I. Introduction

a) Rationale:
b) Objectives
c) Workshop composition and structure

a) Rationale:

Food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable natural resource management are the fundamental issues in rural development in the Asia and Pacific region. It is now recognized that democratic decentralization, as a vehicle for people's participation, improves effectiveness, enhances the efficiency of programme interventions and promotes equity and empowerment of the rural poor. Such decentralization can be achieved and sustained through participatory rural development initiatives by involving civil society organizations (CSOs) and self help organizations (SHOs) of rural people. This workshop is an attempt to explore ways and means of finding appropriate sustainable systems and mechanisms relevant for participatory decentralized rural development (PDRD).

The workshop is a follow-up of the FAO-UNCDF-IFAD-GTZ-SDC and World Bank Technical Consultation on Decentralization held in December 1997. It is jointly organized by the Rural Development Division, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO-RAP), FAO Headquarters in Rome (SDA) and the Department of Agriculture Extension (DOAE) of the Royal Thai Government. The workshop is a first step in Asia and was organized as part of the FAO/World Bank international programme on decentralization.

b) Objectives

• To provide a forum for senior policy advisors and decision-makers, rural development practitioners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and donor agencies from selected Asian countries to promote participatory rural development policies, legislation and programmes within a decentralized institutional framework;

• To share information, documentation and experience in decentralized planning and community level experiences involving self help organizations of rural people; and

• To develop strategic partnerships among relevant government and United Nations agencies, CSOs and interested bilateral donor agencies in technical collaboration in Asia and to include inputs to the FAO-World Bank Electronic Guidebook on Decentralization.

c) Workshop composition and structure

The workshop consisted broadly of three modules: country report presentations, working groups and field visits. On the first day, after the formal inauguration and keynote address, country reports of participating countries were presented. The morning of the second day was used to identify issues crucial to participatory decentralized rural development. In the afternoon, participants had an opportunity for field visits, observation and study of decentralization work (including SHOs) in Thailand. On the third day, the three working groups presented their reports and recommendations to the plenary; after discussion, the recommendations were adopted.