THE DOI TUNG DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME

FOSTERING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION:
ADDING TO THE GLOBAL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF MANKIND

As a result of the outstanding accomplishments and success of the Doi Tung Development Project under Royal Initiative, much international attention and interest has been generated and is now regarded by the international community and particularly by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), as being one of the world’s successful projects in Sustainable Alternative Development and a positive role model.

The success stories of the Doi Tung Development Project initiated by HRH the Princess Mother has offered new hope and much-needed inspiration to countless rural communities in underdeveloped as well as developing economies around the world, particularly societies with a shared cultural heritage and geography with the Kingdom of Thailand, as well as developed economies with common socio-economic experiences.

This has provided the impetus for the Mae Fah Luang Foundation to contemplate the pursuit of a more leading role in international cooperation, fostering and facilitating knowledge exchanges through the establishment of an international knowledge centre, under the auspices of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation.

THE INTERNATIONAL KNOWLDEGE CENTRE
It is believed that the establishment of an international ‘Knowledge Centre’, that encompasses the exchange of technical expertise and know-how and information-sharing, will enable the Foundation to share with the global community, a wealth of knowledge and valuable experience it acquired through implementation of the Doi Tung Development Project since its inauguration in 1988, thereby adding to the global pool of knowledge for the benefit of mankind.

The Doi Tung Development Project is also noted for innovative approaches to the preservation of ethnographic diversity which has contributed to the rich cultural heritage of Asia, one of the precious cornerstones of ‘World Heritage’. Economic and social development has been pursued in tandem with the harmonious co-existence of indigenous culture and the surrounding natural environment.

THE ETHNIC MINORITY COMMUNITIES OF DOI TUNG
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The International Knowledge Centre constitutes a unique body of knowledge acquired by the Doi Tung Development Project in its pioneering work in innovative approaches to sustainable development in the following areas of expertise:

• Sustainable Alternative Development
• The alleviation of rural poverty
• Self-sufficient Village Communities
• Drug eradication
• Initiatives to eradicate opium supply and demand
• Initiatives to eradicate child prostitution and trafficking
• Crop Substitution
• Agriculture/Horticulture
• “Value-Added” approach
• Quality of life
• Social development
• Health services
• Education systems
• The preservation of culture and heritage
• Tourism development

THE DOI TUNG DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME
Since the introduction of the Doi Tung International Cooperation Programme (ICP), cooperative initiatives have been launched at two project sites outside of Thailand.

• PROJECT – SHAN STATE, MYANMAR
  The ICP Project Shan State, Myanmar - the first international project pursued under the Doi Tung International Cooperation Programme, involves the provision of humanitarian assistance to ethnic minority communities who have settled on the western slope of Doi Tung which lies just across the Thai-Myanmar border in Shan State, Myanmar – an area adjacent to the original site of the Doi Tung Development Project in the Thai province of Chiang Rai. This new development is seen to be a logical extension of the developmental activities undertaken by the inaugural Doi Tung Development Project initiated by HRH the Princess Mother.
  
  The strategic approach for the project in the Yong Kha (Yao Kha) administrative area is based on the guiding principles established by HRH the Princess Mother and addresses the basic needs for the well-being of the population namely - primary health and medical needs, food security, educational opportunities and the creation of alternative livelihoods.
  
  Project Myanmar: Shan State
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• PROJECT – AFGHANISTAN
  ICP Project Afghanistan promotes the exchange of knowledge and information-sharing on Sustainable Alternative Development and opium and drug eradication initiatives.
  
  Project Afghanistan
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