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United Nations System in Bhutan
UN Millennium Development Goals: Bhutan & the UN system in addressing priorities
The UN System in Bhutan will support the Royal Government to tackle some of the challenges the country faces in achieving the MDGs by 2015 and upholding poverty reduction as the overarching goal of the 10th Five Year Plan. An agreement to this effect was signed on 19/03/2008 between the Secretary of the GNH Commission Mr. Karma Tshiteem and the Representatives of UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNV and WFP.

This illustrates the UN agencies' commitment to delivering as one, thus enhancing the synergies and the effectiveness of UN activities through greater coherence around a common set of outcomes and strategies.

Speaking at the signing, Mr.Tshiteem stressed the importance of diversified and integrated projects in empowering vulnerable people and noted that the experience gathered through this project could be used for replicating similar projects in future. Highlighting the project as a 'practical demonstration of the UN in Bhutan delivering as one', Mr. Rosellini said that this is the first joint UN Project to be implemented after the Common Country Programme Action Plan (cCPAP) was signed with the Royal government in December 2007. He reiterated the commitment of the UN agencies to a process leading to improved operational efficiency, accountability and transparency and programme delivery resulting in reduced transactions costs through similar joint initiatives.

The Royal Government of Bhutan is committed to achieve the MDGs by 2015 and as a result has devoted about 25% of its development budget to the social sector with the aim of providing access to free basic education and free basic health services to all. However, there are still challenges in addressing rural poverty, illiteracy, school enrolment, maternal health, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.

The joint UN project will empower and increase the level of human security of vulnerable people particularly children and women of rural Bhutan through multi-sectoral supports including literacy and vocational education, health, income generation and job creation in an integrated and sustainable manner.

The project is focused on achieving the following five objectives:

(1) Improved access to primary education for rural children and make rural 15 schools child-friendly;

(2) Improved school sanitation and environment in selected rural schools through provision of clean drinking water, latrine and kitchens with fuel efficient stoves;

(3) Increased knowledge, skills and income of rural poor households through the provision of nonformal education, village skills training and the establishment of a network of 10 Integrated Community Development Centres;

(4) Enhanced outreach of micro finance services for the rural poor households, particularly women;

(5) Increased small business, job, and self-employment to reduce unemployment and enhanced capacity of civil society organizations in supporting vulnerable populations and promoting gender equality.

The thirty-month project will be carried out with the support of a number of implementing partners comprising of the Ministries of Education, Health, Agriculture, Economic Affairs, Labour and Human Resources, Information and Communications including the Bhutan Development Finance Corporation (BDFC) and Non-Government organizations such as Youth Development Fund (YDF) and Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women (RENEW).

The project amounting to US$ 2.175 million is supported through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security funded by the Government of Japan which calls for integrated programmes and approaches, to empower people, particularly the poor, to actively participate in the development process, secure and improve their livelihoods.

Source: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 2008

Bhutan's Progress: Midway to the MDGs

Bhutan is among the few countries that have been making good progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

According to the latest report "Bhutan's progress: Midway to the Millennium Development Goals", which was launched in Thimphu, Bhutan has already achieved three of the MDG indicators and is on track to meet most of the other targets by 2015.

In a keynote address at the launch, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director, UNDP, Mr. Ajay Chhibber said that Bhutan presents an exemplary case of a peaceful political transformation from absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy with a gradual set up of democratic institutions and practices.

He emphasized the need to "deepen and strengthen democracy to the grass root level and empower people" which will not only help achieve the MDGs but also strengthen the democratic process. Mr. Chhibber highlighted the need for targeted programs that will deliver development benefits directly to the poor, enhancing their human development and addressing the root causes of their impoverishment. Such intervention, he said will help address the contrasts across districts on a number of MDG target areas such as poverty incidence, child malnutrition, food security, net primary education enrolment and access to safe drinking water.

Bhutan's Education Minister Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel, who was the chief guest at the launch said that while Bhutan had crossed several milestones in achieving the MDGs, there are certain areas that need to be addressed in poverty, gender parity at tertiary level of education, youth unemployment and women's participation in decision making. Also speaking at the occasion, the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Nicholas Rosellini said that Bhutan's success story on the MDGs is attributed to the strong political will and commitment of the Government in integrating the MDGs into the national planning framework. He highlighted the synergy between Bhutan's development approach of Gross National Happiness and the Millennium Declaration and said that the "Millennium Declaration is guided by the universal values of freedom, equality, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibilities - ideals which are integral to Bhutan's development approach of Gross National Happiness", which has helped pave the way for Bhutan's progress in the MDGs.

The launch was attended by senior government officials, representatives from development organizations, the NGOs, the private sector, the media and UN agencies in Bhutan.

Source: The United Nations Develoment Programme (UNDP), November 2008

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Gross National Happiness (GNH)

Bhutan has a unique approach to development, with Gross National Happiness (GNH) as its guiding philosophy. The way of thinking behind this concept is captured in His Majesty the King's words "Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product". It is on the belief that the pursuit of happiness is the innermost desire of every human being, and that of every citizen of the kingdom. The concept suggests a much broader, comprehensive and balanced approach to development.

Bhutan has a unique approach to development, with Gross National Happiness (GNH) as its guiding philosophy. The way of thinking behind this concept is captured in His Majesty the King's words "Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product". It is on the belief that the pursuit of happiness is the innermost desire of every human being, and that of every citizen of the kingdom. The concept suggests a much broader, comprehensive and balanced approach to development.

In 1961, Bhutan embarked on a campaign to modernise the economy and the state with the five-year plans of economic and social development as the main instruments. Agriculture and hydro-energy are the two main sector of Bhutan's economy. The Government emphasises the balance between economic development and the preservation of cultural heritage and natural environment. For Bhutan development is not measured only in terms of income growth but is viewed in terms of spiritual happiness. "Gross National Happiness" is a measurement term unique only to Bhutan, of which the country is proud.

The philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) was first coined by the Fourth King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The concept provides a new perspective on development and suggests a much broader, comprehensive and balanced approach to development. While GNH has provided a very unique development vision for Bhutan, it has been a challenge to establish clear linkages between GNH and the national policy and institutional frameworks.

In 1999, the government prepared a long term development strategy entitled, "Bhutan 2020: A Vision for Peace, Prosperity and Happiness." It envisioned what the nation wishes to achieve by 2020, complete with a set of development targets, covering all four policy pillars of GNH.

In 1998, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs first brought GNH to the notice of the international community when he addressed the UNDP Regional Meeting in South Korea. This was a turning point for GNH. A small seminar held by the Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS) in 1999 following by the two international conferences on GNH brought together international and national experts in different fields such as psychology, economics and philosophy to discuss and examine GNH not just from a theoretical aspect but from a practical perspective. Bhutanese decision-makers increasingly began to think about applying GNH in specific policy and planning situations.

Bhutanese development policy framework based on GNH comprises of four pillars:

balanced and equitable socio-economic development;
preservation of the natural environment;
preservation and promotion of cultural heritage;
and good governance.

The Good Governance Taskforce in 2005 discussed on the operationalization of GNH as an anchor to be established under the new democratic political system. Adopting GNH as the national development policy and as criteria for planning and monitoring was considered to be important means of securing good governance in Bhutan.

Source: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2008

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