UNDP Annual Report 2020 by UNDP Thailand

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

THAILAND

2020

Annual Report a

Cover photo: ©UNDP Women from the Moken ethnic group prepare sun-dried fish in Rawai, Phuket to sustain their livelihood during the Covid-19 pandemic.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

Table of contents Foreword iii UNDP’s contribution to the COVID-19 response iv The SDGs and UNDP viii Key results in numbers xii

SECTION 1 Fostering Social Cohesion, Democratic Governance and Rule of Law

Supporting the Government of Thailand achieving the SDGs Localizing the SDGs Promoting an integrated approach to development in the SouthernBorder Provinces Supporting accountable institutions Promoting human rights and human security

1 2 3 4 4

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action, and a Green Environment

Conserving wildlife Promoting biodiversity conservation Climate action Youth engagement on climate change Low carbon cities Sustainable mangrove management and coastal ecosystem development

SECTION 3 Strengthening Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

7 10 15 17 19 20

Women’s empowerment Moving from tolerance to inclusion of LGBTI people Promoting disability inclusion

23 25 27

SECTION 4 Innovating and Partnering for a Sustainable Future

UNDP promoting innovation in Thailand Private sector engagement South-South cooperation UNDP and the UN in Thailand UNV and volunteerism in Thailand

29 30 32 34 38

UNDP Knowledge Products UNDP Funding Who we are and where we work

40 42 44

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Students in Phang Nga province took part in Tsunami Evacuation Drill in December, 2020.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

Foreword

For development actors, 2020 was supposed to be a year rich with opportunities to advance the sustainable development agenda with key international summits on biodiversity and climate change. To address the growing challenge of marine debris and plastic pollution, an Ocean conference was scheduled. 2020 also marked the 75th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations and many member states were planning together with UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes to celebrate this milestone of multilateralism. But a zoonotic virus named COVID-19 has completely disrupted all plans and brought havoc to our planet and our global community. In a matter of weeks, the spread of the virus became a global pandemic with dramatic health consequences. The social and economic impact of the pandemic with countries closing borders and declaring lockdowns is extremely severe and the financing of the response and recovery have mobilized significant resources. As a result, socio-economic and overall development indicators are turning red and several studies have already shown some reversal of the hard gained progress made towards the Sustainable Development Goals. In Thailand, if the country was able to successfully contain the first waves of the virus relying on an effective universal health coverage and strong prevention measures, as well as substantive financing to limit the negative socio-economic impact of the pandemic, the crisis is far from over with a strong new wave leading to recordhigh levels of infections and severely challenging the resilience of the results achieved towards the SDGs. Throughout 2020, UNDP has had to rapidly re-programme resources and workplans to support Thailand’s response to COVID-19, focusing less on the health response and more on the socio-economic impact, especially on the most vulnerable segments of society. The already existing vulnerabilities of some of the youth, women, migrants and stateless people, informal workers, people from ethnic minorities, LGBTI community, and people living with disabilities made them even more prone to the devastating impact of the crisis. New resources amounting to 3.3 million USD were mobilized and allocated to alleviate the impact of the pandemic. The results achieved so far through our COVID-19 response programming are presented in this report and

activities continue as the pandemic affects an increasing number of people in Thailand. In addition to this re-programming, the pandemic is also teaching us important lessons. It has confirmed the relevance of the SDGs and their underlying values and principles: sustainability, inclusion, better balance between nature and human activities, etc. Hence the importance of keeping Agenda 2030 as the beacon for all COVID-19 recovery programmes. Given the global nature of the pandemic but also the realization that until everyone is safe, no one is safe, the crisis has also validated the need for multilateralism and global cooperation. This translates in increased responsibility for UNDP to make itself even more relevant, more efficient and effective. UNDP has continued implementation of its regular programming in Thailand despite the challenges posed by restrictions to travel to the field and adopting new working from home modalities, to safeguard the progress towards the SDGs. For UNDP in Thailand, as well as for the whole UN team, 2021 is the last year of the current 5 years programming cycle and all the work in responding to the pandemic, re-thinking our approach considering the lessons it provides, is timely to guide the team envision a new UN Cooperation Framework and a new UNDP country programme to start in 2022. We need to leverage our collaborations and partnerships to hear the aspirations of the people of Thailand, especially the most vulnerable, listen to the expectations of the Royal Thai Government and the guidance of our development partners to formulate this new programme. Finally, allow me to thank all the partners, communities and organizations that have provided support to the implementation of UNDP projects and initiatives, allowing us to contribute to improving the lives of the Thai people despite the very challenging circumstances of our work in 2020.

RENAUD MEYER UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand

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UNDP partnered with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to launch the ‘Chang Phom Oon Jai’ project supporting barbers and hairdressers who were affected by COVID-19.

UNDP’s contribution to the COVID-19 response As early as January 2020, Thailand became the first country outside of China to confirm cases of COVID-19. Since then, the virus spread across the globe and within the country. The government declared a state of emergency on 26 March 2020 and announced a range of measures, including closure of public venues, department stores and restaurants, closure of borders, a nightly curfew, and encouraging work from home. While containing the spread

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

of the virus, the restrictions increased unemployment, loss of working hours, and decrease of household income, especially for vulnerable groups, small enterprises, and those working in the tourism industry. UNDPlaunched a range of projects partnering with various donors, government counterparts, civil society organizations, and the private sector to help the most affected to cope and adapt to the new requirements imposed by this crisis.

Immediate crisis response UNDP conducted several surveys to get an overview of the impact on Thailand’s vulnerable groups, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community, youth, and ethnic minorities. The responses highlighted loss of income, high levels of anxiety and stress, as well as concerns of increased levels of violence and tensions in households. Funds were rapidly redirected. UNDP provided grants to support to the most vulnerable groups. UNDP also provided food, water and Personal Protective Equipment to approximately 3,200 LGBTI sex workers in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Songkhla. Read more:

https://www.th.undp.org/content/ thailand/en/home/stories/Amplifyingthe-Voice-of-the-Voiceless.html

COVID 19 affected businesses, driving changes in consumer behaviors that threaten jobs. Among these are barbershops and hair salons Business owners had to adapt to include hygiene measures and equipment to ensure safe conditions themselves. As many of the barbershops and UNDP worked with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and six national professional barber and hair salon associations to launch the ‘Chang Phom Oon Jai’ project. Support was given to small barbershops and hair salons nationwide to reopen their businesses in a safe manner through the provision of equipment as well as through publicly available online training courses on safety guidelines.

https://medium.com/@undpthailand/ cutting-away-the-covid-blues30fad2249324

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Through partnerships with key local civil society organizations, UNDP provided basic necessities in the form of food, water and personal protective equipment (PPEs) to approximately 3,200 LGBTI sex workers in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi (Pattaya City) and Songkhla.

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Supporting grassroots for an inclusive recovery Grants were given to organizations that work with vulnerable communitiesThis was made possible through funding from Japan of close to 2.5 million USD to support the UNDP COVID-19 response. In parallel, UNDP received 100,000 USD from the Citi Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund to support communities from the three Southern Border Provinces to rebuild and protect development

gains and enhance livelihood opportunities of the local communities through the promotion of micro- entrepreneurship. Crowdfunding under “Koh Tao, Better Together” with the Krung Thai Bank and the Raks Thai Foundation was used to help tourist boat operators and taxi drivers by providing cash for work. Each person received a monthly income for three months to collect plastic waste from beaches.

Chumchon Thai Foundation (Phuket) increasing income through fish processing Chumchon Thai Foundation coordinate help and support by connecting over 100 groups and networks who have been affected by the impact of COVID-19. In 2020 the organization was awarded a grant by UNDP to strengthen and build capacity for vocational training, increase income and produce processed food, while also incorporate marketing, tourism and other business skills to offer sustainable solutions to a community crisis. The dried fish produced by the Chao Lay community was sent to help other ethnic minority groups whose livelihoods and food security have been affected by COVID-19.

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“ We are now able to build more fish habitats. This project supports me and our community to produce food for our own consumption as well as to earn extra income from food processing”, said Mr. Sanit Saesua, Local fisherperson, Phuket. ©UNDP

Policy Responses to COVID-19 UNDP provided policy advice to support the government response. A Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of COVID-19 in Thailand was commissioned and was led by UNDP and UNICEFworking with the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council and the Asian Development Bank. The report highlights the impact of COVID-19 crisis on employment. Job loss and reduction of working hours affected household income, leading to social impacts. The most affected groups were children and the elderly, people with disabilities and chronic illness and the urban poor. Informal workers were ineligible for some of the social support schemes introduced by the government. In addition, women’s overrepresentation in some of the worst affected sectors, such as retail and tourism, had a negative effect on their employment. The study highlighted the need to strengthen social safety nets to ensure household income.

https://www.th.undp.org/content/thailand/ en/home/library/socio-economic-impactassessment-of-covid-19-in-thailand.html

To better understand the impact of the pandemic at sub-national level, UNDP also undertook a socioeconomic impact assessment for the Province of Phuket, working with the Prince of Songkhla University and the Provincial Governor’s Office. Phuket’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism and as such the travel restrictions have had a big impact on the local economy. Building on the assessment, UNDP and the Prince of Songkhla University are supporting the development of Phuket’s recovery vision and strategy. Want to know more about UNDP’s response to COVID-19 in Thailand? Scan the QR-code to read more:

https://www.th.undp.org/content/thailand/en/ home/covid-19-pandemic-response/support-tonational-response.html

UNDP remained committed to assisting Thailand achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The crisis highlighted the need to accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

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The SDGs and UNDP The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. While the country has made significant progress on the Goals, the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic consequences are slowing and could even reverse this progress.

In 2020, UNDP supported the implementation of the SDGs by continuing its support to various ministries, the private sector, and the broader public, with an emphasis on youth, an important milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Secretariat of the House of Representatives of Thailand in August 2020. Through this, UNDP supports the Parliament’s core functions related to the legislative agenda, national budget and accountability role and how these can reinforce progress towards the Goals, including with the publication of a Parliamentary Handbook in Thai to explain and guide the role of Parliament in the SDGs.

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UNDP signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Secretariat of the House of Representatives of Thailand in August 2020. This partnership enables UNDP to support the Parliament’s core functions to reinforce progress towards achieving the SDGs.

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A group of sea gypsies holding the SDGs signs at the Moken Village in Surin Islands.

UNDP is working with sub-national authorities and community stakeholders to deepen their knowledge and improve their capacity to adopt the SDGs in their plans and activities, identify priority issues as well as locally defined solutions. The National Socio-Economic Development Council and the Ministry of Interior selected nine provinces and local administrations across the country to pilot this localization UNDP’s engagement with the private sector on SDGs focused on encouraging businesses of all sizes to move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility activities to incorporating the Global Goals into their business operations and strategies. UNDP worked with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Global Compact Network Thailand to organize events and workshops to raise awareness and inform companies on the importance of sustainability and inclusion to their businesses and how to measure and manage businesses’ contributions to the SDGs.

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Kanni Wignaraja, Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific joined the seminar “From ESG to SDGs: Integrating SDGs Impact Measurement and Management Framework in Business and Investment Strategies” on 24 February 2020

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UNDP Thailand joins the opening of Chulalongkorn University’s Center for Social Development Studies Social Innovation Hub and presents on socially innovative ways to achieve the SDGs.

Throughout 2020, UNDP intensified its engagement with youth as agents of change for the SDGs. More than 150 youth were trained to enhance their advocacy skills. They were also provided with a platform by connecting them with professional organizations and businesses.

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In 2020 an Accelerator Lab was established within UNDP in Thailand, officially launched in 2021. The UNDP Accelerator Labs consist of a network of labs across the globe where UNDP operates. The objective of the labs is to speed up development by incorporate innovative methods to achieve change and to identify integrated solutions to increasingly challenging complex development challenges.

Message from Mr. Nadhavathna Krishnamra, Director-General of the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand “We live in a rapidly changing world. The world, and indeed Thailand, has witnessed not only the public health and socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also its devastating effects on our implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Thailand’s efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must also contend with disruptive technologies, climate change, and other external shocks. UNDP has worked closely with the Royal Thai Government in this new development landscape. From projects to promote a low-carbon economy and build social resilience during the pandemic to cooperation on environmental conservation and Business and Human Rights, UNDP has made concrete contributions to the implementation of the SDGs in Thailand. In particular, UNDP has worked hand-in-hand with Thai agencies in their drive to move forward innovation for development, especially through the establishment of the Thailand Policy Lab (TP Lab). I am also particularly pleased to note the strong synergies with the Royal Thai Government’s efforts in promoting the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, Thailand’s pathway towards sustainable development that is practical and applicable beyond Thailand’s national borders. This has led to the joint development of the upcoming Sixth Edition of the Thailand Human Development Report, which focuses on the application of the SEP in the era of the SDGs. Looking ahead, I am confident that the cooperation between UNDP and Thailand will grow from strength to strength. This cooperation not only covers interactions with the Royal Thai Government, but also with other sectors, be they

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the private sector, civil society, academia, or youth, as part of a multi stakeholder approach towards the achievement of SDGs. I believe there is more potential for partnerships, such as with UNDP, as Thailand works towards attaining a more balanced and sustainable development.”

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KEY RESULTS IN NUMBERS

3,200 LGBTI sex workers received necessities in the form of food, water and personal protective equipment (PPE) in key provinces throughout the country, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi (Pattaya City) and Songkhla.

1,000 hairdressers across Thailand received online training on COVID-19 safety.

Over

150 young people were trained on social issues that they are interested in and given space to take action with media creation and idea pitching.

24 high risk areas sent teachers from 35 schools in to train in first national guidelines for Tsunami Evacuation Plans and Drills for Schools in Phang Nga and five Provincial Educational Service Area Offices in Andaman Coastal provinces.

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Over

6,000 young people were engaged by UNDP to speak out via a survey on the problems they have faced during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

31,935 people received low-value grants with support from the government of Japan, to respond to the impacts of COVID-19.

Over

100 young people participated in a programme “Youth Co:Lab” to develop social innovation with the theme ‘Youth for Covid Recovery During the Covid-19 outbreak’ addressing local social issues such as education, local livelihoods, and mental health.

12 provinces were venues for workshops on Promoting the Implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2019 – 2022) to ensure implementation of the NAP at the provincial level.

500

200

participants from five southern border provinces joined a seminar on “The effect of COVID-19 to the Economy, Border Trade, and Tourism in the Southern Provinces” organized In September 2020.

young people joined the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE Youth Camp) to take climate action in reducing carbon footprint in their communities, while supporting advocacy efforts to tackle climate change.

students and 92 teachers and school personnel from Rajaprajanugroh 35 School took part in a tsunami evacuation drill in December, based on new national guidelines to better prepare for future tsunamis.

100

students from Baan Koh Toa School received training on communication via social media and were supported with a communications studio with video production equipment. The result was a YouTube channel called Tao Noi Channel and a Toa Noi Story Facebook page.

120,000

681

Over

small tourist boat operators and taxi drivers on Island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand were paid for three months for helping clean Koh Tao and preserve biodiversity, funded by the campaign “Koh Tao, Better Together”.

tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by the end of 2020 were reduced through 24 GHG emission reduction demonstration projects, covering waste, transport and energy efficiency were carried out in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima and Samui.

social entrepreneurs in Asia-Pacific got the chance to connect, exchange knowledge, and foster collaboration through the Impact Venture Dialogues organized by UNDP in 2020. The focus was on how COVID-19 can create new opportunities for businesses, workers, and consumers.

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In November 2020, UNDP met minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith to discuss collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.

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SECTION 1 Fostering Social Cohesion, Democratic Governance and Rule of Law Supporting the Government of Thailand achieving the SDGs UNDP works with many Ministries and central Departments of the Royal Thai Government. These include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Economic and Social Development Council, custodians of the SDG Agenda, to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and others. Meaning that UNDP collaborates with many institutions of the executive branch of government. The ambition of the SDGs and the increasingly complex nature of the development challenges facing Thailand call for even broader partnerships and in 2020 UNDP strengthened its collaboration with both the legislative and judicial branches of the government. UNDP, which works with more than 60 national parliaments globally, is the world’s largest parliamentary project implementer. UNDP assists parliaments worldwide to fulfill their role in the implementation of the SDGs, mainly with their legislative and budgetary functions, but also acting as mechanisms for strong accountability and representation. In August 2020, UNDP signed a memorandum of understanding with the Secretariat of the House of Representatives of Thailand. The aims to give parliamentarians and parliamentary staff knowledge and capacities to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs. As a first activity, UNDP and the Secretariat of the House of Representatives

launched a parliamentary handbook on Parliament’s Role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and organized a workshop on SDGs for the parliamentarians and parliamentary staff.

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=NMQXFZJo7uE

In 2020, support was provided to the Supreme Court in the International Framework for Court Excellence’s Self Assessment. This promotes transparency, integrity, and accountability, as part of broader quality management. The Supreme Court has established the “Self Assessment Form for the Thai Court of Justice”, which is now piloted in selected courts. In November 2020, UNDP took an important step in deepening the relationship with the Ministry of Finance through a discussion with the Minister of Finance on the formulation of an Integrated National Finance Framework. This serves to strengthen planning processes and overcome impediments to development financing. The framework will allow Thailand to increase required investment to ensure recovery and SDG progress. To allow countries in the region to learn from each other, UNDP organized knowledge exchange among officers working on prevention of violent extremism in ASEAN. UNDP continues discussing with government partners to adapt methodologies and best practices for the Thai context. UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

SECTION 1 Fostering Social Cohesion, Democratic Governance and Rule of Law

Localizing the SDGs UNDP is working to support the achievement of the SDGs at national and sub-national level, engaging with many municipalities, provinces and other local administrations across the country. This engages local decision-makers from government, business sector, civil society organizations, local universities, and communities. For example, working with the Rights and Liberties Protection Department of the Ministry of Justice, UNDP organized workshops on Promoting the Implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2019 – 2022) in twelve provinces. At the sub-national level, UNDP works to raise awareness and increase capacity among stakeholders to accelerate localization of the SDGs. An important actor for this work is the National League of Municipalities of Thailand. In December 2020, UNDP joined the annual conference of the League organized in Phuket. More than 2000 municipalities participated in the event. At the conference, UNDP organized an exhibition to raise mayors’ awareness of the SDGs.

UNDP also met with several provincial chapters of the Youth Entrepreneurs of the Thai Chamber of Commerce to discuss the role local business leaders have in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. Partnerships have also been established with several academic institutions such as Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy and the Prince of Songkhla University in southern Thailand to collaborate on SDG related projects. At the request of Phuket’s Provincial Chamber of Commerce joined by the Provincial Governor’s Office and other professional organizations of the province, UNDP undertook an impact assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic on the socio-economic situation of the island. The assessment will lead to a broader exercise of visioning a more SDG-aligned recovery and development pathway to inform the upcoming provincial development plan.

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UNDP organized a series of workshops in partnership with the Ministry of Justice to promote the implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in 12 provinces across the country.

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SECTION 1 Fostering Social Cohesion, Democratic Governance and Rule of Law

Promoting an integrated approach to development in the Southern Border Provinces In 2020, UNDP gradually evolved its approach in the Southern Border Provinces and work in a more integrated manner contributing to SDG localization. Starting with in-depth listening with six subdistrict administrations, solutions focusing on leadership in crisis response, local economic recovery and diversifying the economy, and progress towards the SDGs have been identified. UNDP, with support from the Agirre Lehendakaria Center for Social and Political Studies and the Basque Food Innovation Lab, continued its work on the Social Innovation Platform for the southern border provinces initiated in late 2019. The platform focuses on the potential of redesigning food systems as a driver for change

https://undp-ric.medium.com/post-covid-19-localfood-systems-and-related-systemic-responsesto-the-new-world-153ae1de2702

While support was provided at the policy level, livelihood opportunities were also created through assistance to local-level institutions in creating employment and income-generating businesses targeting low-income households, women groups, youth, and the unemployed persons of the COVID-19 crisis.

Songkhla Pattani Narathiwat

Yala

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SECTION 1 Fostering Social Cohesion, Democratic Governance and Rule of Law

Supporting accountable institutions Fighting corruption and supporting accountable institutions is integral to the SDGs. SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions makes explicit mention of corruption, with targets related to reducing bribery, strengthening institutions and accessing information. The Ministry of Finance through the Comptroller General’s Department plans to develop regulations supporting the Public Procurement Act. UNDP provided technical assistance that will inform the amendment of the law and regulations, as well as provide suggestions to the operational public procurement reform process. To support the digitalization of Thailand’s public procurement, a training was provided with the support of the Government Digital Service of the UK government. This addressed Digital Marketplace platforms for the office of the Comptroller General’s Department’s officials on procurement guidelines, from procurement planning, contract management to evaluation processes.

UNDP and the National Anti-Corruption Commission have also organized online webinars on prevention measures on corruption. In 2020, UNDP supported Thailand participation in an online webinar on “Justice in times of COVID-19” organized by the ASEAN Judicial Integrity Network, which allowed the exchange of experience in introducing in the judiciary new technologies to ensure continuity of services and making the courts more open and inclusive using digital solutions. In parallel, UNDP supported the Supreme Court of Thailand in adapting to the national context the International Framework for Court Excellence and conducting a self-assessment related to judicial integrity. This work will be pursued and expanded to all courts in Thailand in 2021.

Promoting human rights and human security UNDP is supporting Thailand in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights. An important milestone was the adoption of the first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights launched by the Prime Minister in December 2019. In 2020, support to the implementation of the National Action Plan focused on working with the private sector by developing a Business and Human Rights Academy. A first pilot training of the Academy was conducted with the Global Compact Network Thailand, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Rights and Liberties Protection Department of the Ministry of Justice.

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Creative and Strategic Communication for Sustainability Workshop trained ethnic youth to utilize communication tools to promote better understanding of cultural diversity.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

Further support was provided to human rights defenders, one of the four priorities areas of the National Action Plan. UNDP led studies on the protection of human rights defenders and antistrategic litigation against public participation) laws and measures. The final studies will be submitted to the National Committee for Driving the Implementation of the National Action Plan for consideration and further action. The studies are aimed to be finalized by 2021.

SECTION 1 Fostering Social Cohesion, Democratic Governance and Rule of Law

A mapping of good practices for the management of transgender prisoners was conducted jointly with UNODC. Many of the issues presented challenge the fundamental principles underpinning the binary cis-normative environment that defines the modern correctional system. Targeted recommendations were proposed to encourage the government and prison authorities to align their policies and practices with evidence of good practices.

UNDP engaged with ethnic minority groups in several ways, including advocacy to increase the public knowledge and awareness of the challenges facing these groups. UNDP organized workshops on ‘Creative and Strategic Communication for Sustainability’ for ethnic minorities. The participants also included stateless persons, who, in addition to discrimination, also face challenges and barriers due to their lack of citizenship. The participants were equipped with tools to advocate for their rights.

Youth as Agents of Change for the SDGs

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Strengthening Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship skills for youth in Thailand is an important part of the work under UNDP Thailand’s Youth Strategy. Since 2017, UNDP has organized the initiative Youth Co: Lab in Thailand, a platform to empower youth to create social impact and enhance their livelihood through social innovation and social entrepreneurship, to contribute to resolving social, economic and environmental challenges. In 2020, the programme adopted the theme of ‘Youth for Covid Recovery During the Covid-19 outbreak’. More than hundred youth participated and were supported to use social Innovation to address issues in their local communities. The challenges tackled by the participants in 2020 included areas such as education, livelihoods, and mental health.

https://www.th.undp.org/content/thailand/en/ home/library/youth-co-lab-thailand-2020--the-catalogue-of-process-and-soluti.html

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The Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary is site of the UNDP Tiger project funded by the Global Environment Facility.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment Thailand has a very rich and diverse biodiversity and natural resources are a key pillar of its economy, from agriculture to tourism. These resources are under stress by human activities and climate change is negatively impacting eco-systems and challenging the livelihoods of communities. UNDP is working with many partners on climate action, biodiversity and wildlife conservation, adopting a whole-of-society approach and focusing on engaging youth in its work.

Conserving wildlife With funding from the Global Environment Facility UNDP works with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation improve coordination and cooperation between the agencies involved in wildlife management and relevant law and order organizations to strengthen the fight against Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) across Thailand. UNDP supported the establishment of the Thailand Wildlife Enforcement Network to bring together various organizations such as the Office of the Attorney General, the Anti Money Laundering Organization, the Office of the National AntiCorruption Commission, the Court of Justice, the Port Authority of Thailand in combating illegal wildlife trade. Task forces were set up in the provinces of Nongkai and Songkla to engage local law enforcement authorities to address this issue in the border areas with Malaysia and Lao PDR.

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UNDP along with the Head of the National Park, a representative from the International Union for Conservation of Nature visited a national park to be used as demonstration site to set up an illegal wildlife trade operation center in Songkha province.

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SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

UNDP worked with the government and local communities around the Huai Kha Khaeng World Heritage Site to establish a wildlife-friendly community area as a demonstration site for improving collaboration between park rangers and local farmers and identify sustainable livelihoods for the communities that are compatible with wildlife conservation. A comprehensive plan and landscape design for the development of wildlifebased ecotourism around the World Heritage Site was adopted by the Department of National Parks and the authorities of the Uthai Thani province. In addition, communities were encouraged and provided training to shift from mono-cropping practices to a more diversified crop production to improve income. This contributed to reaching agreement with local communities for some previously encroached areas to be re-dedicated to wildlife habitat, maintained by community members.

The Tiger Exhibition The Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, classified as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site is home to the largest Indochina tiger population. To raise awareness amongst city dwellers on the issues surrounding wildlife conservation, UNDP in collaboration with Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation organized an exhibition “Tiger Story: A Story from Huai Kha Khaeng.” It presented to the general public information and stories about preserving the forest and improving the coexistence of humans and wildlife, using the creativity and artistic skills of young local designers during the Bangkok Design Week 2020.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

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SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

UNDP hosted Ambassadors’ Visit to Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary

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To promote the work of UNDP on wildlife and biodiversity conservation, UNDP and its partners hosted H.E. Ambassador Kees Rade from the Embassy of the Netherlands to Thailand and H.E. Ambassador Sarah Taylor from the Embassy of Canada to Thailand on a field visit to the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, site of the GEF funded UNDP Tiger project. The ambassadors were introduced to various activities of the project and received a warm welcome from the Governor of Uthai Thani province, visited the breeding station of the park, observed community livelihood initiatives as well as education programs all part of UNDP’s conservation work.

Thailand’s Boon Rueng Community Wins UNDP Equator Prize The ‘Boon Rueng Wetland Forest Conservation Group’ was one of the ten outstanding ethnic and local groups from across the world to be awarded the 2020 UNDP Equator Prize. This group based in Chiang Rai province in Northern Thailand was recognized for stewardship over the largest wetland forest in the Ing River Basin. Through advocacy and dialogue, this community forestry model protects an ecosystem critical for agriculture, habitat, carbon storage and biodiversity preservation in the Indo-Burma Region. It successfully stood against the creation of a special economic zone planed by the Government that would have significantly disrupted conservation efforts and ancestral community practices.

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https://www.equatorinitiative.org/equator-prize

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SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

Promoting biodiversity conservation To promote biodiversity conservation, UNDP engages with various sectors of society, including the government, private sector, and youth. UNDP advocates for and promotes sustainable management of natural resources as a foundation to green growth and inclusive development, provides technical assistance and works with partners to formulate financial strategies for biodiversity conservation, including through the UNDP global initiative on Biodiversity Financing (BIOFIN). This included convening a stakeholder consultation to ensure all voices are taken into consideration in the process of drafting Thailand’s Biodiversity Act. The key contribution from UNDP in the draft Biodiversity Act is to push the resource mobilization forward through legal framework development on implementation of finance mechanisms and incentives for biodiversity management at national and sub-national levels. UNDP successfully advocated for the adoption by the government of an improved and more inclusive methodology to design the next National Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plan, a key policy document to guide the achievement of national biodiversity targets aligned to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. In addition, UNDP provided technical support to the government to prepare the 2020 Financial Reporting Framework (FRF) for submission to the Secretariat of the Convention. A

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

technical team was established under the BIOFIN initiative to work closely with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning by using the biodiversity expenditure review methodology. The final FRF report is expected to be endorsed by the National Biodiversity Committee of Thailand in September 2021 as key evidence-based analysis for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. After the first gathering of Thai youths at a UNDP event ‘Thailand Youth Voices for Biodiversity’ in October 2019, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network for Thailand (GYBN Thailand) has continued to mobilize youth for biodiversity related work and received an official recognition by the GYBN International in July 2020 to become the official chapter mobilizing youth voice at the national level of Thailand. This successful institutionalization of the group with UNDP support ensured continuation of collaboration with Government, academe and civil society by linking resources and opportunities for Thai youth to bring their voice to the decision-making process on policies linked to biodiversity conservation.

https://www.biofin.org/crowdfunding/koh-taobetter-together

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

Also under BIOFIN, a team was established in Koh Tao, an island located in Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani in the Gulf of Thailand with a rich land and marine biodiversity and whose economy totally depends on nature tourism. The team conducted a socio-economic impact assessment of COVID-19 on the island’s tourism sector. To address the impact of the pandemic, UNDP launched the “Koh Tao, Better Together” crowdfunding campaign in collaboration with Krungthai Bank and the Raks Thai Foundation, which raised close to USD 100,000 way above the original target, to help 200 vulnerable families in a cash for work scheme focused on cleaning the beaches and the waters around the island, recycling the waste collected and mobilizing the local community for biodiversity conservation.

“

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The kick-off event of Koh Tao Better Together crowdfunding co-hosted by UNDP and Krungthai Bank has mobilized more than 1,000 participants from Koh Tao sub-district to join force with the ‘UNDP-KTB-Love-KohTao’ big cleaning day.

Back before the project, there was no coordination on cleaning up. Now among the longtail boat group, the taxi boat group, and the traditional fishermen group, we help each other look after every bay on the island. The clean up activity helps unify our love of the island. We can see the sustainability of Koh Tao’s travel industry. Payom Padungkiat, Secretary to Koh Tao Tourism Association

”

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Locals of Koh Tao join forces to collect marine debris during the Big Cleaning Day.

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

©UNDP

Renaud Meyer, UNDP Resident Representative visited Baan Koh Tao School to meet with ‘Tao Noi’ youth group and provide a communications studio with video production equipment

Youth engagement is crucial to raise awareness on climate related issues. UNDP mobilized local youth groups in Koh Tao during the Covid-19 crisis and provided trainings on using social media to raise awareness of the community. Fifty students at the local Baan Koh Toa School were mobilized and a communication studio with video production equipment was provided. This enabled them to produce content and share their work and perspective on the importance of preserving natural resources. The students created their own online YouTube channel and Facebook page to mobilize the Koh Tao community on these issues. ©UNDP

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=mEUMn-oVzkA

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

Tao Noi studio broadcasting the biodiversity talk programme with Thai celebrity guest to support the crowdfunding campaign

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

Another example of youth engagement was with the ‘Peat Swamp Youth Challenge’, organized to engage youth in conservation of peat swamps. Local youth teams were mobilized to learn about how to undertake an economic evaluation of the peat swamps to understand the value of this resource and use it as argument for conservation, stressing the importance of livelihoods deriving from the peat swamp area. Six videos were produced by youth to tell stories of communities nearby peat swamps in Thailand such as Kruankreng Peat

swamp in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Namnoi Peat swamp in Phattalung and Tohdaeng Peat swamp in Narathiwas. The winner of the competition was “Yawee Production” which highlighted preservation efforts and economic value of peat swamps in Songkhla province.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCG37I18I32pf_OmkxB66_6Q

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‘Youth Creative Media Contest for Peat Swamp Forest’ was organized in collaboration with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP). Over a hundred artwork submissions to raise awareness and advocate for the conservation of peat swamp areas.

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

Message from Georg Schmidt, Ambassador of Germany to Thailand “The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic shows us how vulnerable we are. However, our vulnerability does not stop at a pandemic. We are part of the ecosystem. Our personal health is linked to the health of our planet. Rich biodiversity, pure air and clean oceans are under threat. We need to reduce our ecological footprint in daily life to preserve the environment and combat climate change. Public awareness is the starting point of change, accompanied by consistent and effective actions.

Economic incentives and innovative financing instruments can play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity and our climate. In practice, it can include island visitation fees and conservation funds to help preserve Thailand’s rich marine and coastal ecosystems and to foster sustainable tourism. Innovative financing mechanisms aim to mobilize substantial public and private sector investment for mitigating climate change and creating sustainable growth. The SARS-CoV-2 crisis offers a great opportunity to invest in green recovery and accelerate sustainable economy pathways. I am glad that we have a strong partnership between Germany and the local UNDP office. In that way, we can support Thailand in implementing its national biodiversity strategies and action plans as well as its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to reach the Paris Agreement Goals. As largest single donor country of UNDP Thailand, Germany is contributing to the Biodiversity Financing Initiative (BIOFIN II) and the NDC Support Project to foster green growth and inclusive development. We are also committed to continue our fruitful collaboration with UNDP as part of the UN Partnership of Action on Green Economy (PAGE). A new joint project is the collaboration on raising awareness of local citizens on air quality in Chiang Mai and potential mitigation measures. On all those projects, I’m highly impressed by the creative and engaged work of the UNDP Thailand team and looking forward to our continued collaboration.”

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

Climate action During 2020, UNDP engaged with various partners to support Thailand in achieving its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target working with local governments, national agencies and civil society organizations. Technical assistance was provided to four municipalities namely Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Nakon Ratchassima and Samui, to formulate low carbon city development plans. UNDP supported Thailand’s submission of the Biennial Update Report (BUR) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, launched in December of 2020. This involved engaging with key stakeholders through technical working groups which included key stakeholders representing various sectors such as energy, transport, industrial waste, agriculture, and the forest sector, as well as line ministries. Data was collected through this process to contribute to the calculation of GHG emission and allow the Government to approve its national GHGs inventory. The full report can be accessed on UNFCCC website’s at

https://unfccc.int/documents/267629

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved a USD 3 million grant for Thailand to implement a UNDP programme titled “Increasing resilience to climate change impacts in marine and coastal areas along

the Gulf of Thailand.” This four years programme was developed in collaboration with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, both under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and UNDP. This new programme will support Thailand to advance climate change adaptation planning in relation to marine and coastal areas in the Gulf of Thailand. Gender-responsive solutions to reduce disaster risks and mobilization of local communities in climate change adaptation and mitigation are key features of this programme, expected to start in early 2021. Under GEF funding, and to address climate change impact, UNDP conducted a study of landscape strategies in four target areas in Thailand 1) Kaengkrachan Forest Complex, 2) Mae Lao Watershed, 3) Phetchabun Mountains, and 4) Phang Nga Bay. The landscape strategies will guide interventions to adapt these landscapes from a social, economic and ecological resilience perspective to climate change. NonGovernment Organizations and Community-based Organizations will be provided grants to implement local projects that contribute to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable land management and integrated water resources management. In 2020, four multi-stakeholder workshops were conducted in Phuket, Chiang Rai, Loei, and Phetchaburi Province to collect inputs and views from the communities that contribute to the formulation of the strategies and identifying projects.

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic a survey was conducted to assess the impact of the pandemic on ethnic minorities. This resulted in the proposal development and selection process for four NGOs to receive grants to assist groups of ethnic groups affected by COVID-19. Two such groups were the sea gypsy who were supported under the Fish for Rice initiative, in the south and the Karen peoples in the north. The sea gypsie community in Rawai beach were able to build efficient solar stoves to produce sundried fish and seafood for food sharing and income to sustain their livelihood during and potentially beyond the pandemic. ©UNDP

Sea gypsy community build efficient solar stoves to produce sundried fishes and seafoods for food sharing and income to sustain their livelihood during and potentially beyond the pandemic.

In Chiang Rai, Akha women conducted knowledge sharing activities on native plants and herbal medicines through forest conservation efforts under the Forest Community School of Akha Peoples project.

©UNDP

Akha women in Chiang Rai conduct knowledge sharing activities using native plants.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

Youth engagement on climate change UNDP worked with different partners to mobilize youth to address climate change under several initiatives. The Action for Climate Empowerment Youth Camp was organized by the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Organization (TGO) and the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP) with UNDP support. The event brought more than a hundred youth together to create a youth network on climate change. Youth from all over Thailand were gathered in Nakhon Ratchasima to learn about climate related policies, examples of ongoing programmes and activities undertaken by both public and private sectors as well as best practices from local administrative organizations. UNDP, through the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility, provided support for youth volunteers from the Thailand Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN-Thailand) to visit the Pilokki ethnic community from Thong Pha Bhum, Kanchanaburi province, and produce with them videos documenting the good local practices of sustainable agriculture and nature-based solutions to adapt farming to climate change. This also allowed a rich cultural exchange between youth from across the country with local ethnic youth and share experiences.

https://www.facebook.com/ watch/?v=217694143527890

UNDP also supported GYBN Thailand to organize an online learning session on biodiversity to prepare young Thais to participate in the ‘Youth Voices for Biodiversity Act” as a youth focused public hearing related to the draft Biodiversity Act being discussed in the Thai Parliament. The event convened experts from different sectors and covered issues related to law, ethnic minorities, gender, illegal wildlife, education, business and financing for biodiversity. A report was produced summarizing all inputs

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H.E. Varawut Silpa-archa Minister of Natural Resources and Environment visited UNDP’s exhibition booth held as part of Thai Environment Day and Thai Environment Day and the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Volunteer Day 2020 organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

and submitted to the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) to contribute to the formulation of the Biodiversity Act. In 2020, UNDP and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom conducted the world’s biggest poll on climate change called the Peoples’ Climate Vote. An online videogame was developed and entitled Mission 1.5 to serve as a platform to collect data. This new, unconventional approach to polling, prompted a loud and clear response from the Thai public with more than 30.000 responses. 64% of the respondents indicated that climate change is a global emergency and highlighted conservation of forests and land, use of solar, wind and renewable power, adoption of climate-friendly farming techniques and more investment in green business and jobs as the most popular climate policies to be promoted.

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

The NGO “Youth for SDGs” with support from UNDP also launched an initiative under the theme “Environment and the Pandemic,“ an online competition opened to youths from ASEAN countries. The event was focused on 3 topics: waste management and medical waste, energy conservation and accessibility, and air pollution. Local challenges were identified and explained and disseminated through youth-made podcasts to increase awareness and knowledge on the issues. Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=QiwQ2fVHeNo

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ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

©UNDP

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

Low Carbon Cities UNDP conducted 24 GHG emission reduction demonstration projects, covering the three main sectors—waste, transport and energy efficiency in four partner cities (Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Samui). By the end of 2020, it is estimated that the demonstration projects potentially accumulatively reduced greenhouse gases approximately 120,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

limit the use of a local disposal site on the island, while producing composted soil conditioner used as fertilizers in local gardens.

In Chiang Mai, the Smart Mobility Alliance Network was set up to create space that enabled collaboration between private and public sectors to promote sustainable transport within the city. At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, an electronic ticketing system was put in place to track movement of commuters on public buses in Chiang Mai utilizing the nationwide tracking system “Thai Chana.” UNDP in collaboration with a women group from Ban Tai Municipality Pha-Ngan Island, Surat Thani province initiated a project using organic waste compositing to reduce methane emissions and

©Ban Tai Municipal District

Demonstration project in Samui Island, Surat Thani province to reduce greenhouse gas through sustainable waste management.

Bangchalong Farming Model

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As part of the social innovation Youth Co:Lab 2020 programme implemented by UNDP, the Bangchalong Farming Model presented by a team of four young students in architecture was among the winning projects. The expertise of the youth is used to redesign space not occupied by urban poor communities to start smart farming. The community is also supported to connect with the market to sell the vegetables. The Bangchalong Farming Model aims to bring more than 200,000 Baht of monthly income to the community and improve food security and overall quality of life for community members.

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

Sustainable mangrove management and coastal ecosystem development The Sustainable Mangrove Management and Coastal Ecosystem Development project of UNDP implemented in Phetchaburi Province delivered a Master Plan and Biodiversity Finance Plan for mangrove management through community-based social enterprise and sustainable tourism. The project was able to engage the Department of Marine and

Coastal Resources, Provincial Office of Phetchaburi, impact investors, municipalities, and communities to develop both plans for mangrove conservation activities. Local communities in Phetchaburi gained knowledge and took part in mangrove conservation committees as the gatekeepers and change agents that can adapt national policies to local contexts. In 2020, the project promoted a participatory approach among policy makers, local government unit, communities and private sector to co-create the Master Plan for Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration in Phetchaburi. A landscape approach was applied to foster a cross-sectoral collaboration in coastal resources land use planning and to raise community awareness of threats to and benefits from a rich and healthy biodiversity. The Master Plan emphasizes on i) ecosystem safeguarding and biodiversity conservation and ii) increase the livelihood improvement of two pilot sites in (1) Bang Taboon sub-district for rehabilitation of wetland and mangrove ecosystem and (2) Pak Thale sub-district for bird sanctuary development. With technical backstopping provided by BIOFIN, the Master Plan will be integrated into the Finance Plan for Sustainable Mangrove Management in Phetchaburi Province. The plan will also be used as a key policy document to support the localization of the SDGs in Phetchaburi province. With continued support from an impact investor, the Blue Carbon Society, the project will support Phetchaburi province as the “capital of birdwatching’ in Thailand.

@ Sarapanpunsuk SE Biodiversity Research Team

Researchers surveying mangrove biodiversity at Bang Khun Sai bird conservation area, Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi province.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

SECTION 2 Promoting Wildlife Conservation, Climate Action and a Green Environment

The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene

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Launch of the 2020 Global Human Development Report in Bangkok, Thailand on the 16th of December 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the latest crisis facing the world, but unless humans release their grip on nature, it won’t be the last, according to the 2020 Human Development Report: The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene by UNDP, which includes a new experimental index on human progress that takes into account countries’ carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint. The report lays out a stark choice for world leaders - take bold steps to reduce the immense pressure that is being exerted on the environment and the natural world, or humanity’s progress will stall. Thailand, like many other countries, is facing challenges in securing a resilient recovery and tackling inequality without exacerbating planetary pressure. According to the report, Thailand has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.777 in 2019, remaining in the high human development category. Featuring at the 79th place in world ranking (out of 189 countries), Thailand is the developing country with the third-highest progress in the world in its HDI ranking over the period 2014-2019, up by 8 ranks. This reflects the country’s continued improvement in life expectancy at birth, years of schooling, and income per capita.

Despite this progress, inequality as well as environmental strains loom large. Thailand’s HDI declines by 16.9% to 0.646 when discounted for inequality. Furthermore, the country’s HDI falls by 7.9% to 0.716 after adjusting for its carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint. On the heels of these developments came COVID-19. The pandemic’s fallout on education, health and income is threatening to reverse overall global progress in human development for the first time since the launch of the Human Development Index. Although Thailand’s health response to the pandemic and ability to curb infections has been a remarkable success story, income and livelihoods have been severely impacted and the country’s progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been undermined. This calls for Thailand, along with the rest of the world, to rethink their development model—one that benefits all people and planet.

http://hdr.undp.org/en/2020-report

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Rawai sea gypsy women prepare sun-dried fishes to sustain their livelihood during the Covid-19 pandemic.

©UNDP

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

SECTION 3 Strengthening Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Women’s empowerment When COVID-19 hit, it quickly became evident that the impact of the pandemic had gendered features that disproportionately affected women. Since women are overrepresented in the service sector, which was one of the hardest hit sectors, women’s livelihood opportunities were impacted overnight. The initiative providing support to barbers and hairdressers to safely open for business was one of the interventions targeting the disproportionate impact on women. Of the thousand hairdressers who took part of the initiative, 740 were women – reflecting their overrepresentation in the industry.

In addition to ensuring a gender-responsive recovery from COVID-19, UNDP promoted gender equality in other development initiatives by working with women as agents of change. In 2020, UNDP supported women from ethnic minorities in the enclave villages in the World Heritage Site to set up a Fabric Museum which will be a convening place for the women network, as well as serve as a shop of traditional handicrafts. This initiative is part of a broader work of promoting wildlife protection in the World Heritage Site, by promoting ways for the communities to live in harmony with wildlife.

UNDP has also provided livelihood support to women by providing entrepreneurial skills. In the Southern Border Provinces, support to community enterprises equipped eighteen women with entrepreneurial skills and business planning concepts. The women will in continue to support other community enterprises, taking leadership positions in their communities. At the end of 2020, grants were awarded to civil society organizations, including women’s organizations, to work for an inclusive and gender-responsive recovery from COVID-19. The organizations will continue their work in 2021.

While it is important to recognize the contributions traditionally provided by women, it is also important to tackle stereotypes and promote women in nontraditional roles. UNDP’s work to promote wildlife conservation has done just that. In the last five years two hundred women have participated in the training as forestry students. Many of them have after graduation continued to work for the Department of National Parks to improve the SMART system in the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries all over the country.

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

SECTION 3 Strengthening Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

In Ban Tai Municipality, Pha-Ngan Island, Surat Thani province, UNDP joined women leaders from both the government and the private sector in a joint activity related to organic waste composting as part of reducing methane emissions as well as take pressure off from the local disposal site. The organic waste composting results in products in the form of composted soil conditioner to be used for local gardens. This initiative is one of many contributing to

Taking joint action to fight genderbased violence

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Gender-based violence directed against women and LGBTI persons is already in ordinary times a serious and widespread problem. After the outbreak of COVID-19 with the restrictions and stay at home orders that followed, alarms were raised in many countries of dramatically increased levels of violence. To respond to the serious challenge, the UN agencies in Thailand decided to set up Gender-Based Violence Sub-Group in order to coordinate and take joint actionThe first activity of the sub-group was to commission a Gender-Based Violence Gaps Analysis and Needs Assessment of the response during COVID-19. The UN Country Team also used the UNiTE Campaign during the 16 Days of Violence to conduct joint advocacy on the need to combat gender-based violence. In the SouthernBorder Provinces, UNDP and UN Women co-organized an awareness raising event.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

low carbon cities. Through the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme, UNDP supported civil society organizations to promote sustainable development. The grantees are actively involving women or are led directly by women’s groups. One such example is a group of women from ethnic minorities contributing to biodiversity in Chiang Mai, while also conducting a livelihood support that they now wish to scale up to a social enterprise.

Ethnic Youth for Sustainable Development

©UNDP

One of the winning teams of Youth Co:Lab, ‘Indigenous Youth for Sustainable Development, IY4SD’, consists of three LGBTI women from Thailand’s ethnic minorities. Their idea is to tackle two problems simultaneously – gender inequality and job opportunities. They work with women and members of the LGBTI community through trainings in weaving. The commodities they plan to produce range from bags to traditional shirts, with the rainbow colour as their product identity. The team believes that the products will not only bring income to the communities but also be a tool to spread the word of ethnic minority and LGBTI rights.

SECTION 3 Strengthening Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

Moving from tolerance to inclusion of LGBTI people UNDP provides extensive support to LGBTI people by supporting a more inclusive legal framework, as well as tackling issues of stigma and discrimination. In February, UNDP released the report Stories of Stigma, a qualitative study exploring the ways Thai transgender women are affected by stigma. The report explores how experiences of stigma affect health-seeking behaviour and health outcomes among transgender people, especially in relation to HIV treatment and care. This study builds on UNDP’s work on legal gender recognition of transgender people in Thailand. In 2018, UNDP and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security jointly conducted a study, entitled Legal Gender Recognition in Thailand: A legal and policy review, to comprehensively review existing laws, policies and practices. The study found that legal gender recognition remains a barrier to social inclusion, access to health and social services, and enjoyment of human rights for transgender people in Thailand. To address this legal barrier facing transgender people, UNDP have in 2020 provided support to the LGBTI community in Thailand to develop a draft legal gender recognition law. Due to different priorities among the various groups within the LGBTI community, different versions of the draft law have been developed. Accordingly, UNDP co- organized a seminar with civil society groups on 8 December to review each draft. A consensus was made at the end of the seminar to combine different versions into one. This will allow the community to speak louder with a common voice when continuing their advocacy for legal gender recognition.

“

My older sister, at one time, was trying to make me a ‘real man’. Because I am the only son in the house and I am also the youngest child. So I said, ‘Older sister, we cannot choose how we are born. But we can choose what we want to be. You can take a stick and beat me, but I will be unable to stop being a little girl [pen toot2 pen taew]. I repeat, I am a transgender [pen toot], it is not like having a flu and taking two paracetamol, sleep one night and then it is over. May, aged 29, from Prachuap Khiri Khan province

” UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

SECTION 3 Strengthening Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

UNDP promotes awareness raising to reduce discrimination and stigma toward LGBTI people such as that described in Stories of Stigma and the 2019 report Tolerance but not Inclusion. UNDP sat on a sub-committee led by the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to develop a guideline that includes do’s and don’ts on reporting news related to youth and LGBTI people, as well as some examples of good and bad reporting by some news agencies in Thailand for broadcast media. Addressing an area where many LGBTI people face discrimination, UNDP worked with companies to promote diversity and inclusion of the LGBTI people in the workplace. One company that UNDP worked with in 2020 was Sansiri, who has become a champion among Thai companies to

promote LGBTI inclusion within their organization and in their business practices. When UNDP and the Asia Pacific Transgender Network reached out to the LGBTI community through a survey at the start of the pandemic, deteriorating mental health was identified as one of the areas of concern. UNDP and the Equal Asia Foundation in partnership with Save the Children Thailand, Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the Asia Pacific Transgender Network organized a webinar on the topic of mental health among LGBTI persons in the context of COVID-19. The webinar allowed to exchange experiences and to discuss collaborative action to advance mental health of LGBTI people.

Consultation conducted with LGBTI sex workers as part of the UN Country Team’s Common Country Analysis (CCA) formulation.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

SECTION 3 Strengthening Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

Promoting disability inclusion In 2020 UNDP worked with the Department for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to empower persons with disabilities and to protect their rights. An important lesson from the outbreak of COVID-19 was the need to quickly provide information, which largely had to be online. For many persons with disabilities, information posted online is still not accessible either due to lack of equipment or due to non-accessible formats. UNDP and the Department therefore jointly decided to improve the accessibility of the Department’s website. The website will be finalized in 2021. In collaboration with the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Department of Disaster Prevention, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and the Thai Red Cross Society, UNDP jointly launched the first guidelines for Tsunami Evacuation Plans and Drills for Schools. The guidelines use universal design to ensure that they are inclusive to all, regardless of their abilities. In November, training of trainers was organized in Phang Nga to train 90 teachers from high risks areas of Phang Nga and Andaman Coastal provinces. On 9 December, a tsunami evacuation drill was conducted at a selected school to test the understanding of the guidelines and training. Among the students participating in the drill, various forms of disabilities were represented. Promoting inclusion and the empowerment of persons with disabilities is an area where UNDP is committed to deepen its future work. As part of this, UNDP co-led the consultation conducted with persons with disabilities and their organizations as part of the drafting of the UN Country Team’s Common Country Analysis. The consultation aimed at hearing from people with disabilities about their concerns and areas they want to be addressed. Discrimination, lack of accessibility, and lack of employment opportunities were some of the concerns raised.

Vulcan Coalition training persons with disabilities to do AI tasks

©UNDP

Pathomwadee Intamon, a student with physical and mobility impairment)

As part of UNDP’s response to the impacts of COVID-19, a grant has been provided to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) specialized Vulcan Coalition and the Social Administration Foundation. The organizations’ vision is to provide the most in-demand careers for persons with disabilities. Their idea is to provide employment opportunities to persons with disabilities through tasks related to training AI, leveraging the unique strengths of people with disabilities. For instance, persons with visual impairment tend to have good hearing skill so they might be able to do audio transcription quickly and precisely. Similarly, persons with hearing loss might be able to provide good-detail caption for the photos they see. The project started in late 2020, and will in 2021 continue by conducting digital trainings for a thousand of persons with disabilities across the country, followed by involving job matching for 500 positions. This project will not only provide job opportunities for 500 persons with disabilities and improve their digital skills, but the AI products will be beneficial to both persons with disabilities and those without disabilities, such as audio books for persons with visual impairment or print disability and smart home devices. “Besides education that I have to adjust myself to new methods of teaching, I have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 socially and economically. If I eventually get hired through this AI training program, I will earn an income to support my educational and living expenses” said Pathomwadee Intamon, a student with physical and mobility impairment.

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Participants at Thailand Policy Lab Signing Ceremony to discuss the work plan for 2021.

©UNDP

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

SECTION 4 Innovating and Partnering for a Sustainable Future UNDP promoting innovation in Thailand On 17 September 2020, UNDP and the Government represented by the National Economic and Social Development Council took an important step to promote innovative policy solutions for Thailand and the region by signing a partnership agreement to establish the Thailand Policy Lab. This initiative aims to accelerate innovation in public policy and services to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and share Thailand’s experience with other countries in the region and beyond. It focuses both on the substance of policies but also on the process required to formulate them, ensuring a more participatory and bottom-up approach, by including more stakeholders and listening to communities. One of the areas of work for the Lab is to reimagine tourism in Thailand, by exploring sustainable tourism practices in the post-pandemic world. To kick-off this work a sense-making workshop was organized to bring together stakeholders from the tourism sector to better assess the impact of the pandemic, identify common trends across industries and the sector at large, and to identify collaborative opportunities to move forward on policy innovation in the tourism sector. UNDP and the Aguirre Lehendakaria Center for Social and Political Studies, a think tank from Spain, have been working on the conceptualization of a social innovation platform for Southern Thailand since 2019. This platform focuses on the potential of food systems transformation as a driver for systemic economic and social change. After mapping stakeholders, interviews were conducted to identify

©UNDP

The Royal Thai Government represented by National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) signs a partnership agreement with UNDP to establish an innovation lab in Thailand.

and study existing challenges and opportunities that emerged as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. From the ethnographic and digital listening undertaken with Southern Thai communities, and with the experience from the Basque Food Innovation Lab Imago, the platform has produced a portfolio of interconnected initiatives to be tested with the communities to ultimately improve social cohesion and strengthen local economic development.

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

SECTION 4 Innovating and Partnering for a Sustainable Future

Private sector engagement In 2020, UNDP’s engagement with the private sector focused on encouraging businesses of all sizes to move beyond traditional activities of corporate social responsibility to incorporating SDGs into their business operations and strategies. In doing so, UNDP worked with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Global Compact Network Thailand to organize events and workshops for companies to raise awareness and educate companies on the importance of sustainability to their business and how to measure and manage businesses’ contributions to the SDGs. For example, in February 2020, UNDP, together with SEC and GCNT organized a seminar titled ‘from ESG to SDGs: Integrating SDGs Impact Measurement and Management Framework in Business and Investment Strategies’. The event’s key message of shifting from Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance to SDG was very well received by participating companies, investors, financial regulators, and government agencies.

With such positive feedback, the SEC decided to incorporate a new reporting requirement for businesses to be effective in 2022 an SDG Impact Measurement and Management Framework for companies to use when drafting their sustainability report. In 2020, the real estate developer Sansiri, one of Thailand’s leading real estate developers, expressed an interest to partner with UNDP and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and seek technical assistance to adopt the Standards of Conduct for Business - Tackling Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, & Intersex People. The company organized a signing ceremony on 28 May to announce their commitment. They became the first private company in Thailand to publicly commit to the Standards of Conduct for Business. UNDP looks forward to continuing to support Sansiri and its work to become a champion for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

©UNDP

UNDP and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Thai Listed Companies Association, and Global Compact Network Thailand organized the workshop “SDG Smart Impact Measurement and Management” to introduce listed companies to the concept of SDGs, the role of private sector in contributing to the SDGs, how to integrate SDGs lens into their business operations and strategies, as well as how to measure and manage their SDG impacts.

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UNDP and ChangeFusion, an NGO dedicated to social entrepreneurship launched Thailand’s first ever impact accelerating programme, the ‘SDG Impact Accelerator Programme’. This programme supported 20 impact enterprises to achieve financial sustainability while addressing through their business model some of the socio-economic issues highlighted by the SDGs. Following a rigorous selection process nationwide, out of 79 enterprises that applied to the programme, 20 enterprises were selected to participate in an intensive investment readiness program from September to December 2020. Finalists were guided on the impact measurement and management, tailored business and impact acceleration assistance through a series of interactive workshops and consultation sessions. They had the opportunity to connect with impact investors and venture capitalists, with support from social impact practitioners and senior experts from UNDP.

©UNDP

UNDP and ChangeFusion launched Thailand’s first impact accelerating programme.

Impact Venture UNDP leveraged its unique global network to support Thai social entrepreneurs by connecting them with more through the Impact Venture Dialogues, providing the opportunity for them to adjust business models to sustain enterprises during and post COVID-19. Over 100 social entrepreneurs in Asia-Pacific got the chance to connect, exchange knowledge, and foster collaborations. The dialogue series sparked discussions on how disruptions to traditional economic activities, like COVID-19 can drive and create new opportunities for businesses, workers, and consumers alike. These sessions also allowed for an exchange of experiences between fellow social entrepreneurs on how to diversify, adapt and create more inclusive and resilient business models and products. Read more:

https://www.th.undp.org/content/thailand/ en/home/presscenter/articles/2020/impactventure-adjusting-business-models-to-sustainenterprises.html

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South-South cooperation In 2020, UNDP initiated several South-South Cooperation activities and engaged with over 20 countries benefiting Thailand partners in a number of key areas including COVID-19 recovery, business and human rights, biodiversity conservation, and youth engagement.

Asia-Pacific Region UNDP Thailand in collaboration with the Urban Youth Academy co-hosted the Asia-Pacific Youth Exchange. The programme brought together over 100 youth participants from 14 countries within Asia and the Pacific to participate in social innovation training and immersion in the local community to develop innovative solutions, enhance sustainable development and contextualize SDGs within local communities.

Bhutan

Philippines

Thailand

UNDP, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Philippines Parks and Biodiversity group, the DENR-Biodiversity management bureau of the Philippines and the Philippine House of Representatives co-organized a conservation learning session ‘Financial Resiliency for Protected Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas: Plans and programs during & after the COVID-19 pandemic. BIOFIN Thailand joined hands with Bhutan and the Philippines to provide snapshot direction for COVID-19 financial resiliency on protected areas management. Over 1,250 participants from neighboring countries joined the live stream and learned about digital platform developed in Thailand for the new normal traveling practice.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

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Japan

Singapore

South Korea

An online session of “Impact Venture” dialogue organized by UNDP brought together social entrepreneurs from Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Japan to discuss how they can turn COVID-19 challenges into business opportunities and how to be flexible in their business models during the time of the crisis for the sustainability of their businesses.

India

Indonesia

Malaysia

Mongolia

Myanmar

Sri Lanka

The Business and Human Rights Project in Thailand facilitated and organized peer learning sessions with other project implementing countries, namely India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. A learning session on “Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)” took place among business and human rights specialists, which provided a platform to share Thailand’s experience on conducting the HRDD trainings with Thai companies as part of the pilot training at Business and Human Rights academy that UNDP co-organized with Global Compact Network Thailand, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ministry of Justice.

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UNDP and the UN in Thailand

UNDP joined United Nations in Thailand to commemorate the UN’s 75th anniversary through an online campaign promoting the Sustainable Development Goals under five key areas People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace & Partnership. This included promotion of an online survey urging the public to share their thoughts on their global priority issues of concern. Learn more:

https://un75.online

In 2020, the UN Country Team in Thailand stared its work on preparing for its next fiveyear cycle (2022-2026) to start with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. An important step to develop the UNSDCF is to conduct a Common Country Analysis, which is the UN system’s independent,

and

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

impartial, and collective assessment of the country’s development situation to examine progress, gaps, opportunities and bottlenecks of the country’s commitment to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. An important aspect of the analysis is to also hear from vulnerable groups in Thailand about their needs and concern, which was carried out through consultations with vulnerable groups under the leadership of various UN agencies. Jointly with UNAIDS, a series of consultations were conducted with people living with HIV, people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men including bisexual populations, and transgender groups. With UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA a consultation with Thailand’s ethnic minorities was organized in Chiang Mai. A consultation with people with disabilities was organized jointly with UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Habitat. The findings from these consultations will provide guidance to the UN system’s upcoming priorities in Thailand.

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Other joint activities undertaken by UNDP and other UN agencies include: • UNDP co-organized with the International Labour Organization a session on responsible supply chain in Asia during the 4th National Dialogue on Business and Human Rights. ILO introduced their tools and guidelines for companies to manage human rights risks and impact on labor issues during COVID-19 crisis. UNDP conducted a risk assessment activity to identify with the companies what these risks are. This collaboration was a good opportunity for both agencies to interact with the business sector and promote their respective roles to protect human rights and also further contribute to the promotion of the guiding principles on business and human rights.

• UNESCAP, UN Habitat, BIOFIN Thailand provided the mayor of Koh Tao District Municipality Office a fellowship to participate in the 2020-2021 Asia Pacific Mayors Academy. The mayor of Koh Tao District gained knowledge and was exposed to best practices on designing, planning and managing sustainable urban development, taking actions on COVID-19 response and recovery, planning for sustainable development pathways, building resilience for the island, and financing for sustainable urban development Youth and COVID19 impact Survey with UNICEF, UNFPA and National Children and Youth Council

• Y outh Co:Lab 2020 programme: The 2020 Youth Co:Lab

programme, a initiative co-led by UNDP and Citi foundation, was supported by UNICEF, the Thailand Institute of Justice, National Innovation Agency and True Incube to empower youth to address local challenges and strengthen livelihoods through social innovation and entrepreneurship, focused on “Youth for Covid Recovery.”

• In response to evidence of increasing gender-based violence

during the lockdown relaed to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Country Team in Thailand established a Gender- Based Violence Sub-Group under the leadership of UNFPA and UN Women. In 2020, UNDP contributed to the sub-group in conducting a gender-based violence gap analysis and needs assessment during COVID-19. In parallel, the UN Country Team conducted a joint awareness campaign targeting the general public through public announcements and digital boards in cities across Thailand during the annual campaign on 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence.

• Generation Unlimited Programme with UNICEF: Generation

Unlimited is a global youth innovation challenge lead by UNICEF. The programme is focusing on 3 main issues that youth around the world are facing: education, skill for future employment and girls empowerment. This year the programme in Thailand is cohost by UNICEF and UNDP with a specific focus area at the deep south of Thailand. More than 100 applications were received addressing a variety of issues such as education for migrant youth, bullying issues in the school, mental health support for youth, job training for youth in juvenile center etc. During the programme, the selected teams were equipped with knowledge and resources to come up with ideas to solve the issues. UNDP provided them the training on human-centered design process, matched them with experts on business and their selected issues, and provided grants to test their ideas. As the result, the youth developed a deeper understanding on social issues around them and were empowered to create sustainable development within their communities.

©UNDP

The UN system based in Thailand, under the leadership of UNESCAP and UN Women, organized an event bringing women from Thailand and the broader region to commemorate International Women’s Day.

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Thematic and Working Groups UNDP contributes to the achievement of the objectives set in the United Nations Partnership Agreement Framework signed between the Royal Thai Government and the United Nations Country Team covering the period 2017-2021. UNDP provides policy advice and advocacy on issues such as gender equality, social and economic inequality, human rights, and rule of law with expertise from across the UN agencies. This work is carried out as a unified UN through thematic working groups:

UN Thematic Working Group on Non-Communicable Diseases

The Peace and Governance Results Group

The UN Thematic Working Group on NCDs in Thailand was established in April 2019 to follow-up on the recommendations of the United Nations Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) Mission on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, which was conducted in 2018. The UN Thematic Working Group on NCDs is co-chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator and the Director-General of Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), with WHO Thailand and MOPH as co-secretariat. The members comprise of representatives from government ministries, civil society organizations, and UN agencies.

UNDP, as co-chair with UN Women, leads the Peace and Governance Working group. This ensures that UN initiatives and activities on peace and governance are coordinated and carried out under the one UN approach, encouraging UN agencies to work together and benefit from other’s experience.

The Deep South1 Working Group

NDC working group UNDP, as Chair of the UNCT Working Group on Nationally Determined Contributions, is supporting the Royal Thai Government to deliver climate targets and actions enhancing collaboration and synergy between projects and programmes on climate change across the UN family.

This refers to the Southern Border Provinces.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

UNDP, as co-chair with UNICEF, leads the Deep South Working group, bringing together nine UN agencies, and the World Bank, working in the southern border provinces. The Working Group enhanced greater understanding of the southernmost part of the country, from a peace, security and development point of view, and supported conflict sensitive interventions.

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Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Theme Group

UN Joint Team on AIDS in Thailand

Stateless Working Group

Since 2019, UNDP and UN Women have co-chaired the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Theme Group of the UNCT. The scope of the theme group was expanded from gender equality to also including social inclusion, capturing the mandate of the UN of leaving no one behind.

UNDP Thailand regularly participates in the UN Joint Team on AIDS meetings chaired by UNAIDS Thailand, which also serves as the Secretariat to the group. Members of the group consist of UN agencies in Thailand that work on ending HIV and AIDS to strategize and better coordinate interventions. A key part of the team’s work is to develop a joint work plan on AIDS which will guide the work of UN agencies and also the co-sponsor’s utilization of the UNAIDS Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework country envelope.

In September 2020, UNDP organized a session by the ‘Titang’ team, one of the winners from UNDP Youth:CoLab project comprising of stateless team members. Titang was invited to recount their experience as stateless individuals and to present their work on the advocacy to acquire citizenship through the use of media. The session, chaired by UNHCR, was presented to the working group, which includes UNDP, UNHCR, IOM and other non-governmental organisations. The presentation shed a brighter light on the struggle of the stateless individuals and sparked an interest among the UN agencies working in the human rights and migration field.

Data Results Group

UN Joint Team on Young People

UNDP has collaborated with other UN agencies under the UN Thailand Data Results Group in further strengthening the assessment of SDG progress and identifying the gaps in the data system to support the national efforts, particularly by the National Economic and Social Development Council and National Statistical Office, in tracking Thailand’s SDG advancement.

With the UN Joint Team on Young People, UNDP participated in a study to explore UN Strategic Engagement on Youth in Thailand with expected results in a more effective and holistic approach for UN agencies to be working with and for youth in Thailand.

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UNV and volunteerism in Thailand The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNDP and UNV commit to leaving no one behind and as part of this commitment, the Talent Programme promotes the inclusion of persons with disabilities into the UN workplace. With the generous support from the government of Sweden, UNDP opened a job opportunity under this Programme. In October 2020, a person with visual impairment was selected to work as a staff in the position of Programme Associate, which focus specifically

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

on disability issues. Here is a link to the video to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December 2020. The video shadows the staff on her daily life working at UNDP Thailand. The video also highlights the important work UNDP did to promote disability inclusion in Thailand through capacity building and employment together with other ongoing work in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tjphPOB6hdE

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UN Volunteer Day (IVD2020) The International Volunteer Day (IVD) is celebrated annually since 1986 and is an opportunity for individual volunteers, communities and organizations to promote their contributions to development at the local, national and international levels. In 2020, IVD aims to showcase volunteers’ contributions and impact by highlighting local actions during COVID-19 and thank volunteers for their actions and commitment under the theme “Together We Can through Volunteering: Accelerating sustainable development and going further”. The event was coorganized by United Nations Volunteers the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand attended by UN agencies, government partners from Asia and the Pacific in charge of volunteering, UN volunteers serving in the Asia and the Pacific and representatives of Ministries with existing volunteer programmes. The event was to discuss how volunteerism can help to localize SDGs and recover better after the pandemic to improve a community’s physical, social, environmental and economic conditions and to create a more resilient community, thereby helping communities to prevent and adapt to crises.

©UNDP

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

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UNDP Knowledge Products Publications can be accessed at

https://www.th.undp.org/content/thailand/en/ home/library.html

Tackling Integrity Risks in Government Contracts

Youth Co_Lab Thailand 2020 -The Catalogue of Process and Solutions

Mapping of Good Practices for the Management of Transgender Prisoners

Socio Economic Impact Assessment of Covid-19 in Thailand

UNDP Annual Report 2019

Mapping the Social Impact Investment and Innovative Finance Landscape in Thailand

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SECTION 4 Innovating and Partnering for a Sustainable Future

A Parliamentary Handbook

Sustainable Development Goals Booklet

The Biodiversity Finance Plan

Thailand National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights

National Guidelines for Tsunami Evacuation

Sustainable Dvelopment Goals Booklet

Human Development Report 2020 – Overview (Thai, English) UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

UNDP Funding 2020 UNDP expenditures per SDGs

21%

$1,668,805

All SDGs

17%

$1,314,813

$7,949,479

10%

$823,669

$639,189

$551,789

$460,766

$223,228

$123,403

$180,045

$20,707

SDG 1

SDG 2

SDG 3

$187,184

$19,926

SDG 4

SDG 5

SDG 6

$84,895

SDG 7

SDG 8

SDG 9

SDG 10 SDG 11

$626,872

$113,835

SDG 12 SDG 13 SDG 14 SDG 15 SDG 16 SDG 17

UNDP contribution to gender equality GEN 0 GEN 3

GEN 1 GEN 2

Percentage of projects per gender marker

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

$448,992 $461,361

UNDP has introduced since 2009 the Gender Marker as a tool to track the organization’s expenditure towards contributions to gender equality. It consists of a four points scale, from “Not expected to contribute to gender equality” (GEN0) to “Gender equality being the principal objective” (GEN3). In 2020, UNDP Thailand implemented activities through several projects (including both national, regional, and global projects with activities in Thailand) and initiatives, of which 2.7% of the projects had gender equality as their principal objective (GEN3), 51.4% had gender equality as a significant objective (GEN2), 43.2% contributed to gender equality in a limited way (GEN1), while 2.7% were not expected to contribute to gender equality.

UNDP Commitment to Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Sexual Exploitation, and Abuse All forms of sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) are unacceptable and are prohibited in UNDP, whether perpetrated against a recipient of assistance or a coworker.

UNDP adheres to the standards of conduct related to sexual harassment are covered by the Policy on harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse of authority.

Sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse violate human rights and are a betrayal of the core values of the United Nations. It is our collective priority to prevent such behaviours and to support those affected. We are also committed to ensure that all allegations of sexual harassment and SEA are responded to swiftly, appropriately and effectively.

For more information visit:

https://www.undp.org/accountability/preventionand-response-sexual-misconduct

Contributing partners In 2020, UNDP has mobilized as much as $ 11.7 million from the Royal Thai Government (RTG)as well as international and local donors. This is considered as the highest annual non-core resources mobilized during the current country programme cycle 2017-2021. Noncore resources from Global Environment Facility (GEF) of US$ 5 million (43%) contributes to wildlife conservation, climate action and a sustainable management of natural resources and small grant programme. US$ 2.5 million (22%) from Japan is responding to COVID-19 Response and Recovery, US$ 1.4 million (12%) from Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RTG are earmarked for Thailand Policy Lab and National Human Development Report while another US$ 1.4 million (12%) is also from UNDP Trust Funds responding to COVID-19 and Biodiversity Finance and National Determined Contribution (NDC). US$ 1.4 million (11%) is from European Commission, Sweden, UK, US and private sectors in Thailand. $5,015,074

$2,513,604

$1,369,591

$1,354,059

$334,387

$314,276

$277,676

$154,331

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Japan

Royal Thai Government: MFA, NIA and NESDC

UNDP

Sweden-SIDA

UK-FCDO

CITI FOUNDATION

Core donors to UNDP global Regular resources, or core, is the pillar of UNDP’s support to countries to eradicate poverty and inequality, attain sustainable development, and strengthen resilience to crisis. Core resources allow UNDP to enable coordinated, flexible, and rapid responses to development needs and emergencies; provide capability for multi-sectoral and integrated solutions; support countries to leverage financing for the SDGs; and enhance thought leadership, innovation, and quality assurance. We would therefore like to thank our partners at core:

Germany

United States

Japan

United Kingdom

Sweden

Norway

Switzerland

Canada

Denmark

Netherlands

UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Who we are and where we work Chiang Rai Chiang Mai Phayao Nan

Mae Hong Son Lampang

With its office in Bangkok, a lot of UNDP’s work takes place in Thailand’s capital. However, UNDP’s reach stretches far beyond Bangkok, with activities in many of the 77 provinces of Thailand to leave no one behind and address the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

Nong Khai

Loei Udon Thani

Tak

Kalasin Khon Kaen Maha Sarakham

Phetchabun Kampaengphet Uthai Thani Chainat

Nakhon Ratchasima Buriram Surin Sisaket

Kanchanaburi Nakhon Nayok Chachoengsao Chonburi Pattaya

Ratchaburi Sumut Sakhon Sumat Songkram Phetchaburi Prachuap Khiri Khan

Patum Thani Samut Prakarn Bangkok Nonthaburi

Ko Tao Ranong

Ko samui Surat Thani

Phang-Nga Phuket Krabi

Nakhon Si Thammarat Phatthalung

Trang

Songkhla Pattani

Satun Yala

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

Narathiwat

UNDP Thailand team

©UNDP

UNDP Thailand Team as of 31 December 2020 The UNDP Thailand team consists of 53 staff members; 49 are Thai nationals and 4 are from other countries: France, Mauritius, Norway, and Sweden. Out of the 53 staff members, 37 are women, 10 men and 6 are LGBTI. The academic and professional background of the team includes communications, government affairs, law, international development, social and political science, business, environmental science, forestry, providing a wide range of skills and expertise to support the implementation of the UNDP Programme.

53 Total

International staff

National staff

37 Women 10 Men 6 LGBTI UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

List of acronyms ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

BIOFIN

Biodiversity Finance Initiative

CAC

Coalition Against Corruption

CSO

Civil Society Organization

ESG

Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance

FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FRF

Financial Reporting Network

GCF

Green Climate Fund

GEF

Global Environment Facility

GEF SGP

Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme

GESI

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

GHG

Greenhouse Gas

GYBN

Global Youth Biodiversity Network

HDI

Human Development Index

IUCN

International Union for Conservation of Nature

INFF

Integrated National Financing Framework

IWT

Illegal Wildlife Trade

LGBTI

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex

MoNRE

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

MOPH

Ministry of Public Health

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

NCD

Non-Communicable Diseases

NDC

Nationally Determined Contribution

NGO

Non-Governmental Organization

ONEP

Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning

RTG

Royal Thai Government

SDGs

Sustainable Development Goals

Thai PBS

Thai Public Broadcasting Service

United Nations

UN Women

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

UNCT

United Nations Country Team

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

UNICEF

United Nations Children’s Fund

UNITF

United Nations Interagency Task Force

UNFPA

United Nations Population Fund

UNGP

United Nations Guiding Principles

UNV

United Nations Volunteers

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • UNDP THAILAND

©UNDP

Renaud Meyer – Resident Representative Lovita Ramguttee – Deputy Resident Representative Kirke Kyander – Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor Reidun Gjerstad – SDG Advisor Nittaya Mek-aroonreung – Resource Management Associate Wadee Deeprawat- Communications and Outreach Specialist Sukuma Uttarak- Communications Assistant Nichakarn Kaveevorayan- Programme Associate Nick Maddock – Language Editor This report has been prepared with inputs from Programme Officers Project Managers and Project Communication Officers.

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UNDP THAILAND • ANNUAL REPORT 2020

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

THAILAND

12th Floor United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue Bangkok 10200, Thailand Email: undp.thailand@undp.org | Tel: +66 2 288 3350 UNDPThailand

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