Taking care of people and communities: Rebuilding livelihoods through NGOs and the informal economy in Southern Thailand

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of NGOs in facilitating economic recovery to the tsunami devastated regions in Southern Thailand. This includes large international NGOs as well as small community based or local NGOs and how these organizations engage with one another as well as with government authorities and of course the local community to aid recovery. In particular, focus will be on how NGOs are able to assist local residents, especially those engaged in the informal sector in rebuilding their livelihoods in a region that has been devastated by a natural disaster.Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken in the paper has concentrated on analysing the response of various NGOs as well as industry representatives and government authorities in considering how response efforts and recovery initiatives have impacted, and will continue to impact on the lives and livelihoods of those living in affected communities as rebuilding takes place.Findings – Given that in Thailand ju...