1. Baan Mankong Collective Housing Program
Launched in 2003, the program aims at solving housing and land insecurity of slum dwellers on a city-wide scale. The process involves slum surveys, community plans and designs, infrastructure improvement subsidy, and housing and land loans. The cabinet has approved the target of 200,000 housing units to be upgraded by 2011. Throughout the process, community organizations and local authorities are encouraged to be the key driving forces in solving city-wide slums. As of December 2010 the program has been implemented in 274 cities benefiting about 91,758 families from 1,554 communities.(More detail at www.codi.or.th/housing/)
2. Community Welfare
CODI began supporting provincial elderly funds in 2002 and sub-district welfare funds in 2005. Presently, CODI encourages each sub-district to set up a community welfare fund in order to provide fundamental care for its members. Contributions to the funds come from community members, local administrative offices, and the government. At present, more than 3,500 sub-district welfare funds have been established. It is anticipated that by 2012 every sub-district/municipality in the country will have its own welfare fund.
3. Land and Housing Issues in Rural Areas
Since 2004, CODI has supported communities that are finding solutions for land and housing insecurity in rural areas. Data collection, surveys, and map-drawings are carried out by rural communities themselves, with assistance from CODI and relevant authorities. Some communities have been successful in redesigning and rebuilding their own communities, through the Rural Baan Mankong Program. Presently, the solving of over 500 cases is underway.
4. Community Master Plan
Since 2003, community networks across the country have begun data collection on household economic and social conditions. Based on such statistics, community organizations are encouraged to create community master plans that address issues on a sub-district level. The plan is an important tool for developing sustainable solutions, and outlining a long term strategy for community networks in the area.
5. Developmental Credit Facility
CODI offers credit facility to community organizations and networks for further development and problem solving in accordance with community master plan. For example, housing loans are available to solve housing insecurity problem in urban areas through the Baan Mankong Program. Meanwhile, loans for holistic development and for community enterprises are meant to serve the need for economic and financial improvement. As of September 2009, CODI has extended loans to 657 community organizations comprising 375,382 families in 4,305 communities.
6. Community Organizations Certification
CODI has begun registering and certifying community organizations across the country. Classification based on quality and level of development would enable CODI and relevant authorities to monitor and continue supporting the capacity development of these organizations. Between 2005 and 2010, over 82,000 community organizations were certified.
7. Community Organizations Councils In accordance with the Community Organization Council Act 2008, CODI is mandated to assist in the formation of community organizations councils comprising representatives from community organizations at the sub-district level. The councils are the primary forum for discussions and policy development for strengthening local communities. About 2,100 councils were established between 2008 and 2010 which composed of approximately 42,000 community organizations.
8. Rehabilitation of Disaster Affected Communities Assistance is provided to communities affected by floods, storms, fires, mudslide, tsunami, eviction, etc. Communities are encouraged to be the primary actor in solving problems and making decisions on key issues such as temporary shelters, rehabilitation plan and disaster prevention measures.
9. Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Agriculture Community organizations/networks are encouraged to actively manage the surrounding environment, such as land, watershed, sea, lake and forests. CODI also promotes sustainable agriculture methods in order to conserve valuable natural resources.
10. Community Information System and Media
CODI supports community organizations to set up information centers containing useful economic and social information at sub-district and provincial levels. This information would be helpful for both local communities and relevant authorities in planning for social development assistance in the region. CODI also encourages community organizations to develop their communication tools through various channels such as community radio, websites, newsletters, etc.
11. Community Learning Centers
CODI supports the establishment of community learning centers as the primary source of knowledge sharing for development activities carried out by local communities. Learning centers are an important tool to expand the local community rehabilitation process as modern community development techniques are not available in conventional education. New community organizations benefit from learning about successful experiences.
12. Community Organization’s Good Management
CODI encourages community organizations to apply good management systems including self-audit, key performance indicator measurement, monitoring and assessment mechanisms. Transparency and efficiency should also be observed to ensure a quality organization.
13. Solving Land and Housing Issues in Southern Provinces
Since 2009, CODI has begun a project in five Southern border provinces to solve land and housing issues through local community participation. Some areas in these provinces (Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun) are known to be sensitive with constant eruptions of conflicts and violence relating to religious and political beliefs. A large proportion of population in these provinces is Muslims. CODI will carry out housing upgrade for 37,000 poor families in 1,176 villages and solving of about 20 cases of land disputes.
14. Community Economic and Capital Development
CODI supports the strengthening of local capital system by means of linking existing community funds together so that overall picture of household debts are clearly seen and dealt with more efficiently. In addition, CODI also supports community-based financial organizations to improve their management skills in solving debt burden and stimulating development of local economy. Between 2009 to March 2010, about 256 sub-districts were supported by CODI in solving their debt problems through community-based financial organizations.
15. Civil Society Support
CODI also supports the work of NGOs, charities, and volunteers that strengthen communities and improving living conditions for local societies.