Case Story - Inspiring Youth in Thailand to Act on the SDGs

With a significant youth population, Thailand is one of the leaders in Southeast Asia in progressing towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with over 40 per cent of indicators on track. Nevertheless, challenges such as climate change call for accelerated efforts. To empower young people to tackle pressing concerns, Thailand has cultivated partnerships across sectors, engaging youth through symposiums and initiatives that foster dialogue on sustainable development and encourage participation in shaping public policy.

In collaboration with the United Nations in Thailand, the UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development launched the Thai SDG Micro-Primer, an innovative learning tool designed to engage and empower Thailand’s youth and young professionals with sustainable development knowledge, tailored specifically to address the country’s unique challenges and opportunities.

The initiative aimed to inspire collective action among youth towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by:

• Highlighting Thailand’s specific challenges and initiatives;
• Motivating youth-led sustainable actions for a brighter future;

Partnering with different universities, civil society organizations, and youth organizations through learning about the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

Youth, university students and young professionals in Thailand, including students at the  Thammasat University in Bangkok, Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai, and members of the Model UN club students in Thailand.

The SDG Micro-Primer's design was innovative, combining mobile-first content with engaging features such as mini-case studies, youthful language, and the involvement of a well-loved Thai actress, Toey Jarinporn. This approach ensured the SDG Micro-Primer resonated deeply with its audience, making learning both accessible and appealing.

So far over 2,500 learners have utilized the Micro-Primer in English and over 2,000 in Thai. The launch event during the Sustainability Expo in Bangkok in October 2023 drew 1,000 attendees. The impressive engagement rates—99 per cent for the English version and 100 per cent for the Thai version—supported the initiative's impact. The Micro-Primer not only boosted learners' awareness of the SDGs but also encouraged them to learn more about the SDGs and local sustainability initiatives. Work around the Micro-Primer has strengthened partnerships with academic institutions and youth organizations, amplifying reach and impact.

The collaborative effort between the UN System Staff College, UNESCO Bangkok, and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, is as a prime illustration of how UN agencies can leverage their partnership, unique expertise, and innovation to reach new heights in sustainability. It’s exciting to see the SDG Micro-Primer community growing as we collectively share knowledge, learning material and best practices through AI-supported, digital platforms, providing seamless user access from across all regions of the country, with more than 4,000 users already reached." - Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator, Thailand

"The development process for learning products by UNSSC greatly impressed us. Engaging in design thinking and storyboarding collaboratively was an enriching experience, and we were particularly astounded by how quickly a prototype emerged from our sessions—ready for testing with our target audience within just two weeks. This rapid prototyping allowed us ample opportunity to beta test and refine the content based on direct feedback from young learners, ensuring the language and scripts were perfectly tailored. We're truly grateful for the thoughtful user experience design, which clearly prioritizes the learners' needs."

Hai Luong Tiet and Nantawan Hinds, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok

Photo Credit: Sustainability Expo 2023