NACC hosts activity to develop capabilities of STRONG Club’s Bangkok members to fight corruption
The Office of National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC Office) organised a capacity-building activity for members of the anti-corruption STRONG Club to prevent and deter corruption, aiming to expand the body of knowledge and applying it in monitoring and reporting corruption (Watch & Voice) to the NACC and related agencies.
On December 8, 2025, the NACC, through its Bureau of Promotion and Integration of Participation Against Corruption, hosted a capacity-building activity for Bangkok members of the STRONG Club to empower them to identify and act in corruption-prone areas in Bangkok, under the Empowering STRONG for Proactive Anti-Corruption (ESPAC) project for the fiscal year 2026.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Sorachai Chuwichien, Deputy Secretary-General of the NACC, and Ms. Warida Tanbooneak, Director of the Bureau of Promotion and Integration of Participation Against Corruption, presented a report on the NACC Office of Sanambinnam of in Nonthaburi Province.
Ms. Warida stated that the activity to develop the capacity of STRONG Club members to identify and act in areas at risk of corruption, under the Empowering STRONG for Proactive Anti-Corruption (ESPAC) project, is a continuation of the work from the STRONG-Sufficiency Economy Against Corruption project and the project to identify areas at risk of corruption. The goal of the project is to develop and solve area-based problems through participation at all levels.
This event is divided into three main parts: lectures to enhance legal knowledge, discussions to develop the capacity and strengthen the participation of civil society networks in Bangkok, and group activities for brainstorming, planning, and determining operational guidelines, as well as exchanging knowledge and experiences in monitoring and reporting corruption in Bangkok to NACC Office.
The event was attended by 100 participants, including representatives from the STRONG Club in Bangkok, consisting of all 6 zones, which are Eastern Bangkok, Northern Thonburi, Central Bangkok, Northern Bangkok, Southern Bangkok, and Southern Thonburi.
Mr. Sornchai, Deputy Secretary-General of the NACC, said that the mission of preventing corruption is at the heart of building a transparent society that does not tolerate corruption at all levels. This activity aims to enhance the capacity of civil society networks by equipping them with accurate knowledge and essential skills for monitoring, reporting, and deterring corruption in their areas with adequate power and confidence. This will be done within the framework of the NACC law and the important protective tool of the Anti-SLAPP Law, which will allow the networks to work safely without fear of harassment or intimidation.
"I am confident that with the cooperation of the STRONG Club members, who possess dedication, courage, and responsibility towards the community and society as a whole, the knowledge and power that you will receive from today's activity will be further developed in your areas, expanding to your communities and creating ‘eyes ready to watch’ and ‘voices ready to signal’ against all forms of corrupt behavior. This will drive Thai society towards greater transparency and create change in every area," Mr. Sornchai said.
The morning session of the event included a lecture on the topic "The Role of Civil Society Networks in Monitoring, Reporting Corruption, and Protection Against SLAPP Lawsuits Under the NACC law," delivered by inquiry officers from the Bureau of Legal Affairs of the NACC Office.
Following this was a discussion on the topic "Guidelines for Developing the Capacity and Strengthening the Participation of Civil Society Networks in Bangkok," led by speakers from Construction Control Division and Drainage and Sewerage Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), a senior anti-corruption officer from the Bureau of Proactive Measures and Innovation of the NACC Office, and the leader of the STRONG Club of Bangkok.
The afternoon session consisted of discussions and small group work on the topic of "Identifying Issues for Collaborative Community Development into a Network for Monitoring and Reporting Corruption to the NACC Office," led by the leaders of the STRONG Club from Eastern Bangkok, Northern Bangkok and Southern Thonburi zones.
Following this, presentations were given on the results of monitoring and reporting (Watch & Voice) and guidelines for collaborative work were established. Ms. Lalita Phochanaphan, Assistant Secretary-General of the NACC, joined the session to listen to the presentations, offer suggestions, and deliver the closing remarks.
The NACC Office hopes that the capacity-building activities for members of the STRONG Club will serve as a platform to enhance the capabilities of civil society network leaders and provide them with a knowledge base on corruption prevention and deterrence, enabling them to disseminate their experiences in monitoring and reporting corruption, and to apply this knowledge to their own monitoring and reporting efforts (Watch & Voice) to the NACC and relevant agencies. This will help monitor similar or related corruption risks in their respective areas.
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