Nov. 2014—In an effort to promote a greater role for women in society and business and to improve their overall quality of life, in 2012, the Thai Government launched the Women’s Development Fund (WDF). Recipients of grants from the fund can use the money to achieve greater access to education, employment and health care services.

With support from the USAID Sapan Program, the Office of Health and Social Development (OHSD), located in Khon Kaen province, and six women-led NGOs formed a coalition to train and prepare plans for their respective provinces to apply for WDF funding. The funds are open to all women, rich or poor, urban or rural.

The OHSD collaborated with other development groups to learn how local women could start applying for the grants. Some women were skeptical that the young activists could help since they believed only well-connected individuals could access the new funds. But four communities that received OHSD training and assistance submitted applications and two received WDF funding.

OHSD is working to raise more awareness about the funds and teach women in local communities how to write grant proposals. WDF also offers low-interest loans for projects that bring women into sectors such as agriculture, commerce and the environment.

“Women in our group have become aware, really aware, that they have rights, that becoming aware of their rights and being able to exercise them means equality,” said Apirudee On-bao, the director of OHSD. “USAID Sapan helped with funding, yes, but training and structure that were part of the assistance helped even more.”

As policies surrounding the WDF were clarified, and with part of the 7.7 billion baht (roughly $250 million) rolling out, Apirudee saw a chance to help local women take advantage of the opportunity. Having worked with the Sapan Program since 2012, Apirudee and her staff had been trained on how to address local government budgets and community issues such as women’s rights.

Gaining access to the funds has generated enthusiasm and motivation for others to apply. Without USAID Sapan, many women would have never known about the funds available to them. The program is linking communities directly with their local authorities through the WDF so women can openly express what support their districts need from the government. OHSD and its partners across Thailand are now working on how to continue their WDF activities without USAID funding.

According to the Thai Government, 1.2 million women have benefited from the WDF since 2012.

Sapan is the Thai word for “bridge.” The USAID Sapan Program, which began in 2010, “builds bridges” between civil society and local government agencies by encouraging cooperation, open dialogue and citizen engagement.

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