The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Royal Government of Thailand through Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) have extensively collaborated under the South-South Cooperation (SSC) to share and exchange Thailand-based good practices on sexual and reproductive health, population, and development with other countries since 1980s. From 2012 to today, the SSC initiatives between the two partners have strategically changed to be based on demand and equal partnership with aims to make contributions towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiatives include the South-South and Trilateral Cooperation with the Governments of Bhutan and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) to develop their institutional capacity in maternal health programme (Bhutan) and the
national midwifery education programme (Lao PDR). Positive impacts gained in terms of the improvements in the quality of the health of these two countries’ workforce, specifically regarding maternal health care and services, have been highly recognized.

This report aims to analyse the social and economic values of resources and Thailand-based experiences stemming from its partners’ initiatives under the South-South and Trilateral Cooperation (SSTC) towards the reduction of material mortality (SDG 3) in Bhutan and Lao PDR.