Street-Level Policy Entrepreneurship and Digital Technology Promotion for Migrant Health Risk Communication Policy Implementation

This study aims to explore how Street-level Policy Entrepreneurs (SLPEs) utilized their strategies, skills, and attributes to promote the use of digital technology strategies for migrant health communication policy implementation. It focused on the implementation activities of SLPEs in Phetchabun and Tak where there were high concentrations of COVID-19 patients and migrants. This study used a comparative case study design which included interviews with 24 SLPEs from the two provinces. It was found that the pandemic accelerated policy actors’ adoption of entrepreneurial practices and qualities in promoting the use of digital technology strategies and coping with the implementation challenges. The unique policy context of the two provinces also promoted different utilization of entrepreneurial strategies, skills, and attributes among SLPEs in order to gain social, political, and intellectual capital for policy implementation. This research contributes to the knowledge regarding policy implementation theory and street-level policy entrepreneurship during a public health crisis as well as future pandemic preparation.