Legally registered in 1985, the National Council for Child and Youth Development (NCYD) promotes coordinated efforts between the Thai government and NGOs in support of the nation's children and youth. Composed of 65 children and youth organizations from throughout the country, NCYD is recognized by both the government and private sectors as the official national coordinating body for child and youth development efforts.

In 1993, NCYD entered into partnership with the International Youth Foundation (IYF) to form the NCYD-IYF Project. The NCYD-IYF Project is dedicated to promoting the positive development of Thai children and youth, ages 5-20, through the following strategies:

• Identifying, strengthening, expanding, and replicating existing children and youth programs that demonstrate effectiveness;

• Building the institutional capacity of children and youth development organizations and providing opportunities for networking and information exchange among them;

• Enhancing youth leadership development and career development processes;

• Promoting learning and dissemination of information on the needs of young Thais and the organizations that serve them; and

• Mobilizing local and international resources in support of children and youth efforts in Thailand.

  The NCYD-IYF Project concentrates its efforts in program areas that include rural youth, street based and working children, child exploitation, and youth leadership.