On 9 March 2026, the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC), in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), United Kingdom, organized a multi-stakeholder consultation to gather inputs for the development of Thailand’s National Action Plan (NAP) following its accession into the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
Participants included Ms. Hannah Bowley, Senior Programme Manager, International Partnerships, representing WFD, Mr. Buntoon Srethasirote, Chair of the Subcommittee on Promoting Open Government and Public Participation, Mrs. Areepan Charoensuk, Senior Advisor to OPDC, OPDC officials, and representatives from the public sector, private sector, and civil society.
Key points are summarized as follows:
(1) Anti-Corruption: It should focus on fostering a culture of transparency alongside effective law enforcement and open data. Reducing discretionary powers that may lead to corruption is essential. Public participation should be encouraged through accessible whistleblowing channels with adequate protection measures. In addition, digital tools enabling citizens to monitor public expenditure—such as the “Where Your Taxes Go” platform—should be promoted to enhance transparency and prevent corruption.
(2) Climate and Environment: Emphasis should be placed on participatory governance, engaging government agencies, the private sector, and local communities. Practical examples at the local level, such as PM2.5 mitigation efforts in Ban Na Kwang Kiew, Lampang Province, demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborative approaches and could be scaled up to other areas.
(3) Justice: The focus should be on advancing fairness in multiple dimensions, including equality, equity, and justice. Equity involves allocating resources according to the needs of different groups, ensuring fair access to rights and opportunities such as education and public services. Government processes should be designed to ensure that all groups can access information and meaningfully participate, ultimately strengthening public trust and delivering justice in practice.
Next Step: OPDC will consolidate inputs gathered from consultations across Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Khon Kaen, and Bangkok to develop the draft National Action Plan (NAP) under the OGP framework.
