Co-creating Demographic Resilience: Shaping UNPFA Thailand’s Country Programme Document (2027–2031) to Advance Human Capital through Rights and Choices for Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development

Bangkok, Thailand (25 February 2026) – UNFPA Thailand and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) co-hosted a hybrid Stakeholders Meeting to present the draft UNFPA Thailand 13th Country Programme Document 2027–2031 (CPD13) at the NESDC. This meeting marks a definitive step in advancing demographic resilience in Thailand over the next five years, attended by representatives from 28 organizations across government, private sectors, civil society (CSOs), academia, youth representatives, and the media, both onsite and online.

Thailand is currently facing a demographic shift, characterized by its transition into a super-aged society and a total fertility rate below 1.0. This meeting marks a pivotal step in repositioning UNFPA Thailand toward providing upstream policy advisory and leveraging demographic intelligence to address these challenges sustainably.

UNFPA Thailand and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) co-hosted a hybrid Stakeholders Meeting to present the draft UNFPA Thailand 13th Country Programme Document 2027–2031 (CPD13) at the NESDC.

Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office, UNFPA Thailand, presented the CPD13 direction, which was informed by findings from the 2022-2026 Country Programme Evaluation (CPE). She stated the vision for the next cycle as: "Our vision is advancing demographic resilience with rights and choices through a life-course approach for current and future generations.". Describing the strategic shift, she added: "The new plan will shift from supporting direct services to providing upstream policy advice, using demographic intelligence, and building sustainable partnerships". On the role of data, she emphasized: "UNFPA is committed to supporting the government in developing high-quality demographic intelligence data and foresight analyses to inform national decision-making."

UNFPA Thailand and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) co-hosted a hybrid Stakeholders Meeting to present the draft UNFPA Thailand 13th Country Programme Document 2027–2031 (CPD13) at the NESDC.

Ms. Worawan Plikhamin, Deputy Secretary-General of the NESDC, outlined the direction of the 14th National Economic and Social Development Plan, stating: "It must be stated that we are currently in a real demographic structure crisis, whether it is the TFR (Total Fertility Rate) being below 1, or the number of children born dropping from over a million to only about 400,000." She emphasized the "Repair, Reinforce, and Create" strategy: "We focus on increasing productivity and the country's competitiveness to repair and strengthen the foundation while building the future."

Originally published by UNFPA Thailand

UNFPA Thailand and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) co-hosted a hybrid Stakeholders Meeting to present the draft UNFPA Thailand 13th Country Programme Document 2027–2031 (CPD13) at the NESDC

Summary of Key Recommendations: Stakeholders recommended strengthening the link between population policies and economic security through demographic intelligence (NTA). The meeting highlighted the need for flexible partnerships to leverage diversified financing and innovative technology, including AI, for the protection of vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the goal is to enhance Thailand's international standing, as Ms. Siriluck noted: "We want to position Thailand as a regional knowledge hub for South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) to share best practices with other countries facing similar shifts."

This stakeholders meeting provided a critical platform for collective efforts, ensuring the next cycle is future-ready, nationally owned, and committed to leaving no one behind in Thailand's demographic transition.