Chiang Rai City: Inclusive Urban Development for Informal Workers

This is a case study on inclusive urban development strategies in Chiang Rai City, Thailand. Specifically, it details how, with support from the European Union, Chiang Rai Municipality and HomeNet Thailand are working to expand the role of membership-based organizations in local decision-making and governance.

Initiated in 2016, the project “Inclusive Urban Development for Informal Workers” aims to increase recognition and integration of the working poor, especially women, in the informal economy in urban planning and local economic development in order to leverage supportive economic, infrastructure, legal and social services from local government. The project targets 250 home-based workers, 1,900 market or street vendors, 70 transport workers (rickshaws and motorcycle taxi drivers), and 80 beauticians.

This project was selected as a finalist for Project Award by the SmartCity Expo World Congress.