Across the globe, governments are facing increasingly complex challenges. Compounding crises, declining trust in public institutions, and a complicated information environment require more resilient governance. Governments and centres of government (CoGs), in particular, recognise the need to enhance public governance and policy development approaches beyond traditional ways of working.
Cross-cutting policy issues require governments to respond to issues across the whole of government, challenging traditional siloes and issue ownership. In this light, CoGs are taking on an increased role in many governments, including in Thailand, in steering a range of functions to support better outcomes for citizens.
Situated at the heart of government, the CoG is uniquely positioned to translate political goals into policy actions, steward and coordinate cross-cutting issues, particularly those requiring whole-of-government responses, such as the green transition, and create an enabling environment to meaningfully engage stakeholders. The CoG can also ensure effective monitoring approaches are used throughout the government, helping demonstrate progress and enhance accountability and transparency for citizens. CoGs also take an essential leadership role in guiding good public governance and policy development practices for governments.
This public governance scan presents an overview of the current state and opportunities for the government of Thailand to enhance public governance for cross-cutting issues, focusing on the role of the CoG. The substantial steps Thailand has taken towards its highest priority issues, such as net zero emissions, demonstrate the continued commitment and efforts on behalf of the government of Thailand to drive better outcomes for its citizens. By further leveraging the CoG’s role and enhancing policy development practices, Thailand can continue to be better equipped to deal with cross-cutting issues.
This scan thus provides a starting point for further dialogue and action. It underscores the importance of addressing cross-cutting issues utilising fit-for-purpose governance approaches and the role of the CoG. Navigating these complex challenges is no easy task but this scan presents a foundation for continued work to achieve better public governance. It explores governance arrangements for cross-cutting policies, using Thailand’s net zero transition as a case study. The report provides a concise overview of the current situation and presents key recommendations across three core areas: roles and responsibilities, policy development, and performance management.
The evidence and data collected for this scan contributes to the OECD ‘s broader programme of work on effective, innovative, fit-for-the-future and digitally enabled government and citizen-centred services, and on reinforcing trust in government. Data collection took place in 2024, with validation activities carried out in 2025.
On 17 June 2024, the OECD Council decided to open accession discussions with Thailand. The Roadmap for the OECD Accession Process of Thailand was adopted on 10 July 2024. In accordance with the Roadmap, Thailand will undergo in-depth reviews by the OECD technical committees listed in the Roadmap.
This Public Governance Scan was prepared under the OECD Thailand Country Programme Phase 2 (2023 - 2026) and separately from Thailand’s accession process. The Country Programme seeks to strengthen Thailand’s alignment with OECD standards and good practices across policy areas while deepening its engagement in OECD committees and their subsidiary bodies.
The publication was approved and declassified by the Public Governance Committee on 14 July 2025 and prepared for publication by the Secretariat.