Posted June 2001

Country Thematic Groups

The Group is chaired by FAO and is co-chaired by ILO, UNDP and ESCAP. At the end of 2000, the Group - known as TWG-PARF - agreed to pursue joint interventions for decentralization and development at the tambon ('village') level in the Mae Chan district of northern Thailand. In efforts to start formulating joint UN activities in the area, a three-day fact-finding mission involving FAO, UNDP, UNICEF and ESCAP was undertaken there to collect information on poverty alleviation efforts and best practices. Participatory consultations were held with district, sub-district level government officials, resource persons from Chiang Mai University and village representations.

The ensuing TWG-PARF Mission Report - endorsed by UN member agencies - highlights concrete examples of short- and long-term joint activities that could be undertaken in four key areas, namely: income generation and agriculture; institutions and governance; human poverty; and environment and natural resource management. The target groups would include hill tribes, ethnic people, landless farmers, HIV/AIDS victims (particularly orphans), women and youth.

Importantly, the Report proposes joint follow-up activities to be shared with the 10 other Theme Groups in the country, in order to facilitate their planning of collaborative activities.

The TWG-PARF now plans to recruit a consultant to prepare small, field-level project proposals - as well as to implement the empowerment of farmer groups and institution building in Northern Thailand - in line with the joint activities recommended in the mission report.

For further information, contact: FAO-THA@field.fao.org