At the fifth Responsible Business Forum, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today called on business leaders to take a greater role in the new development era in order to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This Forum, opened in Singapore by UNDP and Global Initiatives, aims to address a sea change in the nature of development funding by creating a new partnership for sustainable development.

While foreign funding (Official Development Assistance) is still essential for the development system, it now accounts for 0.7 percent of total financial flows in Asia-Pacific (down from 13.5 percent in 1990), while domestic public and private finance accounts for 89 percent, according to a UNDP report launched last month.

The Closing Workshop of CATSPA – Catalysing Sustainability for Thailand’s Protected Area System Project was a collaboration between the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation and the United Nations Development Programme, with 3.3 Million USD financial support from the Global Environment Facility

UNDP partners with BEC-TERO Entertainment Public Co. Ltd. continuing His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej mission on human development in order to achieve the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). In addition, Ms. Thunchanok Moonnilta (known as French-Fry) (Miss Thailand World 2015) was appointed a role as Friend of UNDP to support and promote the sustainable development through UNDP projects across the country.

It is one year since every country in the world signed up to the Sustainable Development Goals. They form a blueprint for addressing the most significant challenges facing our planet and its people. Challenges like climate change. This is likely to be the hottest year on record and here in Asia, climate change is a cause of the natural disasters that have claimed half a million lives in the last decade. Challenges like inequality, which has been growing for four-fifths of Asia-Pacific’s population over the last 20 years. Challenges brought on by the accelerating process of ageing, which will make it harder for many Asian states to provide basic services to their people. The 17 SDGs will address these challenges and other interlinked issues, including education, hunger and security. But governments cannot implement this blueprint on their own. Nor can the UN and other development organizations.

“The day we saw fireflies coming back and sparkling in our neighborhood we were so happy. It shows, we can preserve fireflies and its habitats for the next generations,” said Sukit Plubchang, coordinator of Clear Water in Beautiful Canal Project, Bang Krasorb Community.

The expected output of the BIOFIN Workbook 2 which will focus on Biodiversity Finance Needs and Gap Assessment include an analysis of the costs for each set of strategies and actions within the NBSAP and a summary analysis and prioritization of all existing and future costs through 2020.

Employment discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people is a prevalent but silent issue in Thailand, said experts at a national level meeting to discuss issues related to discrimination in the workplace.

Biodiversity-related expenditure is defined as any expenditure, whether by a public or private finance actor, that supports the conservation, sustainable use and/or equitable benefits sharing of biodiversity in a given year. The proportion of expenditure that are attributed to biodiversity is based on an overall assessment of the activities within each financial actor’s work programs and also by comparison with the NBSAP whether these are included in the NBSAP or consistent with NBSAP’s strategies. Programs’ objectives and performance indicators, as well as any major obstacles that arise, are used to determine their effectiveness in relation to the stated goal. These indicators are primarily based on those specified in each finance actor’s strategic plan or budgetary work programs with quantifiable quantities such as protected areas coverage, number of ecotourism centers being serviced, number of studies on environmental resource management undertaken, some of which can be related to the overall indicators used in the assessment of the National Economic and Social Development Plan, the Environmental Quality Plan and the NBSAP.

This publication highlights the unique contribution of ten GEF financed, UNDP supported projects in six tiger range countries (Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand), demonstrating how conservation activities in tiger habitat can accomplish more than the preservation of one iconic wildlife species.

A more coordinated, multi-sectoral response is needed to address gender inequality and gender-based violence of marginalized people in Thai society, including women, children and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, said participants at a conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced today that it will launch its new human development report “Shaping the Future: How Changing Demographics Can Power Human Development,” on April 26 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The “Small Communities, Big Thoughts” video showcases how UNDP Thailand partnering with the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, supports communities to address national water resource conservation problems and promote sustainable development.

In an attempt to encourage communities in Mae Hong Son province to use more energy efficient and environmentally friendly cooking and heating methods, UNDP Thailand’s Promoting Renewable Energy project in partnership with the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) and the Ministry of Energy carried out an improved cook stoves (ICS) experiment. The ICS was designed to reduce fuel consumption per meal and to curb smoke emissions.

While promoting sustainable production techniques to farmers in Thailand, UNDP's Goodwill Ambassador Joan Roca presents how chefs can make a difference in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.

Childhood friends Duangsuda Srangamphai and Chehyoy Dama, originally from Thienya village, Pattani province in southern Thailand, recently established a community enterprise called Thienya Roasted Coconut to uplift the spirits of women from their village who had been affected by conflict.They received a small grant from UNDP’s Southern Thailand Empowerment and Participation (STEP) Project.

The new book, Parks for Life: Why We Love Thailand’s National Parks, aims to create a better recognition of, and greater commitment and support to protect the country’s rich biodiversity. The publication advocates for investing in the management of protected areas to promote inclusive economic growth that takes the real value of biodiversity and ecosystems into account in decision-making in the country’s development.

The Promoting Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings (PEECB) project, a collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) held its third annual seminar.

On the occasion of our 50th anniversary, UNDP is looking toward the future of people and planet. That future is uncertain. On the one hand, climate change, political turbulence, economic inequality, and other challenges. On the other hand, technological advances, tremendous economic growth, and an unprecedented global consensus about the best way forward.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Centre for Biodiversity, in cooperation with ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat and partner organisations, held the Second ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity under the theme “Biodiversity for Sustainable Development” on 15 - 19 February in Bangkok.

Aka who is a fisherman by trade, makes the model boats to supplement his income to support his wife and six children. However, since June 2015, Aka has being imparting his boat making skills with young men in the village after receiving a small grant from UNDP’s Southern Thailand Empowerment and Participation (STEP) Project.

Sai Khao Agricultural Housewives Community Enterprise, a small cooperative, which prepares, preserves and sells Garcinia received a small grant through UNDP’s Southern Thailand Empowerment and Participation (STEP) Project.

UNDP's STEP II Project awarded small grants to eight community projects in targeted provinces in southern Thailand (Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat). The grants, generously financed by the Japan-UNDP Partnership Fund, aim to assist local communities to become more resilient amid the ongoing violent conflict in southern Thailand, through the improvement of their livelihoods.

The UN SDG exhibition aims to introduce the Sustainable Development Goals in Thailand, highlight their importance for Thai people, as well as commemorate the 70th anniversary of the UN through emphasizing the partnership between UN Country Team Thailand and the Royal Thai Government. Additionally, the UN plans to bring the exhibition around the country to engage with as many Thais as possible.

Discrimination and exclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in the private sector workplace, which is widespread across the Asia-Pacific region including in Thailand, has both economic as well as human associated costs. A national executive dialogue on the business of LGBT rights in Asia jointly convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and The Economist Events.

The United Nations and P&G; Thailand celebrated receivership of the Best Communications Campaign Award for the My World survey campaign. The Best Communications Campaign award recognises the efforts of P&G; Thailand in working with the United Nations, media outlets, and developing advertising products and tools to showcase peoples’ engagement on the post-2015 development agenda.