Project

Empowering Communities Threatened with Displacement in Thailand

Grantee: Chumchonthai Foundation

Economic growth has benefited many citizens but has in some cases resulted in being a threat to cultural existence, livelihoods, and land/citizenship rights of communities. This project aims to promote the social, political and economic inclusion of marginalized communities in the Andaman region of Thailand, through capacity development, advocacy and community campaigning to eliminate discriminatory laws, policies, and practices. It seeks to help members of marginalized communities to gain legal identities and acquire the political and legal know-how, and organizational skills needed to assert their rights and in participating in decision-making processes. Moreover, it will support media and public-advocacy campaigns designed to increase local authorities’ knowledge of and compliance with laws and policies, recognizing the rights of marginalized people and communities.

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Lessons from Project

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Mobilizing funding for local and or provincial cooperation and partnership on policy issues can be highly impactful, as it enables structural problem-solving on policy making and legal challenges. It is, however important, that grantees continue to identify the funding opportunities needed to ensure that an effective team remains in place long term that can coordinate policy efforts, lobby the right circles, and communicate across relevant stakeholders.

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Community leaders, organizations and networks are in need of additional resources between project cycles to sustain program outputs and outcomes. UNDEF grantees need to plan ahead, identifying and considering in their strategic planning ways to support the key nodes in regional networks through resources, capacity building, and network expansion.

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According to the grantee, a three-pronged approach, or a “triangle-to-move-the-mountain approach” literally translated from Thai, is necessary to bring about an enabling environment and long-lasting change:
a. Strengthening of networks and partners through capacity building, collaborative works, knowledge sharing;
b. Improvement of data, academic works, and communications related to the critical issues at hand;
c. Long-term investment in policy advocacy at district, provincial and national levels.

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