The urban community environmental activities project and its environment fund in Thailand

This paper describes the work of an environment
fund set up to support community initiated and managed projects
within low-income settlements in urban areas throughout Thailand.
Drawing on a grant of US$ 1.3 million, over a two-year
period, the fund has supported 196 projects benefiting 41,000
families. Although managed by a Thai government agency (the
Urban Community Development Office) and with funds from the
Danish government agency, DANCED, the fund has allowed lowincome
communities to develop their own projects and manage
their implementation. It also encouraged inter-community exchanges
and, more generally, a strengthening of the capacity of
low-income communities to work together and negotiate and work
with external agencies.