Learning from communities along the EWEC
Integrating cross-border communities
Building sympathy for cross-border issues
Boosting empowerment and resilience
The East West Economic Corridor (EWEC) has led to communities that were previously separated to become highly integrated, economically and culturally. The livelihoods, well-being, and development prospects of cross-border communities have now come to rely on these directionless borders along the EWEC. Yet, the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the movement of border communities within the EWEC with potentially grave consequences for their welfare.
The project aims to support development of cross-border management capacity.
Integration of cross-border communities will build sympathy for cross-border issues so that border communities can better collaborate and avoid issues that will lead to problems.
Learning from and with border communities
The project works closely with local people from different sectors on both sides of the borders, including local community, government, NGOs and business sectors. Discussions on the cross-border issues and solutions and making joint management strategies by local people will support by this project.
Transborder transportation networks now in the process of development worldwide. The project hopes that vulnerability and resilience of cross-border communities across Asia and non-Asian countries will be shared through this arena.
Project insights and impacts
Since starting engagement in participatory activities with local communities, we have gained the following insights:
Laos and Thai cross-border communities
Impacts of the EWEC
- Increase convenience to cross border (but communities still using traditional checkpoints)
- Increased cash income by a new business, knowledge and technology
- Lost agricultural land
- Sand mining of the Mekong changed the river ecology
Effects of Covid-19
- Unemployment increased
- Traditional events were canceled
- Fishing, cross-border trading and visiting relatives were suspended
- Realization of subsistence agriculture
Myanmar and Thai cross-border communities
Impacts of the EWEC
- New jobs opportunities increased (taxi, restaurant, big supper market, tourism, airport)
- Sold land and lost land right and locked-in to contract farming
Effects of Covid-19
- Lost income from tourism
- Changing migration pattern (Previously, Myanmar people come to work in Thailand. Now, Thai people go to work in Myanmar (casino))
We are trying to help communities develop resilience. So far, this has involved:
1. Learning about set-up community market
2. Vegetable/farming practices and diversification
3. Fair land right to local people to grow multiple crops
Click here to learn more about community work and our findings.