UNICEF and SBPAC join forces to promote well-being of children in Southern border provinces

BANGKOK, 21 March 2024 – Today marked an historic moment as Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharag, the Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), and Kyungsun Kim, UNICEF Representative for Thailand, signed a partnership agreement between SBPAC and UNICEF. This is the first partnership of its kind and will see both parties work together to promote the well-being of children throughout the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand.

The partners will join forces to strengthen child protection mechanisms, expand access to education, physical and mental health services, legal identity, and more for children and families in need.

“We're thrilled to formalize a partnership that holds so much potential to support vulnerable children in the Southern Border Provinces." said Kyungsun Kim. "We have worked closely with SBPAC for many years now, prioritizing child protection, which is crucial in a region where children face heightened vulnerabilities compared to other parts of Thailand. The latest Thailand Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, knowns as MICS, found that children in the southern border provinces experience higher rates of malnutrition, with lower child vaccination rates, literacy and numeracy skills. This partnership agreement will help us protect more children and support those who have crossed the border to verify their legal status and receive essential services. It also reaffirms UNICEF's commitment to collaboration as it strives to improve the lives of children and families in the southern regions and across all of Thailand.”

Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharag added, “This is the first partnership agreement we have signed with an international organization, and it recognizes and builds on years of collaborative efforts to improve the lives of children in the region. We eagerly anticipate not only working with UNICEF for children but also enhancing our capacity in addressing challenges children in the south face, as children are one of the core focus areas that we prioritize at SBPAC.”

UNICEF and SBPAC have most closely collaborated through the Coordination Center of Children and Women, a unit within the SBPAC. Joint efforts include strengthening child protection mechanisms, utilizing robust UNICEF data to guide organizational strategies and policies, and providing support to children and families during emergencies and pandemics. This partnership will enable both parties to work more proactively to enhance the impact of their efforts on children and families in the region and Thailand.