The Thai Climate Initiative Fund (ThaiCI), under the collaboration between the GIZ and the Environment Fund, ONEP, organised capacity-building training to enhance skills in writing project proposals on climate change adaptation in February and March 2025, to support the participants in developing project proposals suitable for local implementation.

The training workshop ‘Basics of project proposal development for climate change adaptation’ held on 13-14 February 2025 at Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam

The training workshop ‘basics of project proposal development for climate change adaptation’ was held on 13-14 February 2025, at Novotel Bangkok Platinum, with 50 participants selected from local government organisations, foundations, and associations driving environmental and climate change projects at the local level. Another session took place on 10-11 March 2025, at The Quarter Ladprao, with 38 participants selected from local government agencies and universities running environmental and climate change projects in their communities.

This course was designed to focus on enhancing the capacity to write successful proposals that meet international standards and the requirements of the ThaiCI Fund. The training featured lectures on climate change and the concepts for implementing climate adaptation projects, practical exercises, and opportunities for participants to learn through analysis and hands-on practice. It also fostered knowledge exchange and experience sharing, and included Q&A sessions with experts such as Supakorn Chinwanno, a climate adaptation expert, and Teerapong Laopongpith, Director of Climate Change Risk Analysis Subdivision, Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE).

The training workshop “Basics of project proposal development for climate change adaptation” held on 10-11 March 2025 at The Quarter Hotel Ladprao, Bangkok

Although Thailand was once ranked as the 9th most climate-vulnerable country in the world, facing long-term impacts from climate change, it has now fallen to 30th place thanks to cooperation from many sectors, particularly at the national policy level. However, local actions still need to be supported in a tangible way to ensure the sustainable adaptation of local people, leading to climate resilience.

The ThaiCI Fund recognises the importance of and is ready to be a financial mechanism in the country that supports the implementation of climate change adaptation projects at the local level, even though the implementation of climate change adaptation projects at this level poses a significant challenge, as it requires a deep understanding of the unique issues and adaptation needs specific to each area. This results in an inability to use a single approach in managing these challenges. The projects must also create positive impacts across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Furthermore, knowledge of climate adaptation strategies, local risk assessments, spatial data (including demographic and climatic information), and practical implementation are crucial for driving local climate resilience, forming the foundational step toward dynamic adaptation and building resilience against the climate change in the future.