Managing welfare improvement for urban poor: a case study from Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the urban poor in Bangkok manage their own development projects. The main objectives were to explore the real needs of the urban poor, the management constraints, opinions on the successfulness of the projects, the possibility for sustainable projects, and to obtain suggestions for improved methods. The research methods used included questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and observations. There were three groups of respondents: the community dwellers, the project committee members, and the officers of supporting organisations. Questionnaires were administered to 135 community dwellers. Semi-structured interviews and personal observations were carried out with 14 committee members and 2 organisation officers.

The results of the questionnaires showed that the respondents did not in general participate in project preparation, design and implementation. Their main barrier to participation was their poverty in that they had to spend all their time earning their livelihood. However, most were satisfied with the intention of the committees working for their community. They stated that the Social Investment Fund would be able to alleviate their poverty if the committees extended the project and increased the amount of the loans.

The results of the semi-structured interviews and observations showed that the committee members are the social capital of the community. They gathered together as a result of the organisation officers' co-ordination. They experienced different working experiences in their individual community. It was found they could not use full participatory approaches as they also had insufficient time. However, they did participate in all stages of the project cycle: preparation, design and implementation, which will empower the locals to work for their community in the long run.

Committee members and organisation officers agreed that the SIF project is effective in bringing about social cohesion and mutual support within and among communities. The project should be sustainable because it uses a revolving fund and includes the poorest people as beneficiaries. A successful outcome will not be seen in the short term as a sustainable community livelihood depends on several factors. The capability of community dwellers to access credit is one important factor. The final evaluation will need to be carried out after the project has been in operation for a longer period.