various KM Notes are produced under SPF Grant TF094106. mapping tools and understanding gender sensitivities such as meeting size, time, and location; The CACS Project also provides grants through its Peace-building Par tnership Fund (PPF) to civil society organizations and their networks for innovative approaches and par tner ships that promote trust, peace, and development. Workshop discussions were held to explore how gender discussions were held to explore how gender dimensions could be mainstreamed into each of the six steps of the project’s block grant and PPF preparation, implementation, and monitoring processes; 6 in the Southernmost Provincesin Thailand (ECACS) Knowledge Management Note Series No. Title 1. The In uence of Con ict Research on the Design of the Piloting Community Approaches in Con ict Situation Project 2. Gender and Development in Thailand’s Con ict Areas 3. Youth-focused Community Driven Development: Results and Lessons Learned 4. Creating “Space” for Interaction: Description of CACS Project Operations 5. CACS Project: Monitoring and Evaluation 6. Community Driven Development: Findings and Applied Learning 7. Peace-building Partnership Fund: Findings and Applied Learning 8. Practical Lessons for Improving Livelihoods Opportunities in Con ict Contexts 9. Facilitating Community Driven Development in Con ict-Affected Deep South 10. Access to Finance: The Case of Muslim Minority in Southern Thailand 11. Deep South Incident Database: Context, Development, Applications and Impact 7 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 Supported by