Details
Thailand’s democratisation and decentralisation efforts have increasingly emphasised public participation in policy development. However, local communities across the country continue to face limitations in communicating their concerns, development needs, and solutions to national-level decision-makers. solutions to national-level decision-makers and legislative bodies are often slow, fragmented, and difficult to access for grassroots groups, civil society, and local administrative organisations.To address this gap, Promotion for Local Administration Foundation (PLAF) wishes to propose a Citizen Council, which has been established with 250-275 representatives from all provinces, drawn from civil society, academia, and local administrative organisations. The Council serves as a structured platform for citizen voices to be consolidated, deliberated, and communicated directly to government bodies and legislative institutions.
To effectively use the Citizen Council as a national mechanism for civic education and policy development, PLAF, with support from Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Thailand, is implementing this project to enhance civic knowledge and citizen engagement in public policymaking. Through a series of provincial workshops and a national convention in Bangkok, the project provides a platform for capacity-building, participatory consultation, and evidence-based policy formulation. Outcomes from these activities will be synthesised policy recommendations or draft legislation, submitted to relevant government agencies and parliamentary committees.
This first provincial workshop serves as a participatory platform for stakeholders to discuss and develop policy recommendations on enhancing “food security” in Thailand. Through dialogue and collaborative deliberation, participants will contribute their perspectives and expertise towards shaping a Draft Food Security Act, which seeks to strengthen the country's long-term food security framework through legislative measures.
Programm
26 June 2026
08:30–09:00 Registration and document distribution
09:00–09:15 Welcome remarks and introduction to the seminar objectives
- Prof. Dr. Kowit Puangngam, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Political Inclusion, King Prajadhipok's Institute
09:15–09:30 Opening remarks: The importance of citizen participation in advancing public policy towards the legislative process
- Representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Thailand
09:30–10:30 Citizen participation and civic politics development centers in advancing public policy (Food Security)
- Prof. Dr. Kowit Puangngam, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Political Inclusion, King Prajadhipok's Institute
10:30–10:45 Coffee Break
10:45–12:00 Panel Discussion: Approaches to strengthening Food Security
- Chairperson of the Centre for Civil Society Political Development, Sakon Nakhon Province
- Chairperson of the Centre for Civil Society Political Development, Bueng Kan Province
- Moderator: Prof. Dr. Kowit Puangngam, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Political Inclusion, King Prajadhipok's Institute
12:00–13:00 Lunch Break
13:00–14:30 Breakout Group Discussions on approaches to strengthening Food Security (5 groups)
14:30–16:00 Presentation of Group Discussion Results (5 groups)
- Facilitators: Prof. Dr. Kowit Puangngam and team
27 June 2026
09:00–10:30 Discussion: The legislative process and the development of a Draft Food Security Act
- Prof. Dr. Kowit Puangngam, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Political Inclusion, King Prajadhipok's Institute
- Mr. Prapatpong Preecha, Board Member and Secretary of the Centre for Civil Society Political Development, Nakhon Phanom Province
10:30–10:45 Coffee Break
10:45–12:00 Presentation and discussion on the development of a Draft Food Security Act
- Prof. Dr. Kowit Puangngam, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Political Inclusion, King Prajadhipok's Institute
12:00–13:00 Lunch Break
13:00–14:00 Seminar summary and closing session
- Prof. Dr. Kowit Puangngam, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Political Inclusion, King Prajadhipok's Institute