Thailand Strategies for Pro-Poor Growth

1. Thailand Strategies forPro-Poor Growth Banchong Amornchewin Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency

2. Poverty in Thailand Gov’t has revitalized poverty as a priority and put it on top of the agenda since 1992 Gov’t attempt to get out of poverty by 2008 To combat with poverty

3. Poverty is viewed as having multiple dimensions It is a structural problem Various measures introduced but success mixed with failure

4. Causes of Poverty in Agricultural Sector Lack of Knowledge and Management Skills Lack of Capital Lack of Infrastructure (Land, Land Development, and Water) Problems of Agricultural Product Price and Marketing

5. Overview of Poverty Changes 19881992 1995 1998 2001 2003 2010(y) 42.21 28.43 14.75 20.98 11.16 8.48 7.75 (%)

6. Pro-Poor Policy Framework Significant shift during 1997-2001 from a growth-oriented approach to people-centered development Government emphasis on holistic approach for poverty reduction Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy as the main guiding principle for 2002-2006 Happiness society for the target of 2007-2011 Well-balanced development under Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy 2012-2016

7. 3 Approaches of Poverty Reduction 1 Government 2 Community 3 ODA

8. (1) Poverty Reduction Strategies 1 Macro-economic adjustment 2 Increase potential and opportunities for the poor 3 Social protection for vulnerable group 4 Community welfare 5 Natural resource management for the poor 6 Public sector improvement for solving problem of the poor

9. 1 Macro-economic Adjustment Balanced-growth by adjusting and strengthening grassroots economy Pro-poor on economic growth of focused sector i.e. agriculture, agro-industries, construction and service sector Promote the liberalize of trade and international monetary to gain benefit, to add value for agricultural products and employment

10. Current Support Programme Miyazawa Revolving Fund Soft Loan for Education Fellowship for Poor Student with Good Score Free Education for 12 Yr. Guaranteed Price Rice Project 25 River Basins Development BAAC Credit for Farmers Gov Saving Bank loan for Urban Poor

11. 2 Increase potential and opportunities for the poor Develop community learning process i.e. local forum, extend network and community learning center, knowledge sharing from local wisdom and local philosophers Develop strong community economy by promoting a group of profession in line with its potential, wisdom and local culture, sustain agriculture, OTOP, promote community saving and cooperatives

12. Adjust local wisdom to comply with new technology for improving local production Strengthen strong community by promoting integration of community and civil society, community holistic plan for maximizing existed resources.

13. Current Support Programme Rural and urban Development Fund Revolving Fund for self-defense Village Community village Fund Fund for Solving Poverty Problem Village Banking Fund for OTOP Development Financial Support to Profession Groups

14. 3 Social protection for vulnerable group Social services for the poor i.e. extend social insurance to cover vulnerable group, revise regulation to enable the poor to easy access to services Provide social welfare to meet targeted group i.e. support the TAO(sub-district) and local organizations to handle welfare, promote and set up revolving fund

15. Current Support Programme Social Welfare for the Poor/Vulnerable Social Welfare for Person with Disability Fund to Support Person with Disability Social Welfare for HIV Infected Fund Support for People Health Insurance Support of Health Volunteers

16. 4 Community welfare Prepare and create social insurance for each group, particularly ageing people Ageing insurance, promote provident fund, tax measure to encourage one who taking care of vulnerable

17. Current Support Programme Social Welfare for Ageing People Fund to Support Community Welfare Support to Community

18. 5 Natural resource management for the poor Promote community to manage localresources and environment Land reform and adjustment as well as water resource allocation for agriculture Reviserelated laws Create mechanism to solve conflict on snatching of natural resources

19. Current Support Programme Fund Support to Local Enterprise Support of Setting up Livestock Group Support Plant/Crop Seeds to Farmers Establish Farmer Saving Cooperatives Support/Improving Water Resources Support the Aquatic/Fisheries

20. 6 Public sector improvement for solving problem of the poor Adjust paradigm and role of public sector both central and regional in solving poverty from control to facilitate To prepare holistic programme/project Improve budget system support to community Create new projectfrom emerging issues

21. Current Support Programme Special budget support for emerging issue Support to disaster relief Support to relief flooding problem

22. (2)Poverty reduction approach at community level Core concept Strong Community Self reliance Better quality of life of family

23. Poverty reduction approaches by local community 1 Reduction of production costs 2 Generate more income from local enterprise (OTOP) 3 Cooperative/People Organization 4 Sufficiency Economy 5 Local Finance/Saving

24. (3) ODA approaches/support to the poor Core Areas Finding appropriate technology for the poor Business oriented model at grassroots Alternative/green energy Irrigation/small irrigation management

25. Thank you