Abstract:
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This study was undertaken to accomplish five objectives: 1) to understand the need for Thailand to provide infrastructure assistance to neighboring countries , 2) to explore the various definitions of NEDA’s projects’ success from the point of view of different stakeholders comprised of the government, local administrations, and local people, 3)To explore a consensus definition of NEDA’s projects’ success, 4) to explore the factors that affect NEDA projects’ success, and 5) to propose a model for NEDA’s projects’ implementation success. The study applied the qualitative method, and three main research methods were employed in gathering the data for this study: document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and non-participant observation. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty-four key informants comprised of nine key informants from Thai government agencies, six key informants from local administrations, fifteen key informants representing the local people, and four key informants from the Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The analysis of the interview transcripts and field notes was based on the inductive approach, leading to the formation of patterns, themes, and categories in the data based on three steps in the qualitative data analysis: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing or verification. For improving the credibility and confirmability of this paper, content analysis and triangulation methods were used. The triangulation method in this study involved data triangulation comprised of space triangulation with different sites in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar); method triangulation using three methods: semi-structured interviews, non-participant observation, and documentation review; and informant triangulation using three different types of informants (government, local administration, and local people). The study findings revealed that government and neighboring countries defined success at the outcome level (improving quality of life, Subregion economic development, fostering partnerships and strengthening relationships with neighboring countries), whereas local administrations and local people considered success at the output level (reducing travel time and facilitate border trade). Further, the results from this research, identified five factors that influence NEDA projects’ success. The factors are 1) policy standards and objectives; 2) participations; 3) organization configuration; 4) the social and political environment, and 5) harmonization and coordination between donors. Finally, it is recommended that government should promote constructive relationships with neighboring countries and should be aware of the best interests of neighboring countries and avoid misunderstandings regarding the use of financial assistance projects as a tool for the support of politicians. Further, government should develop soft infrastructure along with hard infrastructure and should become more closely involved with the process of establishing a regional body which might be able to address the needs of businesses within the GMS on a collaborative level. Aside from that, NEDA as implementer should develop partnerships with other international donors (ADB, AIIB, JICA, the World Bank), which could enable the transfer of best practices, spread knowledge of best practice in matters such as logistics, and actively seek out synergistic relationships within the processes of regional trade and funding sources (co-finance).
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