EXPANDING COMMUNITY APPROACHES IN SOUTHERN THAILAND | KM NOTE 9 Facilitating Community Driven Development in Con ict-Affected Deep South Background The con ict in the southernmost provinces of Thailand1 is the con ict within elitist class and the con ict of characterized by contestation and resistance to acquire community/society. When the national leadership supports political power at sub-national level. The three characteristics one particularly segment of local elite to assert political are (1) con ict between the State and ethnic minority and economic dominance over other elitist group, or vice groups, a struggle between the former ruling class within versa, the con ict within elitist ranks and con ict of the territory seeking to claim right to self-determination vis community/society can in turn intensify the vertical con ict a vis the existing State structure, (2) con ict within the between State and ethnic groups,as armed elements under elitist echelon in the area whereby local leaders the majority the command of local leaders or original leaders react to of whom belong to the same ethnic group contest for the State’s use of force to suppress them. dominance among their own ranks and (3) con ict of community/society in the form of tensions and violence among groups of different identity (ethnicity or faith), all h a p p e n i n g a t s u b - n a t i o n a l l ev e l . T h e s e t h r e e characteristics are interrelated. The vertical con ict between the State and ethnic minority group impacts 1 Facilitating Community Driven Development in Con ict-Affected Deep South Impacts of Insurgency on Development Work in the Area Include: Dealing with consequences of State-sponsored out of those killed and injured, 49.8 per cent are Buddhists, development which is largely driven by national security 47.2 per cent Muslims and 3 per cent others. About 49 imperative. As the State uses development as means to per cent of those attacked are classi ed as “soft target” reinforce its apparatus within the con ict-affected area, whereas 51 per cent belong to the “strong target” category.2 development work has not yielded the most crucial The active insurgency sti es development outcome of improving people’s quality of life, empowering atmosphere. It also dampens general enthusiasm to local community, and building trust between the local participate in development-related activities as both population and the State. In addition, this approach could development workers and village leaders alike feel unsafe, generate yet another longer-term impact of shaping and consciously trying their best to stay within the safe people’s attitude to become passive recipients anticipating sphere. For development workers having to do outreach external assistance. Some of the immediate work, they ought to adjust their travelling and active hours consequences include the fact that communities have of on location, avoiding travel or remaining onsite after become more fractured due to competition for bene ts dark. In violence-prone spots, development workers would accompanying the in ux of development projects rushed liaise closely with residents regarding their plans so the into the localities, in the void of accountability mechanism residents can look out for their safety ahead of entry into and sustainability. the site. At the same time, community leaders deliberately maintain a low pro le to mitigate any personal safety Threat to development workers’ safety. Given the threat, uncertain whether their active role and participation ambiguity in the motive of violence perpetration and the may antagonize individuals or interest groups. Insurgency unpredictability of attack and target, the general population has actually been exploited as a pretext to perpetrate many and development workers operating in the area are opportunistic attacks within the area. extremely concerned about their own safety. They go about their daily activities constantly on edge and taking extra precaution. The Deep South Watch which maintains an 1 incident data base counts 15,374 insurgency attacks The Contested Corners of Asia: Subnational Conflict and International between January 2004 to December 2015, killing 6,543 Development Assistance The Case of Southern Thailand, Adam Burke, Pauline Tweedie and Ora-orn Poocharoen, pp.3-4. (averaging 545 per year) and injuring 11,919 people 2 (averaging 993 per year). Data for 2015 alone show that Srisompob Jitpiromsri and Supaporn Panaspachee “Deep SouthIncident Database: Prologue to a Data System in support of Peace,” analysis of Deep South Incident Database year 2015, as at 31December 2015. Retrieved from http://www.deepsouthwatch.org/node/7942. 2 Lessons Learnt from Facilitators Working in multi-cultural setting requires an extra level Building the capacity for civic responsibility, skill and of caution and sensitivity. As con ict adds another layer collective learning so that community member s of challenge to the multi-cultural setting challenge, carrying understand one another better, and generate collective out development work in area of such nature has become work experience to carry on development tasks going even harder and more complicated. One must be extremely forward. careful in ensuring that development work does not get added into the existing mix of distrust and resentment Partnership and synergy with all other stakeholder entities among different groups of residents and stakeholders. The working in the area. This Note draws upon ndings from a Expanding Community Approaches in Con ict Situations in research into the role and experience of Facilitators in the Southernmost Provinces in Thailand (ECACS) aims to implementing Community-Driven Development work in build con dence and trust among people within community, con ict-affected deep south under ECACS project. The study among different communities within the deep south, and is intended to comprehend issues, identify challenges, and between community and local government agency in this how Facilitators adapt and adjust, as well as identifying region, through Community Driven Development, CDD. The key determinants in how Facilitators play their role in such key principles of CDD are: context. The aim is to nd ways to enhance and support their ability to do development work that is most Emphasis on participatory process. In order to establish appropriate and effective in this setting. Facilitators play a sense of ownership, community members participate in an instrumental role in view of the fact that CDD process every step of the way – from situation analysis, decision requires participation, opening up opportunity for all to take to choose a project through dialogue and as informed by part in the learning and implementing in order to strengthen evidence and knowledge, planning for implementation, the capacity of community leaders and empowering the project management, drawing lessons learnt and community. But within the vulnerable setting of the sustainability. southernmost provinces, the indigenous contexts socially and culturally are not conducive for a par ticipator y Equality, transparency, accountability and inclusiveness approach. Obedience to their natural leadership, gender of development outcome. To foster trust among community inequality and insurgency constitute factors inhibiting members, agencies and other stakeholder entities, support people’s participation. With safety as primary concern, is given directly to the community and sub-district for the everyone is wary of everyone else. This type of context community to have full autonomy in managing the project requires an individual to play the role of an agent to of their choice. stimulate participation, to foster mutual trust. And that individual must possess the quality of impartiality and competency to gain the acceptance of all sides. This study collects information from two sources: desk review of relevant documents and eld work involving structured in-depth interview with key informants and questionnaire on the capacity and self-assessment of facilitators. The key informants consist of (1) a total of 16 ECACS facilitators deployed across the provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, both experienced and new facilitators, women and men,3 and (2) ve individuals who play the role of supporting Facilitators’ work in ECACS sites and two veteran development workers from other development agencies. 3 The Piloting Community Approaches in Conflict Situations in the Southernmost Provinces in Thailand (CACS) Phase 1 was implemented from 2009-2013, and Phase 2 (ECACS) from 2013-2017. “Experienced facilitators” in the study are those working with the project from Phase 1 until now. “New facilitators” are those coming on board in Phase 2. 3 Facilitating Community Driven Development in Con ict-Affected Deep South LESSONS: WORKING AS COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT FACILITATOR IN CONFLICT-AFFECTED SOUTHERN BORDER PROVINCES Community-driven development work under CACS/ECACS fall inevitably into the scrutiny of both the State and groups has been impacted by the insurgency, in no different that think differently from the State. Until now, no violent manner than other development undertakings as outlined incident has happened to any Facilitator nor any village above. We nd that insurgency has no direct bearing upon project directly. This could indicate that CDD approach has the safety of individual Facilitators, nor signi cantly stalling manifested itself to some extent insofar as its clear emphasis progress of project activities. Rather, the ongoing on inclusive community participation and generating tangible insurgency has made participatory development more bene t to community members, as well as its impartiality dif cult to achieve. Facilitators have thus always been – not siding with the State nor with any particular group or grappling with the challenge of working in an environment party. The work has not sent any negative impact, or resulting featuring a web of intersecting conflicts. In studying the in those who think different from the State losing out on lessons and experience of how Facilitators adapt in the their mass support base. face of these circumstances, we take into account two key factors in uencing their work namely (1) con ict-affected How CDD Facilitators Prepare and Adapt context of the southernmost provinces and (2) internal factors within CACS/ECAS. Facilitators have done the following: Conduct stakeholder mapping in order to understand the 1. Area-specific contexts area, community leadership and relationship dynamics. are determinants pre-existing onsite that are beyond control and dif cult to manage. Nonetheless they have Make efforts to reduce the skepticism of and build trust implications on safety, trust,acceptance and efforts to among community members, by introducing themselves or encourage participation of community members. These locate a reference point in the form of someone from the determinants include the insurgency itself, con ict relating community, or individual whom the community knows and to local political interest, power, and a variety of vested trusts. Facilitators must maintain their impartiality, not to interests, vulnerability of multi-cultural setting. These create an impression among villagers that they side with deter minants give rise to the following issues. any particular party. They must communicate and dialogue with various groups onsite in particular religious leaders, 1.1 Insurgency and work safety. Sites of CACS/ECACS are Tadika teachers. Under no circumstance would Facilitators classi ed by the authority as “red zone,” prone to violence. discuss insurgency issue in order not to make villagers Facilitators are thus compelled to work in at-risk territories. nervous that they are in any way related to national security Development workers and activities in these territories agency. Facilitators must provide clarity to community 4 Lessons Learnt from Facilitators member s should they need to collect any interest groups. These con icts are endemic and only information deemed to be sensitive issues in the eye of intensi ed since the resurgence of violence which triggered the people. At the same time, self-identi cation and agency an in ux of development projects overwhelming the area. they work for ease the wariness on parts of the security Facilitators must be able to see through and keep up with apparatus onsite. (For instance, letters from the Project to these dynamics otherwise they would be scrutinised, or all agencies concerned at every level, carrying Facilitator’s unknowingly drawn into being a part of the conflict, which ID badge while working in the eld) could have serious repercussions. Be very careful when traveling in and out of work site. How CDD Facilitators Prepare and Adapt Safety precaution habits include avoid risky routes, avoid establishing a xed pattern or predictability of travel Upon nding themselves in the situation where endemic schedule, avoid visit or holding site activities on con ict impacts project activities, Facilitator s symbolically important dates relating to insurgency, engage the following measures. constantly monitor situation from accessible and reliable sources, and regularly checking and evaluating situation Communicating information, update of work progress with with local residents. The important point is that Facilitators all stakeholders onsite continually and at regular intervals, make efforts to establish good will with the local residents to avoid being perceived as particularly close to one side to cultivate familiarity and trust. Because Facilitators or others, or neglecting those who did not participate. And believe that villagers provide the best protection. In any where con icts actually arose, they would refrain from case, earning the trust and acceptance of the villagers expressing their opinion, or criticizing one side or others takes time and require concrete results from the work. with other community members in order to exclude Even though CACS/ECACS project and Facilitators have themselves from being part of the con ict. undertaken preparation and safety precaution, being from and having lived in the insurgency-affected area for a long Analysing the conflict, factors at play, and understanding time may at times create a false sense of overfamiliarity. relationship dynamics among different groups of people Therefore, the ECACS project must prioritise safety issues, to find entry point into resolving outstanding issues. For constantly driving it and internalizing it systematically. instance, they might nd a neutral party who is respected by both feuding sides to get them together for a dialogue 1.2. Conflict resulting from local political rivalry, power or to involve in Project activities. Another option is to nd play and vested interests. a space or activity where the con icting parties would Political con ict at community and locality level, along with normally do together naturally, and Facilitators would con ict of interests stemming from the fact that certain leaders may have bene ted from projects injected into the locality. These types of con ict impose the most palpable bearing upon CDD work, as they are the main factors undermining inter-community relations. Such political con icts spawn factionalism, refusal to cooperate despite the cause of public good. In some instances where the Projectorganized activity, if members of one faction attend, the others would not attend. There have also been attempts to lobby Facilitators to support the work of one side, while seeking to exclude the other. In certain areas, Facilitators were compelled to change the V illage Implementing Committee lineup, because cer tain personalities within VIC electioneered for a political party, and so risking rupturing the community trust and working relationship between the team and the rival party. Rivalry to stake ownership claim over the project in order to extend one’s own patronage to cronies is often related to factionalism of local political 5 “ Facilitating Community Driven Development in Con ict-Affected Deep South Story from the Field: A conflict between the Chief Executive of Sub-District Administrative Organisation versus the Sub-District Headman in Sub-District A has an impact on the level of participation in ECACS project work. If supporters of one side takepart, the other camp would not. In the face of this, the Facilitator evaluated the extent of how serious the con ict was,identi ed the factors in uencing it, and trying to identify a potential intermediary who holds sway equally on both sides. TheFacilitator concluded that there is not a single individual within the entire sub-district with enough stature either side would heed. The extent of the con ict is beyond the Facilitator’s individual capacity to deal with, because extending invitation to both sides to come join the project activity failed. The Facilitator could only go so far as managing exigencies in the form of making sure both sides turned up only in key project activities. Finally, an individual outside the sub-district in question with in uence over both con icting parties stepped in to invite both sides to join in Project activity. As it turned out, both sides agreed to participate in the Project meetings. use these as opportunities to engage, interact and share 1.3 Facilitating Community-Driven Development in information for them to understand the Project work. Conflict-affected, Multi-cultural Setting Under the circumstances of insurgency in which ethnicity and faith Right and appropriate timing to visit and follow up work have been used as pretexts to drive wedge between onsite through regular situational analysis. Due to the Buddhist and Muslim population, relationship tends to be perennial presence of factors that may ignite con ict, so fragile. Working in a multi-cultural setting can be sensitive as to avoid adding Project work into the mix of potential and delicate -- 11 out of 43 CDD sites are multi-cultural. fuel for the con ict, Facilitators must consider choosing Some are Buddhist-dominant communities whereas others the right timing to enter. For example, during election are Muslim-dominant. All CDD Facilitators are Muslims. season, Facilitators would not visit work site unless Challenges of working in multi-cultural setting include 1) absolutely necessary, because the leaders and villagers not having development perceived as aggravating the were preoccupied and in no mood for non-election matters. already pervasive sense of inequality of opportunity and Also they could easily be perceived as politically biased. distribution of bene ts to the minority groups living in the In addition, when problems arise, they may not step in to area, and 2) the role of Muslim Facilitators having to intervene straight away but they would rather wait for the operate in Buddhist-dominant communities and in mixed right timing to do so. Buddhist-Muslim communities. How do Facilitators learn and adapt in order to gain tr ust, acceptance and Even-handed allocation of role and responsibility for cooperation of the people? They have to be very adept and leaders and VIC members to play in an inclusive manner, attuned to feel any slightest change in sentiments of both aligned with their skill and interest. By opening up groups, given the pre-existing high level of suspicion. opportunity for all to be part of the VIC through consultation CDD Facilitators express concern of working in Buddhist and joint decision making process. And by allocating communities and in mixed Buddhist-Muslim communities, appropriate role in line with each leader’s competency. This due to their de ciency in understanding of the Buddhist is not to make factional leaders feel that the Facilitators thinking and way of life. But while working they have been are not impartial, or resenting that greater role has been trying their best to learn and adjust, to be accepted by the allocated to any particular faction. community. With regular interaction and engagement, they have grown to understand more about Buddhist way of life, Using religious faith as rallying point to solicit as well as better understanding each other’s concerns and cooperation. Facilitators believe that at the end of the day, constraints, leading to mutual adaptation on both ends. religion is the core value that everybody upholds in common. In the advent where a Facilitator was inevitably How Facilitators conduct themselves and the way they seen as being part of the con ict, one of the colleagues work are therefore crucial factors. This code of practice from other site, or the Project representative would be includes regular communication of information and deployed as temporary substitute subject to constant engagement to demonstrate sincerity and build trust. Trying evaluation of the situation. to engage all sides on board the work process, project activities, and making them part of the working group. 6 Lessons Learnt from Facilitators Choosing a common space where ever yone feels 2. Internal Factors within ECACS Project comfortable to step forth to participate and keeping in mind Against the backdrop of con ict nexus, overcoming the always inclusiveness of minority population. challenge of applying Community Driven Development approach to achieve its objectives, developing internal 1.4 Accessing vulnerable groups and those affected by the competencies to operate effectively within this environment insurgency. Until now, CDD process under ECACS has been is important. Among the key factors are 1) Facilitators. unable to reach out to engage certain vulnerable groups, Pertinent issues here include their competency, capacity, or people affected by the insurgency in sub-districts where drive, gender, being Insider and being Buddhist or Muslim; the project operates. The participatory nature of CDD and 2) project management factors consisting of work process requires substantive and dedicated voluntary process and project support mechanism. par ticipation to be par t of it. Yet for the vulnerable population groups, they are typically alienated from the Internal Factors community. Their living conditions are not conducive for stepping forth to participate. At the same time, data Competency-capacity of Facilitators. Key quali cations of collection exercises, or visitation of those affected by the Facilitator in con ict-affected deep south include (1) skill insurgency, especially for the so-called “ambiguous cases,” in knowledge management to induce participation, active remain sensitive undertaking in the eye of the national listening skill, being observant and inquisitive. (2) always security apparatus, or in the eye of those who think alert to learning new things. (3) understanding the area differently from the State. Or even from the point of view and contexts of the con ict. (4) impartiality. (5) the ability of the villagers themselves. Indirectly, Project activities to connect and communicate. Results of the study show related to community nancing, for example savings groups that the majority of Facilitators have adequate level of or community shops have generated cash ow at the local knowledge and skill, but they still lack the expertise. level, and these have bene ted the vulnerable marginalized Aspects that require capacity strengthening include segments within a community. (They stand to bene t from facilitation skill, grasping the con ict context, con ict the 2.5% withholding for sagat and from various forms of analysis and management, understanding the area, and dividend paid back to the community.) In sum, the ECACS the ability at community diagnosis, specialist knowledge project and Facilitators must comprehend and analyse on the substance of development projects at community conditions that form the contexts, in order to nd ways to and sub-district levels, and liaising with State agencies. reduce obstacles to the work and to position themselves on the ground as appropriate to the sensitive contexts. Drive. The majority of Facilitators are fresh graduates with Facilitators are able to help sorting out certain difference, relatively little experience in development work. Many of whereas in other issues, they can only acknowledge and them are still searching for their life’s goal, therefore be neutral observer without making any effort to intervene lacking in clarity of development perspective. Some new, because the con ict extent may be well beyond their inexperienced Facilitators upon facing problems or capacity to deal with, and any effort to intervene may dif culties of work procedure or external factors beyond back re. their control would feel dishear tened, and their commitment to participatory approach wavered. Most importantly, their drive and commitment are contingent upon concrete results borne out at the community level, that will serve as proof and foster mutual con dence between the Facilitators and the communities they work with. Gender. In con ict-affected, multicultural setting of the deep south, gender presents both oppor tunity and constraint to working as Facilitators. In the context of violence and local politics conflict, men are more at risk than women in terms of their safety. Because men are viewed as symbolizing violence, so they are subject to 7 Facilitating Community Driven Development in Con ict-Affected Deep South they should not be people from the very community or sub-district whose work they are responsible for. Because one critical element in playing the Facilitator’s role is impartiality. If a Facilitator is someone from that particular community or sub-district, the individual could automatically be regarded as from one particular side, or standing to inevitably bene t from the project activities. In addition, there are two more issues that challenge Facilitators working in sites where community members are of different faith than theirs. Two key elements here are understanding and adaptability, and managing distrust between Buddhists and Muslims resulting from the insurgency. Due to ongoing insurgency, Muslim distrust from both ends of the State and those who think Facilitators working in Buddhist communities must equip differently from the State. Men could also be seen as more themselves with understanding of socio-cultural contexts susceptible than women to political factionalism. and outlook of Buddhists. Despite having livedside by side In socio-cultural context of Muslims, women Facilitators for a very long time, the majority of them do not have a face more constraint and likely to gain less acceptance good understanding of each other’s cultural way. than men, in relations to working with leaders, religious leaders or using religious principles to explain or support Overall, the level of skills among Facilitators varies, the work. Moreover, there is the issue of mobility, working depending upon individuals’ work experience and their own hours and work space. Men Facilitators face less spatial drive to improve themselves. Consequently, the level of constraint than their women colleagues, as they are able ability to apply the knowledge from capacity development to access work sites at all time, and can make work-related and application of actual work experience to strengthen appointment anywhere. Women Facilitators may come their work also differs among individual Facilitators. Factors across constraints in access to work site, or holding meet- of being insider, Buddhist-Muslim, and gender ing in the evenings. Being women, families and communi- consideration are in uenced by the social context and ties would express extra concern for their well beings insurgency. Therefore recruitment of Facilitators must take should they have to travel late or stay late at work. Appoint- into account these two factors. ment spaces in mosque or tea shop pose barriers for women, because these spaces are culturally assigned as men’s sphere, and women’s entry is deemed inappropriate. In any case, most gender-related constraints can be overcome, as long as Facilitators prove themselves through their performance, by positioning themselves well, showing impartiality and commitment to be accepted by all sides present in the eld. Being insider and being Buddhist-Muslim. The three southern border provinces are clearly multi-cultural. The Malay Muslims constitute the majority population group with distinct identity and using their own language as main means of communication. At the same time, insurgency and violence continue. The choice of Facilitators still has to be “Insiders” of the three southernmost provinces, because they have the fundamental understanding of the local context and can communicate in Malayu language. Amidst pervasive mistrust, being Insiders means they can access and gain the trust of fellow insiders more easily than outsiders could. Still there is a point to keep in mind regarding implications of insider as facilitator – 8 Lessons Learnt from Facilitators Project Management Factors Recommendations: 1. Strengthening capacity in the area of knowledge and ECACS has a project management system that supports sharpening their skill as CDD Facilitators. This should be the work of Facilitators to some extent but it still falls far done continually and regularly, for skills like facilitation, short in the face of intense and uid challenges of working community diagnosis, specialist knowledge as applied to amidst nexus of multiple con icts. On the other hand, most development projects at community and sub-district levels, Facilitators have little work experience. Thus the issues understanding of the State’s bureaucratic, institutional that must be prioritized include the work ow design that framework as pertinent to the development work and allows for exibility, agility, and team work emphasis that issues at the community and sub-district, and skills involves learning on the job and instantaneous feedback necessar y to handle complex con ict such as loop for prompt improvement and adjustment in keeping understanding of con ict and con ict management, ability with the dynamics of the area. It is equally important to to evaluate situation and come up with appropriate have a system to support both technical aspects and the response. work ow – something along the line of a coaching system. Learning and sharing should take place among the Facilita- 2. Facilitators must adhere to the CDD principle and tors themselves, and learning from experience of their maintain impartiality at work. On the basis of understand- counterparts from other areas. Communications both inter- ing the situation and community relations dynamics, nally and externally need to be regular, along with lending Facilitators must constantly review where they stand and of moral boosters. how they are perceived by local residents. They must give importance to identifying neutral space where the majority Facilitators’ Need for Support of community members feel comfortable participating, Facilitators have identi ed their constraints and needs in taking into account other ambient factors including physical the following areas: 1) knowledge and competencies in conditions, multiculturalism, and political sensitivity of the facilitation skill, reinforcement of CDD principles and locality, in order to ensure inclusiveness. compliance, community diagnosis, specialist knowledge in the development projects at community and sub-district 3. Working in multi-cultural setting with pervasive levels, understanding of the bureaucracy and institutional distrust and sense of inequality, Facilitators should make arrangements as pertinent to their work in fostering effort to understand the different culture, lifestyle and cooperation, knowledge and understanding of con ict and thinking of residents from different faith, so that they con ict management skill. 2) broadening of their world understand and conduct themselves appropriately. This view regarding development work and enabling them to will help towin the acceptance and establish bond with see linkage with religious principles. 3) clear and residents more easily. At the same time, they should give consistent mechanism to support their work process. importance to opening up space for inclusive participation, For instance, on-the-job learning and sharing, a coaching while evenly distribute bene t to both Buddhists and system and working as a team. Muslims. They should always check the sentiments of the people of every group and stripe. In case of doubts, they must try seeking instant clari cation to prevent doubts spiraling into con ict. 9 Facilitating Community Driven Development in Con ict-Affected Deep South 4. Improving the work process and method of Facilitators. 5. Getting ready and prepared for Facilitators’ safety at This can be achieved through regular review of goals and work. The Project should institute a system to assess the CDD process with Facilitators every once in a while, and situation prior to and during Facilitators’ work onsite to equipping them with tools to help them understand the mitigate risk and dealing with emergency that may arise. local dynamics, relationship dynamics, power structure, These should include comprehension of con ict context, and endemic con ict. Facilitators should be regularly situation assessment and joint analysis of violent incidents prompted to apply these tools for instance conducting between experts and Project staff. There should be basic stakeholder analysis in community/sub-district where they safety training and dealing with emergency that may arise work, develop team work arrangement at sub-district and while at work in the eld. Project activities should be provincial levels, and at the ECACS project-wide level. In communicated and signaled to all sides so as to avoid addition, there should be a suppor t mechanism for being under scrutiny. coaching that is consistent, and linked with networking and opportunities to learn and share within and beyond the 6. Boosting Facilitator’s drive and inspiration. Facilitators’ southern border region. These could take the form of morale, self-esteem and team work spirit can be boosted academic networking, issue-based networking and through teambuilding exercise and drawing out strength of area-based networking. Workshops should be held as a individual Facilitator and combine them into supportive matter of course to draw lessons learnt in order to generate energy for the entire crop. Inspiration can be drawn from knowledge and learning while enhancing the adaptability role model, agent of change, or those with experience of of the work to address constantly evolving challenges of working for greater public good. The approach of linking sensitive context. Strengthen coordination between work religious faith with development should work in providing site and State agencies in a concrete manner. The incentives to do public work. Linkage should also be emphasis is on the linkage and synergy, and opening up identi ed between the value of their work and their life’s channels to work with government agencies concerned at goals in order to reinforce the ideal and work spirit. local, district and provincial levels in order to generate experience of coordinating between community and State 7. Capacity strengthening for new Facilitators. This can agency to bring about concrete development outcomes. be done by lending clarity to the Project itself, the thinking Using communications to access different groups at and principles of CDD and the role of a Facilitator, agencies of ever y level regularly in order to foster strengthening their ability to read into the con ict contexts understanding, reducing distrust and forging synergy. and insurgency, and basic grasp of the area where they are Moreover, there should be rotation of Facilitators who stay going to work for a start, building their facilitation skill and working in the same site over a long stretch of time, to ability to work in con ict setting (i.e. safety precaution and avoid inclination towards partiality. self-defense/responding to violent incident onsite.) 10 Lessons Learnt from Facilitators Source: This Note is extracted from the full report titled “A Study on Working as Community-Driven Development Facilitator in Thailand’s Conflict-Affected Southern Border Provinces under CACS and ECACS supported by the World Bank,” Nuchanad Juntavises and Somkiat Pitakkamonporn, 2015, For more information please contact: Pamornrat Tansanguanwong [ptansaguanwong@worldbank.org] or Poonyanuch Chockanapitaksa [pchockanapitaksa@worldbank.org] Tel: +662 6868300 Knowledge Management Note Series No. Title 1. The In uence of Con ict Research on the Design of the Piloting Community Approaches in Con ict Situation Project 2. Gender and Development in Thailand’s Con ict Areas 3. Youth-focused Community Driven Development: Results and Lessons Learned 4. Creating “Space” for Interaction: Description of CACS Project Operations 5. CACS Project: Monitoring and Evaluation 6. Community Driven Development: Findings and Applied Learning 7. Peace-building Partnership Fund: Findings and Applied Learning 8. Practical Lessons for Improving Livelihoods Opportunities in Con ict Contexts 9. Facilitating Community Driven Development in Con ict-Affected Deep South 10. Access to Finance: The Case of Muslim Minority in Southern Thailand 11. Deep South Incident Database: Context, Development, Applications and Impact 11 World Bank Thailand 30th Floor, Siam Piwat Tower, 989 Rama 1 Road Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 2686 8300 Email: thailand@worldbank.org http://www.worldbank.org/thailand Supported by