Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation honoured at GovMedia Awards 2025
The institution bagged the Thailand Social Equity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year - Human Services category.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation was applauded at the GovMedia Awards 2025 for targeting poverty head-on through local engagement and innovative partnerships.
With its determination to tackle poverty at its roots, Thailand has launched the comprehensive initiative Practical Poverty Alleviation Model (PPAM) in its southern border provinces, where poverty levels remain amongst the highest in the country. This focusses on Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala.
The PPAM is making strides toward lifting tens of thousands of households out of poverty by empowering communities and creating sustainable economic pathways.
As of 2023, these three provinces are home to over 2.5 million people, yet more than 48,000 households still live below the poverty line. Pattani has the greatest burden, with over 22,000 households—or equivalent to more than 15% of its population—affected. These numbers are followed by those of Narathiwat and Yala.
Long-standing insecurity and recurring floods have compounded the issue, making traditional solutions inadequate. In response to this, the PPAM initiative brought together academic institutions, government agencies, community groups, and private sector partners under a “Triple Helix Plus” framework—designed to create localised and lasting change.
The PPAM programme begins by assessing the individual potential of poor households to identify needs and opportunities. Based on this, five tailored Operating Models (OMs) were developed to deliver measurable economic impact. These are JJOB (Job Matching and Skills Training), SIE (Social Integrated Enterprise), Community Welfare Fund, Elevating Product Standards (Food & Goods), and Integrated Agriculture. These models are not just theoretical—they are practical and people-focussed.
For instance, the JJOB model equips individuals with technical skills for jobs in repair and maintenance, whilst SIE fosters local entrepreneurship through product development and market expansion. In turn, profits help fund the Community Welfare Fund, a mechanism for reinvestment in community well-being.
Furthermore, the PPAM initiative aligns with Thailand’s national development strategy and meets standards set by the Thai People Map and Analytics Platform (TPMAP) and the Ministry of Finance. According to the 2025 criteria, those earning less than THB2,802 per month qualify as needing urgent assistance.
By leveraging the OMs, the goal is to increase household income by at least 20%. Early results are already encouraging, with collaborative networks having helped small businesses grow, improving product quality for wider market access, and introducing better systems for income distribution across communities.
A notable strength of the programme is the involvement of the private sector. These partnerships not only help open up market opportunities but also bring in the tools and resources needed to scale up success. They help stimulate regional economies, particularly in the border provinces, whilst ensuring that income generation remains fair and inclusive.
The impact of the project has laid a strong foundation for national replication. Provinces in the north, such as Mae Hong Son, Lampang, and Phitsanulok, as well as regions in the northeast and south, are now being considered for rollout. These include Ubon Ratchathani, Kalasin, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Phatthalung.
This expansion shows that with the right partnerships and localised models, it is possible to break the cycle of poverty. The PPAM framework is a testament that when communities are equipped with the right tools and support, they can chart their own path toward stability.
GovMedia Awards gives recognition to the trends and best practices that transform the public sector in the Asia Pacific. The awards programme promotes excellence and provides a platform for exemplary government initiatives.
The Gov Media Awards is presented by Gov Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be recognised for your organisation's government projects and initiatives, please contact Jane Patiag at awards@charltonmediamail.com.
