BANGKOK, 2 December 2020 – UNDP Thailand and the Citi Foundation launched a comprehensive program to strengthen community micro-entrepreneurship and localize social incubation in Thailand’s southern border provinces targeting most vulnerable groups affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Program will include needs and capacity assessments, a series of capacity building activities for community enterprises, community groups, and local incubators in view of empowering those affected by the pandemic, low-income households, youth, and unemployed men and women.  It will also provide business incubation advisory and in-kind support for each community group to start or develop their own viable and sustainable community enterprises at grassroots-level, thereby contributing to  the economic recovery of the region.

With the “leave no one behind” principle at the heart of the initiative, a six-month monitoring mechanism and indicators will be jointly created by UNDP, social impact assessment experts, and the Business Incubation Center, Prince of Songkhla University Science Park (PSUSP-BIC) – a leading business development facility in the southern region of Thailand. This will ensure positive impact beyond the community enterprises and benefit community members at large by using theory of change, gender markers, and inclusivity lens.

Years of violence in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat have taken their toll on the economy. As a result, people face difficulties accessing economic opportunities and each community faces its own set of challenges. Emergency job creation, income generation, and social safety nets are urgently needed to ensure stronger stability and social cohesion.  

“We are pleased to partner with the Citi Foundation on this important initiative. COVID-19 has further revealed how the three provinces are vulnerable to social and economic challenges,“ said Renaud Meyer, Resident Representative of UNDP Thailand. 

The program adopts a ‘social innovation and entrepreneurial approach’ in order to tackle challenges that are increasingly complex, interrelated, and unpredictable aiming to solve today's most pressing socio economic issues at community level. 

Tibor Pandi, Country Head and Citi Country Officer, Citi Thailand and the representative of Citi Foundation adds that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire world, especially for vulnerable groups. To address this issue, the Citi Foundation launched a fund called “COVID-19 Relief“ to empower those in affected communities and help them develop their own resilience mechanisms, rebuild and protect development gains. The program is a collaborative effort of local governments, community members, civic leaders, and academic institutions to enhance livelihood opportunities for local communities. 

For Thai version, please view here. 

Workshop to strengthen community micro-entrepreneurship and localize social incubation in Thailand’s southern border provinces,which took place in Pattani, Thailand from 29 November - 1 December 2020.

For more information, please contact

UNDP Thailand

Ms. Apichaya O-In

Project Manager – Social Cohesion for SDGs in Southern Border Provinces

Email: Apichaya.o-in@undp.org

Mobile: +66 (0) 85887 2707

Citi Foundation

Wanvisa Komindr

Corporate Affairs and Citizenship, Citibank, N.A

Email: wanvisa.komindr@citi.com

Mobile: +66 2079 3251

----

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. It is working with network of experts and partners in over 170 countries to create sustainable integrated solutions for people and the world.

Learn more at th.undp.org and Twitter / Facebook: @UNDPThailand.