Story: Pawida Charoenmuang (Thai Rice GCF)
The Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming (Thai Rice GCF) project has concluded a series of capacity-building trainings aimed at strengthening understanding of environmental and social safeguards, including gender- and ethnic-sensitive approaches, in support of Thailand’s transition to inclusive climate-smart rice farming.
Supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and private sector partners, the project is implemented across 21 major rice-growing provinces in Thailand. It is carried out in collaboration with the Rice Department, the Department of Agricultural Extension, GIZ, and other public and private organisations. The project aims to support Thailand’s rice sector in transitioning towards low-emission and climate-resilient pathways through the adoption of climate-smart technologies and practices.
Ms Ketpharima Sansud, Environmental and Social Safeguards Manager at GIZ Thailand, under the Thai Rice GCF project, shared that beyond the project’s targets of supporting over 253,400 rice farmers to adopt climate-smart technologies and reducing 2.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2028, the project is also committed to the Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) of the Green Climate Fund.
“To be in line with this policy, GCF-supported projects must not cause adverse impacts on communities or the environment in the areas where they are implemented. Achieving environmental goals must therefore go hand in hand with delivering inclusive and equitable social benefits. This includes giving particular attention to vulnerable groups, such as women, children, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and other disadvantaged groups who may be affected by project activities,” she explained.
Under this ESS framework, the Thai Rice GCF project organised a capacity-building training for agricultural officers in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, where ethnic diversity is particularly prominent. The training focused on strengthening participants’ ability to engage with communities, work in ways that are appropriate to local contexts, and apply gender-responsive approaches in their fieldwork. Held between 15 and 17 December 2025, the training brought together more than 70 officers from the Rice Department and the Department of Agricultural Extension.
In addition to case-based exercises and group discussions, the project invited experts from the Highland Development Centre to share practical experience in working with ethnic communities, enabling participants to apply these approaches in their fieldwork.
“Whether it is environmental or social impact, we need a collaborative and integrated approach across stakeholders. It is not something any one organisation can achieve alone,” said Dr Janjira Rungjaroen from the Highland Research and Development Institute.
Dr Atthawit Watcharappongchai, Deputy Project Director for Field Operations, added: “Strengthening the capacity of officers to understand both environmental and social dimensions will help ensure that project implementation is effective, fair, and delivers benefits to all, without leaving anyone behind.” ■
