Quarterly Progress Report

2/2016 April- June 2016

Southern Empowerment and

Participation Phase II

UNDP-JAPAN Partnership Fund

Quarterly Progress Report STEP II PROJECT Southern Thailand Empowerment and Participation Phase II April-June 2016

1 Basic Project Information Project Title: UNDP Project ID 00090901 Project Duration 3 years (January 2015-December 2017) Reporting Period January-June 2016 Total Approved Project Budget 825,740 USD Participating UN agencies - Implementing Partners/ Prince of Songkla University, Southern Border National collaborating agencies Provinces Administration Centre. Office of the National Security Council, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior International collaborating agencies - Donors CPR/TTF (Conflict Prevention and Recovery) JAPAN-UNDP Partnership Fund TRAC 1.1.3 UNDP Contact officer 1. Wisoot Tantinan, Programme Specialist 2.Naruedee Janthasing, Senior Project Manager Project website http://step.psu.ac.th/

2. Executive Summary

Addition to the eight local communities provided with small grants for livelihood improvement in 2015, this second quarter, the Small Grant Committee meeting additionally approved four projects: (1) Project on Bio-diesel for People with Disabilities in Yala; (2) Project on “Economic Empowerment for Conflict-affected Women in Gujingluepa” in Narathiwat; (3) Project on “Economic Empowerment for Po-Ming Conflict-affected Women”, Pattani, and (4) Mussel Farming for Fishermen, Pattani.

3. Key Results

From 1 April to 30 June 2016, the key results were produced based on the following three outputs of the STEP II Project:

Output 1: Participation in peace processes are broadened through strengthened capacity of local peace networks and better access to information.

1. Local media development

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1.1 Local Media Networking A media network meeting on “How to Cooperatively Develop Maleyu Media for Peace” was co-organised on 31 May 2016 at Rajapark Institute, Sateng, Yala, by IPS, the Melayu Language Institution of Thailand, and SBPAC with the aim to (1) strengthen local media networks in the three southernmost provinces and ; (2) create diverse channels of interactive communication; and (3) promote the participatory approach to media development for peace building and the preservation of the local Melayu dialect. The local media networks agreed that Melayu could be better promoted and widely used in media outlets through a variety of programs, e.g. news, poems, and cartoons. This meeting was a space for publicizing the networks’ activities and discussing how to strengthen cooperation among Melayu networks to develop the Melayu language for sufficient communication and usage in the media and to exchange information for promoting peace.

1.2 On-line media From April-June 2016, IPS and DSJ have translated totally 104 pieces of articles and news regarding peace into Maleyu to be disseminated through various channels including 12 pieces on websites, 41 pieces in Patani Mingguan Newsletter, 63 pieces in Sinara Newspaper.

1.3 Publications: o Melayu newspaper “Sinaran” and Melayu Newsletter “Patani Mingguan” The IPS supported the production of 24 Patani Mingguan newsletters (biweekly) that were sent to 170 recipients and 6 Sinaran newspapers (bimonthly) in Melayu were produced with a total of 1,000 copies distributed by post and at events to 523 individuals and 184 organizations. The newsletters were also posted on http://www.deepsouthwatch.org/node/3831. These two publications helped link local peace networks to target groups in the southernmost provinces, such as religious schools (Pondok and Tadika schools) where Melayu is mainly used. These media outlets paved the way for local people to gain better access to information and build a basis for people’s involvement in future peace processes.

2. Academic Learning Centers on Community Peace (Safety Net: Kampong Damai)

Afetr having established three Academic Learning Center on Community Peace-the fiorst one at Palukasamor sub-, Bacho district, Narathiwat province; the second at Bacho sub-district, Bannang Sata district, , ;and the third one at Tha Kamcham sub-district, , - three courses were taught in the three Community Peace Academic Learning Centers (Kampong Damai) as follows: o The course on Metal Treatment and the Women’s Role in Peace Building at Kampong Damai Pattani, taught by a researcher from the Princess Galayani Vadhana Institute for Cultural Studies, Pattani, on 17 June 2016. o The course on Islamic Human Rights at Kampong Damai Yala, taught by the General Secretary of Islamic Culture for Development Center (PUKIS), on 17 June 2016.

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o The course on Islamic Human Rights at Kampong Damai Narathiwat, taught by the General Secretary of Islamic Culture for Development Center (PUKIS), on 18 June 2016.

3. Research on Peace Communication Process in the Deep South The Institute for Peace Studies has conducted a research to evaluate the understanding and participation in peace process of local people, students, and other beneficiaries in the Deep South, who have participate in the Output I’s activities. IPS will collect information from the beneficiaries by using pre-test and post-test method. The first information collecting was from 18 local leaders who participated in the training on Local Leader and Positive Peace Dialogue. The test result of the first group showed that after the training their understanding in peace process is increasing and they have regularly participated in peace movement and networked with other peace groups.

Output 2: Vulnerable groups empowered to access justice with support of key institutions and networks.

1. Access to Justice The Heart Support Group (Duay Jai), an NGO located in Songkhla working to empower families (Women and children) of detainees charged of national security offences in the Deep South, was granted to run a sub-project to promote justice in the Deep South and make justice accessible for all with special focus on detainees and their families. The families of detainees have trouble finding accessible legal service or representation through the justice system. They need to be empowered to take advantage of these basic services to which they are entitled. This sub- project aims to provide legal aid to the detainees through capacity-building activities and support the detainees’ families through various activities including family visits. The beneficiaries are 200 national security offense prisoners in Central Prison in Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, 50 former national security offense prisoners, and 50 members of national security offense prisoners’ family.

From April to June 2016, the following activities had been organised:  Family/House visits: The Heart Support Group had visited more than 50 families of conflict-affected persons including families of former prisoners, families of prisoners, families of suspects, families of persons who lose their life from the conflict, and families of authorities affected by conflict officer, to provide them with the knowledge of justice system and legal service.  Capacity Building activities: Prisoners charged with an offense under national security act in five prisons in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Na Thawi district of Songkhla were provided with knowledge and skill regarding justice, human rights, legal system, and other necessary information. More than 150 prisoners learned about justice system and their rights to access justice and legal aid.  Inter-family Meetings: Common space was set as a platform for prisoners’ family to learn and share experience. Legal services were also provided to family members.

Output 3: Local communities more resilient, with stronger social cohesion, through the improvement of livelihoods.

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1. Small Grants for Livelihood Improvement The following eight local community groups from three southernmost provinces (Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat) have started their project in January 2016:

1) Project on “Production of Kolae Boat Model–a traditional wooden boat souvenir”, Datoh village, Laem Pho sub-district, , Pattani.

2) Project on “Roasted Coconut”,Thienya village, Thienya sub-district, Yaring district, Pattani.

3) Project on “Palm Sugar Development”, Ban Thung and Ban Huakhlong, Panareh district, Pattani.

4) Project on “Sustainable Waste Management”, Laem Pho sub-district, Yaring District, Pattani.

5) Project on “Meat Goat Raising” Paka Harang, Muang Pattani, Pattani.

6) Project on “Dried Fish Crackers and fresh fish Cracker”, Na Pradu sub- district, , Pattani.

7) Project on “Development of Prepared/Preserved Garcinia”, Sai-Khao Sub- district, Khok Pho district, Pattani.

8) Project on “Energy Saving Oven Production”, Lochut sub-district, Waeng district, Narathiwat.

9) Yala Bio-diesel Community Enterprise for People with Disabilities: Lam Mai sub-district, Muang District, Yala. The Yala Bio-diesel Community Enterprise was established since 2009 with the concern of environment and the awareness of energy crisis. Bio-diesel is an alternative energy which helps save energy and also preserves the environment by recycling used cooking oil. Households or restaurants will likely not throw used cooking oils in inappropriate places/ways. A small Bio-diesel manufactory run by the Yala- Biodiesel Community Enterprise provides an opportunity to its members to use bio-diesel for their diesel vehicles as alternative energy. Even though Bio- diesel is not widespread used, it will be more useful and widespread accepted when energy and environmental crisis emerge and when diesel is in short supply or its price is high.

The Yala Bio-diesel Community Enterprise has 167 member including 20 people with disabilities (PWDs) who earn for living by buying used cooking oil from households and restaurants and sell it to Yala Bio-diesel Community Enterprise with some profit. 20 PWDs earn approximately 500-1,000 Baht/month depending on the capacity of buying used cooking oil. Some do not have enough money to buy much used cooking oil and some do not have appropriate containers. The most important factor is that, as they are disabled, they encounter difficulty in going around to buy the used cooking oil. These factors affect their income and then impact on their quality of life.

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10) The Project on “Economic Empowerment for Gujingluepa Conflict- affected Women”: Gujingluepa village, Chalerm sub-distrcit, Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat. A group of women called ‘Muslima KL group’ expects that their group and other villagers will be more secure in term of economic security in the environment of life insecurity in the Deep South. Gujingluepa village become well-known from the abduction of an idealistic teacher, who left her native North to teach children in the South and died in 2007 after abducted and beaten by some villagers. Since then Gujingluepa is considered a dangerous area and people in the area has been in fear and encounter difficulties of living, which affects their livelihood and well-being.

A group of conflict-affected women from Gujingluepa with 15 members has been selected in December 2015 for small grants. The group planned to produce various products for instance donuts, fish crackers, and hot-pressed coconut oil, by using raw materials in the community. As some members of the group were victims of violence and some have lived in violence for a long time in the high conflict area, they have put their effort to play an important role in participating in peace platform conducted by Network of Civic Women for Peace (NCWP). Therefore, they considered themselves a women peace builder group that can be part of peace building and have tried to use the word “eatable peace” to introduce their group and their products.

11) The Project on “Economic Empowerment for Po-Ming Conflict-affected Women”: Po-Ming sub-district, Panareh district, Pattani. Pho Ming sub- district is one of the “red zone” areas (considered by the military to be under the sway of armed Islamic separatists). Several violent incidents, clashes, and arrests of suspected insurgents have taken place in this area. Most villagers make a living by growing rice and other crops, such as palms, coconuts and beans. The cross-village project will be undertaken to help foster social cohesion between Buddhists and Muslims in one of the most contentious areas. A group of conflict-affected women from Po-Ming sub-district who have regularly participated in peace platforms conducted by Network of Civic Women for Peace (NCWP), showed their interest in running a community enterprise to develop their quality of life and to help people in their village for the better life.

“Warnita” is the name of a women group with 15 members implementing the project. The composition of this group exclusively features conflict-affected Muslim women. Several of the group members have been widowed as a result of violence in the Deep South, while others have been forced to become the primary income-generating source in their families due to the incarceration of their husbands. The group members would like to enhance their quality of life and expect the project will assist in improving their livelihood. As Po-Ming is has an abundance of coconut trees, the group will primarily create products from coconuts. The Warnita Group has endeavored to create a more diversified product line than any of STEP’s other small grants beneficiaries. Among the many goods offered are roasted coconut, coconut dessert balls, packaged locally produced rice, and potato chips. The project’s manufacturing

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site is small but sufficient for the scale of operations at present. Coconut grinding and roasting are performed beneath an overhang of the factory.

12. Mussel Farming for Fishermen: Pattani Bay, Munag, Pattani. The project on Mussel Farming for fishermen was newly established by a group of fishermen supported by a group of researchers from Fisheries Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, PSU, Pattani Campus with membership of 20 fishermen. The project is developed from a mussel demonstration farm, which is a model on participatory and sustainable coastal natural resource management in Pattani Bay of STEP phase I. Most of the members were volunteering fishermen who participated in activities to strengthen capacity and knowledge on raising mussels in demonstration farms.

As there is a high demand for mussels in the market because the numbers of mussel farms remain limited in Thailand, the project will help increase income of Pattani Bay Fishermen and increase food security as well as the number of aquatic resources in the area where the fishermen will also directly benefited from the increasing number of marine resources. Other villagers or fishermen who are interested in mussel farm can involve in this project and take this as their main job or a sideline.

2. Social Capital Survey

After the three potential sub-district Administrative organisations including (1) Takae sub-district in Yaring district, Pattani (2) Pho Ming sub-district in , Pattani, and (3) Napradu sub-district in Kok Pho district, Pattani, were selected to cooperatively conducted a social capital survey in their sub-district with King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI) in order to find value, natural resources, and folk wisdom in communities to devise a development plan for government agencies and will help strengthen local governments by public participation through the process of social capital-based development-plan preparation. It will also showcase the process of development planning and budget preparation based upon public participation and a working-capital paradigm, defining and explaining the concept of “working capital”, displaying the methods whereby to identify working capital and how to produce a community’s ground diagram, utilizing the working capital with respect to preparing the plan, and following up with and evaluating the development plan.

The activities were undertaken during April – June 2016 was: o A lessons-learned meeting with social innovators in each area as a means to monitor and evaluate their activities on 26 May, 7 June and 8 June 2016.

4. Project Management and Monitoring

All activities were implemented as planned. STEP II project team members who have been assigned to be responsible each group of activities closely followed up with the implementing partners to ensure that they were delivery their sub-projects in a timely manner. Routine activities and special tasks were delegated to team members equally base on their knowledge and skills.

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The implementation of activities were regularly monitored by the STEP II Project Management Unit through weekly updates, monthly team meetings, quarterly partnership meeting, and project site visits.

5. Risks/ Constraints/Mitigation Measures

The ongoing violence sometimes caused the delay of activities implementation and limited project site visits. Project sites in the red zone were not be easily accessible and it was a little difficult to have the activities monitored regularly. To address the issue of inability and difficulty of access to project sites in the red zone or ongoing conflict areas, the Project Management Unit tried to facilitate meetings for all beneficiaries and stakeholders from different areas for reporting.

6. Financial Management

From 1 April to 30 June 2016, USD 50,588.09 was disbursed as per outputs as follows.

Budget Summary (USD$) As of June 2016 Funding Source (USD$)

CPR TTF JP/UNDP Total Output Fund Code: 26921 Fund (USD$) Code:32045

Output 1: Participation in - 12,853.10 12,853.10 peace processes through capacity building and better access to information Output 2: Empowerment of - 8,136.07 8,136.07 vulnerable groups to access to justice

Output 3: Social cohesion - 12,192.17 12,192.17 through the improvemnet of local communities’ livelihood Output 4: Project 13,884.77 3,521.98 17,406.75 Monitoring and Managemnet Expenditure of Q2/2016 13,884.77 36,703.32 50,588.09

7. Key Expected Outputs in the Next Quarter

 The four newly selected local community groups will speedily develop their livelihood improvement projects will be connected with the eight previously selected groups to build a strong network of livelihood improvement projects.

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