Articles

Quality of life is linked to the quality of the environment, PEI confirms

‘MY World’ gives children with special needs a voice in Thailand

Siriporn dreams of being a singer. Atikom wants to grow up and become a soldier. But for these two Thai children and many more around the world, obstacles have been put in their way. Some have come from poor families, while others have been abandoned by their parents. Some are removed from homes by local authorities and placed in special homes and schools.

UN, Procter and Gamble hold MY World corporate launch event

At Procter and Gamble’s big manufacturing plant in Bangkok, the United Nations in Thailand and P&G officially kicked off their MY World partnership in Thailand—engaging plant employees and inspiring their families and loved ones to take part in the UN global survey.

Disaster response capacity building begins at UNDP workshop

Building on a partnership designed to boost disaster response capacity UNDP, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), and Thammasat University are co-hosting a project inception workshop in Pattaya to help DDPM bureaus understand and take ownership of the partnership’ goals and objectives.

Secondary school hosts MY World national launch in Thailand

Ash, Angela, Jean and Ruchika, students at Saint John Mary International School in Saraburi got a lot more than they asked for when they called the United Nations in Thailand.

Public gets good look at corruption from the 'inside'

Starting with a Special Preview held on December 9 (International Anti-Corruption Day) and closing on 16 December, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) wrapped up its first-ever anti-corruption themed art exhibition.

Leadership Academy gets a boost from Thai Prime Minister, UNDP

The United Nations Development Programme, and the Ministry of Social Security and Human Development gave a big boost to women in the Southern Provinces of Thailand on Tuesday December 11 when H.E. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presided over the national launch of a Leadership Academy for Muslim Women at Government House.

Students crowd Bangkok on Anti-Corruption Day, December 9

Taking a personal stand against corruption, more than 1,500 university students from all over Thailand came by bus, by car, and by plane to meet at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC) for a massive afternoon rally. The 3 p.m. rally was also the network’s first announcement to the public.

Renewable energy and ecotourism could be ‘green’ boost for rural Thai province

Millions of tourists flock to Thailand every year for its rich culture, exotic cuisine, and distinct architecture. But far fewer people make the journey into Thailand’s rural north. To catch the eyes of potential visitors, a rural province is trying a green approach.

Locals learn the benefits of environmental protection through Poverty-Environment Initiative

People who make their living from Thailand’s natural resources are seeing the benefits of environmental protection and pro-poor development planning thanks to the work of UNDP’s Poverty-Environment Initiative. “It’s clear that people understand much more about how well-being is linked directly to ecosystems and the surrounding environment,” said Pawin Talerngsri, PEI Project Coordinator in Thailand.

Student anti-corruption movement gains momentum

“I realize the problem of corruption—there is a lot of it in Thailand, but I didn’t know what I could do," said a frustrated Sayuti Salam, a student at Prince of Songkhla University in Hat Yai. He’s now a minority. ABAC, a Thai polling firm recently reported that nearly two-thirds of Thai people hold the view that corruption in government is acceptable as long as they also benefit from it.

UNDP kicks off second year of 'Water for People' partnership

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) kicked off the second year of their joint partnership on Friday, September 21 in Bangkok with a small ceremony. The four-year partnership is helping communities who live along Thailand's two major river basins--the Chao Phraya and the Mae Klong--both restore the environment and improve their livelihoods.

UNDP brings climate change leaders together for action on UNFCCC

On the eve of a major UN climate change conference, UNDP and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) brought together more than 50 climate change coordination officers to discuss the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process and Thailand’s climate change policy framework.

UNDP and Royal Thai Police work to fight HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination

UNDP and the Royal Thai Police are working on a plan to educate junior police cadets to understand HIV-related stigma and discrimination. At a meeting with the Royal Thai Police, The Foundation for AIDS Rights, and UNAIDS, and the Ministry of Justice, a draft curriculum was presented that could be tested as early as this September.

Thailand’s climate change master plan nears completion

Thailand’s draft climate change master plan went through its last round of public consultation on 8 August at the Twin Towers Hotel in Bangkok. Organized by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning’s Office of Climate Change Coordination, the forum received about 500 participants from government agencies, civil society’s organizations, academic institutions and development partners.

Small Karen village gets help on sustainable energy use from UNDP

Three years ago, Mae Kopi, a small Karen village in the Northern Thai province of Mae Hong Son was without power. But when the lights came on, life in Mae Kopi changed. The village was given power via a 30kw hydroelectric generator from the Ministry of Energy’s Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE).

UNDP uses journalism to promote peace in Southern Thailand

Amid conflict in Thailand’s Southern Provinces, access to public information can be difficult. The media has an important role to play in conflict situations and heavily influences public opinion—with both good and bad results. Single-sided coverage of current events can alter public perceptions on the ground.

University networks formed at UNDP anti-corruption camp

UNDP held a weekend camp for university student leaders to educate them about the many dangers of corruption in Thai society and help prepare them to take action.

Thailand moves closer to climate change fiscal framework

Thailand moved one step close to having a comprehensive policy to address climate change financing. At a June 1 workshop in Bangkok led by the Ministry of Finance’s Fiscal Policy Office, agencies examined the “Climate Public Expenditures and Institutional Review” or CPEIR. The review is the first building block toward a comprehensive fiscal policies and budgetary process.

Thai province brainstorms about green and inclusive growth

More than twenty agencies came together May 31 in Nan Province to brainstorm how they could strike a better balance in agricultural development over the next 10 years.