ThaiThe Application of the Royal Project Sustainable Highland Development Model in an Unsettled and Unpredictable VUCA World
The workshop on "The Application of the Royal Project Sustainable Highland Development Model in an Unsettled and Unpredictable VUCA World" was opened on July 19, 2023. General Kampanat Ruddit, Privy Councilor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Project Foundation, presided over the event at the Royal Project Agricultural Research and Development Center "Chanaka Dhibesra Damri" in Chiang Mai. This workshop was organized by the Royal Project Foundation (RPF), the Highland Research and Development Institute (Public Organization) (HRDI), and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It aimed to provide twenty participants from Bhutan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and UNODC Myanmar with an in-depth understanding of Thailand's Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and the Royal Project Sustainable Highland Development Model (RPF MODEL), as well as hands-on experiences. The lectures, discussions, and study visits to the operational areas of the RPF and HRDI took place from July 19 to July 23, 2023. The workshop provided participants, RPF and HRDI researchers, and development officers a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences.
The RPF Model has been developed over the past fifty years to combat poverty, illicit drug issues, shifting cultivation, and the destruction of watershed forests. It aligns with the Thailand Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) Model and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn's commitment to adhering to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) with Understanding, Empathy, and Development principles has led to the development of sustainability in 39 Royal Project Development Centers and 44 Highland Development Projects using the Royal Project Model. This model has now been extended to an international level.
