SUCCESS

10 March 2020
On the 10th of March 2020, the EU Delegation Thailand organised and hosted a kick-off meeting for the new grant contract beneficiaries under the CSO programme. Dr Wijarn Simachaya, the president of TEI, along with Dr Pakamas Thinphanga, the director of SUCCESS project funded by the EU under this programme, attended the meeting with team.

Welcomed and opened by H.E. Mr. Pirkka Tapiola, Ambassador of the European Union to the Kingdom of Thailand, the event began with understanding the EU’s priority issues on climate change, promoting good governance, equitable employment and education, digital strategies and migration partnership. The EU strongly prioritises gender issues and inequalities and contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender inequalities were discussed, and a speech was given by H.E. Mrs. Satu Suikkari-Kleven, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Thailand.
 
The meeting provided an opportunity for new implementing partners to familiarise with rules and regulations of the EU grant contracts, reporting requirements, financial and contractual issues, and communication and visibility expectations. In addition, the new partners were also introduced across the EU funded projects forming a network for collaboration as well as getting to know the EU Delegation Thailand team who are responsible for grant management and administration.

4 March 2020
On the 4th of March 2020, the SUCCESS project team from Maastricht University, Songkhla Community Foundation (SCF) and Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) visited ‘Urban Farming’ sites. The initiative of urban farming, led by SCF, began during the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network project (ACCCRN, led by Dr Pakamas and her team at TEI) to support urban communities to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit, through training and capacity building. K. Charkrit and his team at SCF and local networks, have developed a local food production system linking to consumers such as hospitals and local markets. Through engagement of SCF, urban farming and networks of farmers and consumers continue to grow. Increasing local farming in the urban region of Hat Yai is addressing food security and healthy eating challenges faced by urban communities, creating more green space to mitigate climate impacts, and generating addition income for small holders and landowners. In addition, a number of urban farming locations have become learning and training sites demonstrating different farming approaches for students, youth groups and local communities.

On the same day in the afternoon, SCF and TEI visited and met with the urban poor community in Songkhla, consisting of several communities residing in informal settlements in Sub-district Boryang. The meeting with community leaders, who were all women, provided a great opportunity for SUCCESS project team, led by Dr Pakamas, to learn and understand the implications of urban economic and infrastructure development, social vulnerability and socio-economic challenges faced by the urban poor and marginalised community groups. In addition, SCF also introduced SUCCESS project and invited the women to join by setting up a Working Group to participate in training and learning activities.

2 March 2020
A meeting was held at the office of Center for Civil Society and Nonprofit Management (CSNM), Khon Kaen University, on 2 March 2020 for SUCCESS project, supported by the European Union, between the implementing partners, Dr Buapun and his team of CSNM, Dr Hans Aarts of Maastricht University, a member of National Advisory Committee, Dr Yanyong from Mahasarakham University, and Thailand Environment Institute, led by Dr Pakamas. The meeting was to introduce the implementing partners and discuss project strategic plans and activities, particularly the role and available resources of Maastricht University to support the project partners and local multi-stakeholders in the Northeast.
 
3 March 2020
A meeting was held at the office of Songkhla Community Foundation (SCF) on 3 March 2020 for SUCCESS project, supported by the European Union, between the implementing partners, Khun Charkrit and his team of SCF, Dr Hans Aarts of Maastricht University, and Thailand Environment Institute, led by Dr Pakamas. The meeting was to introduce the implementing partners and discuss project strategic plans and activities, particularly the role and available resources of Maastricht University to support the project partners and local multi-stakeholders in the South.

26 Feb 2020 – SUCCESS project team from TEI, led by Dr Pakamas, met with local urban actors in Khon Kaen, Friends of the Homeless Office and Regional Office of Community Organisations Development Institute (CODI). The meetings were to introduce the project and implementing partners, learn more from the organisations working directly with local communities, and discuss emerging challenges faced by vulnerable, marginalised, and urban poor community groups as Khon Kaen is rapidly urbanising. The urbanisation process is being driven by large-scale infrastructure projects from both national-level policy and local-level business groups. The team discussed what activities under SUCCESS and tools to support and address needs of local civil society. (SUCCESS project is funded by the European Union)
 
 
27 Feb 2020 – SUCCESS project team from TEI, led by Dr Pakamas, visited Udon Thani and met with key urban actors from the civil society and academia sectors, Madee and Rajabhat Udon Thani, respectively. The meetings were to introduce the project and implementing partners, learn from the local actors engaging with urban communities, including young creative and professional generations, and discuss emerging socio-economic challenges

The first Urban Dialogue, organised by the SUCCESS project, held in Khon Kaen

25 Feb 2020 – The first Urban Dialogue to discuss and share issues, challenges or solutions on the topics of urbanisation, urban land use planning, urban economic and infrastructure development, and disaster preparedness was held at Khon Kaen University, co-organised by CSNM and TEI, under SUCCESS project, funded by the European Union. Dr Buapun, Director of CSNM and his team led and moderated the dialogue with key participants from local civil society organisations and municipalities. Both CSOs and high-level municipality officials shared and discussed their recent experiences in urban and infrastructure development in Khon Kaen City, urban planning in Tha Pra, and flood disaster issues in Ban Phai. Dr Wijarn Simachaya, the president of TEI, also attended the Urban Dialogue and provided an overview of TEI’s missions and support of the project. The event was well received by the participants who collectively suggested having ‘space for dialogue’ would be critical for inclusive urban and economic development and to contribute to informed decision-making processes. CSNM and TEI team agree on regular Urban Dialogue and will plan the next two meetings in Udon Thani and Nong Khai.