Slum Upgrading Facility: Exchange Visit to CODI in Thailand (UN-HABITAT)

UN-HABITAT. ‘Slum Upgrading Facility: Exchange Visit to the CommunityOrganisations Development Institute in Thailand’, UN-HABITAT Slum UpgradingFacility Working Paper 11, 2009.

ABSTRACT

5500 low-income communities in Thailand (8.25 million people).

70-80% of urban population cannot afford housing.

In 1973 was set up the National Housing Authority in Thailand implementing sites and services and slum upgrading programs. From 1992 the UCDO extended loans to organised communities for settlement upgrading. Communities were encouraged to form networks.

In 2000 the UCDO merged the Rural Development Fund to form CODI, made up of 1/3 community representatives, 1/3 government and 1/3 form civil society (NGOs and universities).

The aim of CODI (established in 2000) is to build a powerful society from the basis of the power of community organizations and civil society, supporting and emphasizing the role of the community, coordinating the efforts of the civil society, developing a learning process, building financial institutions and loan systems, improving efficiency and transparency and innovating in land tenure arrengements.

In 2003 the Baan Mankong program was launched to achieve 200 cities without slums in 5 years. At least 10% of the finance come from the community. Sometimes there is money from the local government and increasingly also from the private sector.

CODI receive a budget from the central government which is passed directly to the communities. More money is needed, so CODI has begun to work with the National Housing Bank (NHB). The success key factors are macro-economic stability, low inflation, land owned by community, compulsory participation in savings, build social and managerial capabilities, initial technical and financial support from government and support from community cooperatives.

CODI helps communities to come up with plans, start with a big ambition, promote people to stay and work together. People and information have to come first (community survey). Involve people can reduce the costs.

Cooperatives are including rental units.

Reblocking is a way to make better use of the land. Actually 77% of CODI developments take place in-situ.

Land must be collectively owned or leased for fifteen years to freeze market forces.

CODI has produced a handbook of technical designs.

ACTORS

CODI, Baan Mankong, National Housing Authority, UCDO, National Housing Bank, Rural Development Fund, Central Government, Local Governments, CBOs, Universities, NGOs