GNHC being the focal agency for the SAARC Development Goals, Research and Evaluation Division submitted the SDG mid-term review report 2011 to SAARC Secretariat. It is the first SDG related document prepared by Bhutan.

The report takes stock of the progress made thus far in each of the 22 goals and identifies issues and concerns that require more attention. It is also intended to raise awareness among the decision makers and renew political commitments to these important goals.

The SDG report 2011 shows that Bhutan is on track on most of the indicators. Under the livelihood theme, Bhutan has fared well in the areas of reducing poverty and hunger, reducing inequality, increasing rural infrastructures, increasing access to justice, and in mainstreaming concerns of women and children. Challenges, however, remain in addressing rising unemployment, especially among the youth. With regard to the health theme, the report reveals that child and maternal health have improved. Incidences of tuberculosis and malaria have also decreased while access to safe drinking water and sanitation has increased. However, shortage of doctors continues to be a problem.

In the area of education, gross enrolment ratio has exceeded 100 % with 117 % in 2010. Bhutan has achieved gender parity at both primary and secondary levels. However, the adult literacy rate was low with only 52.8 % in 2005. With respect to environment conservation, 72.5 % of the land area is covered with forest, out of which 51.32% of the land area is designated as protected areas and biological corridors. The quality of air, water and soil is not a major concern. However, solid waste disposal is increasingly becoming an environmental problem, especially in the urban areas of Thimphu and Phuentsholing.

The report will soon be published and will be distributed to relevant agencies.

• Download the SDG Report 2011

The Japanese government is planning to develop an index to measure happiness.

The Japanese Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister unveiled the plan today at the Asia-Pacific Conference on measuring Well-being and the Progress of Societies.

The GNH secretary Karma Tshiteem is also attending the conference.

The index will evaluate people’s well-being using three benchmarks- household wealth, physical and mental health, and community and social ties.

The benchmarks will be based on data such as poverty rates, suicides, perceptions of family ties and fears about radiation. The data collection will start next year.

The sticking point between GNHC and DGM remains the screening tools to vet the policy

Mining Policy 6 October, 2011 – Differences between the Gross National Happiness (GNH) commission and geology and mines department on the mining policy has only caused it to further protract the process of its passage.

The policy will also have to be put through the GNH screening test. Read More »

Human Development Report 5 September, 2011 – Bhutan’s environmental policies, which are admired world over, are at risk of reversal from the threats of climate change.

This is a challenge to which the Bhutanese must rise to, although it’s not of its making, stated the recently launched Human Development Report.

“Sustaining Bhutan’s human development progress must form a national priority and the basis for international cooperation,” the report stated. “Actions to address climate change by the government should now be aligned by the Five Year Plans.” Read More »

Sixth Annual Consultation 5 September, 2011 – Bhutan proposed eight projects for grant assistance in survey and technical cooperation from Japan for 2011 during the sixth annual consultation between Bhutan and Japan on September 3 in Thimphu.

One of the proposed projects is the Taklai irrigation scheme that has been damaged from consecutive floods.

Under the KR II 2012 project, Bhutan proposed assistance of 350 two-wheeler tractors with rotary tiller, 350 single reversible ploughs, 10 combined harvesters and 50 power threshers.

The third proposal is assistance from Japan for the construction of an 800m long motorable bridge over the MaoKhola in Gelephu that cost around Nu 327M.

Reconstruction of the 325m long Diana Kuenphen bridge in Samtse, that’s estimated to cost about USD 18.20M is the fourth proposal.

One of the four proposed projects for technical cooperation includes the development of an integrated GLOF early warning system, with operational capacity enhancement for climate change adaption in Mangdechu and Chamkharchu river basins. Read More »

Round Table Meeting 3 September, 2011 – “The pulse is good,” was minister-in-charge of foreign affairs Yeshey Zimba’s hunch from having sat through the two-day round table meeting that ended yesterday.

That the donor perception was good, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba shared with a few Bhutanese journalists, gathered at one of the conference halls of the convention centre, right as he entered after the meeting.

“I expected there would be discussions about phasing out,” he said, adding the donors were instead forthcoming, and that, almost without exception, committed they are with Bhutan and would be through the next plan.
Read More »

Sustaining Progress-Rising to the Climate Challenge: The National Human Development Report, 2011 was released yesterday evening at the Round Table Meeting. It focuses on the human development conditions that characterise Bhutan’s vulnerability to climate risks.

• NHDR 2011

Round Table Meeting 2 September, 2011 – Bhutan will continue to be in need of donor assistance for its development activities, in fact until its vision, stretching as far as 2020, is realised.

That was what came out quite clear from both the prime minister’s address and that of the UN assistant secretary general’s in their opening addresses at the round table meeting that began yesterday.

Following a list of achievements and challenges that were highlighted in their ad- dresses, their underlying statement towards the end of their speeches was for donor agencies to continue supporting the country in its development activities.
Read More »

Development cooperation 1 September, 2011 – After 22 years, the country’s second biggest development partner, Denmark, is phasing out its program assistance to Bhutan, with a final commitment of 50M Danish kroner (Nu 440M).

The 50M is the Danish government’s assistance for the transition period from July this year until June 2015.

On August 30, a high level biennial consultation, which is also the last, was held between the Bhutanese and the Danish government to review bilateral cooperation. “This year’s consultation is significant as it’s the final consultation in the present format, prior to phasing out of the Danish programme country assistance to Bhutan,” a joint press statement from the foreign ministry stated.
Read More »

ON JULY 4, 10 people from the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC), including the GNHC Secretary, Karma Tshiteem set off on a 21- day trek to Lunana. The purpose was to survey two villages – Yoesuna and Whangchey – to assess the level of poverty and what can be done to improve the lives of the people. A health assistant from Punakha hospital joined the team to provide medical assistance and the manager of Jigme Dorji National Park accompanied the team to explain the problems the people of Lunana face. The villages of Yoesuna and Wachey have five and 11 households respectively.

Read More