Thailand is a constitutional monarchy that has undergone a number of governmental changes during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, including periods of upheaval and military rule. At the time of ICMA’s first involvement, the Thai national government was in the midst of a major decentralization effort that would empower local communities to deal with a myriad of issues formerly reserved for the national government. ICMA worked with several cities that sought to improve local financial management and citizen participation to better respond to the challenges of decentralization and redevelopment.
In addition to facilitating city-to-city partnerships between Thai cities and their U.S. counterparts, ICMA has served local government professionals in Thailand by offering exchange opportunities and municipal finance certification.
The most recent ICMA project focuses on the impacts of climate change. Thailand is among the countries that are most vulnerable; increasing floods, typhoons, and rising sea levels have caused damage to the environment, the Asian population, and infrastructure.
ASEAN Cities Climate Change Project
Through ICMA’s CityLinks program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Chiang Rai, Thailand, is partnering with Cambridge, Massachusetts, to share climate change adaptation strategies designed to strengthen urban resiliency. The partnership, established in collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), creates peer-to-peer learning opportunities through interactive training, knowledge-sharing conferences, exchange trips, and virtual advice from climate specialists about developing climate-resilient approaches.
Legislative Process and Governance Professional Fellows Program
ICMA facilitated partnerships focused on the legislative process and governance to promote learning and knowledge exchange among professionals from China, New Zealand, and Thailand and their counterparts in the United States. While visiting U.S. host communities, Thai participants had an opportunity to work on a project or initiative that seeks to increase community engagement and resiliency, particularly as it relates to the role of women, minorities, and marginalized populations. They were also introduced to the local culture through home stays or visits, field trips, community events, and other experiences.
Municipal Finance Training Certification Program
ICMA developed and delivered an intensive course in municipal finance for East Asian and Southeast Asian officials in 2011, 2012, and 2013. The objective of the training, funded by the World Bank, was to increase the capacity of local governments to secure bond financing necessary for infrastructure improvement. ICMA partnered with the World Bank’s Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), an interactive videoconferencing system, which allowed participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam to attend sessions.
ICMA, in coordination with the United States–Asia Environmental Partnership, implemented a Resource Cities partnership between the cities of Rayong, Thailand, and Portland, Oregon. The partnership focused on financial management and the need to restore the Khod Por River Basin. Both components incorporated the need for greater inclusion and participation of the community. Citizen participation was gaining political significance in Thailand at both the national and local levels, and Thailand had implemented policies stressing the need for citizens to become involved in policy debate.
Chiang Mai/Khon Kaen/Phuket - Portland, Oregon
Another partnership, between Portland and the cities of Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, and Phuket, was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development under ICMA’s CityLinks program. The project sought to create a consortium of Thai cities to address common issues with support and feedback from citizens, nongovernmental organizations, educational institutions, and the private sector. The partner cities also addressed the redevelopment challenges facing each city and the need for improved sustainable environmental protection through the implementation of prudent financial management.
