Looking Back, Looking Forward: Reflections on 20 years of Baan Mankong

Since its inception in 2003, the Ban Mankong (“secure housing”) programme has been a leader and an inspiration for the development of inclusive and sustainable housing policies at scale which reflect a true partnership between government, communities, NGOs, professionals and universities.  With aspirations to both address housing and structural causes of poverty through a people-centred governance approach, it offers an impressive track record of housing delivery and community development.  It is an important ‘good practice’ internationally to accelerate progress towards SDG 11. What are the conditions that have made and continue to make Baan Mankong possible?  How has Baan Mankong maintained its relevance and effectiveness over the last 20 years?   What are the challenges and opportunities for the future?

Somsook Boonyabancha, the first Director of the Community Organization Development Institute (CODI), the lead government agency in the Baan Mankong partnership, will reflect on the achievements and challenges of the Baan Mankong Programme over the last two decades.