Project Kick-off & Regional Network meeting: Integrated Assessment of SDGs at the Provincial Level in Thailand
April 19, 2024
In a significant stride towards advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Thailand and Southeast Asia, a groundbreaking initiative was unveiled on April 19, 2024. Sponsored by The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), the project collaborates with esteemed organizations including Digital Belt and Road (DBAR), the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Belt and Road Research Center of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT-BRRC), and Mahidol University. The project aims to address critical challenges related to SDG progress evaluation in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
The project is jointly led by the research teams of AIT-BRRC and Mahidol University, with of Dr. Monthip Sriratana, Director of the Digital Belt and Road International Center of Excellence (DBAR-ICoE Bangkok). Dr. Wenchao Xue, Associate Professor and Director of AIT-BRRC, has outlined the objectives and plans for the project’s three-year activities. Dr. Allan S. Tabucanon, Director of the Research and Academic Services Center for Environmental Assessment and Sustainability at Mahidol University, has facilitated stakeholder dialogue during the network meeting. Over a span of three years, the project will focus on promoting the application of big earth data from satellite surveys (Big Earth Data) to monitor and evaluate the progress of operations to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations at the provincial level in Thailand.
Dr. Wiparat De-ong, Executive Director of the NRCT, expressed appreciation for the collaborative initiatives, emphasizing its potential to significantly contribute to SDG progress evaluation and address data gaps through collaboration with international partners. The outcome will be helpful for Thailand to contribute to SDG progress report. Prof. Yubao Qiu, Secretary-General of the DBAR Secretariat, underscored the critical role of data in regional development and expressed eagerness to collaborate and share datasets to advance the project’s overarching vision.
With representatives, valuable contributions from various stakeholders, including the Department of International Organization, ASEAN Strategy and Cooperation Division, ASEAN Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD), and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) expressing positive sentiments and emphasizing the importance of addressing data sensitivity issues and effective utilization of data outputs. The project is poised to make significant strides in advancing SDG progress evaluation in Thailand and the broader region. Stay tuned for further updates on this groundbreaking endeavor!
