Highlights over the past 12 months
Support for Local Governance Project, Phase II, formalised (9 January 2012)
The Gross National Happiness Commission and HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Bhutan formalized the second phase of engagement in local governance. The project builds on experiences and lessons from Phase I, and introduces new elements of governance.
Photo exhibition at the Sengden Lower Secondary School, Dophuchen Gewog from 9-10th December, 2011.
On the 9th and 10th December the project “Leveraging cultural diversity” organized a photo exhibition and cultural awareness program in Sengden Lower Secondary School in Dorokha drungkhag, Dophuchen gewog under Samtse dzongkhag.
Helvetas merges with Swiss Intercooperation
On 1 July 2011 Helvetas (founded in 1955 as an association) merged with Swiss Intercooperation (founded 1982, as a Foundation). The new organization Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation is one of the most experienced and largest development organisations in Switzerland.
A photo exhibition titled "Life in Ngangla through the eyes of the Children" was inaugurated by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck on the 4th of May 2011 at Alaya Gallery, Tarayana Center, Chubachu, Thimphu.
An Education workshop on Archaeology (28th March - 1st April 2011)
An Educational Workshop on Archaeology was conducted from 28th March to 1st April 2011. The workshop was organized as part of Phase II of the “Bhutan-Swiss archaeology project” between the Department of Culture, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs (MoHCA), and the Swiss-Liechtenstein Foundation for Archaeological Research Abroad (SLSA).
New members in the Helvetas-Bhutan family
Helvetas-Bhutan is happy to welcome two new members: Liliane Tarnutzer and Annik Vollmar.
Inputs for the country programme
A workshop on seeking inputs from stakeholders for Helvetas-Bhutan’s future engagement in the working area Civil Society and State, and Culture - was held. The workshop looked at trends and challenges in these working areas, experiences and lessons learnt from past engagements, and opportunities and future areas of strategic interventions.
Agreement on project with RUB signed (18 February 2011)
The agreement on the construction of an IT building and an auditorium for the Royal University of Bhutan was signed on 18th February, 2011, between the Gross National Happiness Commission, the Office of the Vice Chancellor and Helvetas-Bhutan.
Inputs for the Country Programme (8 February 2011)
On 8th February 2011, a workshop on seeking inputs from stakeholders for Helvetas-Bhutan’s engagement in two working areas - Natural Resources Management (NRM) and Rural Infrastructure (RI) - was held.
Collaborators’ meeting (11 January 2011)
The first collaborators’ meeting for 2011 was held in Galephu on 11th January 2011. The main highlight was discussions on developing a plan of action for the joint formulation of the next Country Programme (2012-2018). Several concrete follow-up steps have been identified. Apart from partners from all the projects, stakeholders from the Department of Local Governance and the Gross National Happiness Commission participated.
His Majesty visits the Drapham Dzong excavation site, 7-November, 2010
His Majesty the King visited the Drapham Dzong excavation site on 7th November 2010. In the royal entourage were the Prime Minister and the Minister for Home and Cultural Affairs.
Helvetas-Bhutan programme calendar for 2011
Helvetas-Bhutan produced a calendar for 2011, showcasing the different projects it is engaged in.
Helvetas engagement in Bhutan beyond the 10th five year plan
Helvetas has committed to continue its engagement in Bhutan beyond the 10th five year plan. This decision was made by the Board of Helvetas last week.
Inauguration of Kizom Zam, 13-October, 2010
The bridge in upper part of Tang valley was opened on the by HE Lyonpo Dr. Pema Gyamthso and Madam G. Whittaker, Chairperson of Elysium Foundation on 13th October 2010. More than 100 house holds in upper Tang will directly benefit from the bridge.
Women representation in public decision making bodies as block leaders (Gups), deputy block leaders (Mangmis) and Tshogpas (village representatives) is very low. Therefore, as part of the Support for Local Governance Project, Helvetas-Bhutan and DANIDA supported a functional literacy test preparation programme for potential women community leaders.
Gender Peer Review (10-15-August-2010)
For the first time, a gender peer review was conducted by Helvetas-Nepal in Helvetas-Bhutan. The review is part of the process of looking at the gender strategy of Helvetas within different Country Programmes, as well as a forum for experience sharing among countries. The review took place from 10 -15 August 2010.
Collaborators’ meeting (13-05-2010)
Helvetas-Bhutan and its collaborators held its biannual collaborators’ meeting on 13th May 2010. Unlike in the past, this collaborators’ meeting focused on important events that occurred in certain projects, enhancing collaboration between projects on specific subjects and forward planning, and cross cutting topics. Apart from our long term partners and project managers, the GNH Commission participated for the first time in this forum.
RDTC infrastructure handing over (11-05-2010)
Coinciding with the annual steering committee meeting of the RDT project phase III, the Rural Development Training center infrastructure were officially handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests. The handing over took place between the Director/Officiating Secretary, Department of Agriculture and the Resident Coordinator of Helvetas-Bhutan.
Ground-breaking ceremony for SDC’s support to the Bumthang court
construction (06-05-2-10)
As part of SDC’s support to the Judiciary (2009-2013), a district court will be constructed in Bumthang. The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction was done on 6th May 2010 in the presence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Bhutan. The court construction is expected to improve the physical access to court justice, and to underline the institutional separation of the judiciary from the executive.
Signing Ceremony – Leveraging Cultural Diversity (08-04-2010)
On 8th April, 2010, the GNH Commission and Helvetas signed the agreement on the project “Preserving and Leveraging Bhutan’s Unique Cultural Diversity”. The project is jointly financed by the European Union under the theme “Investing in People – Access to local culture, protection and promotion of cultural diversity” and Helvetas.
Nado Dukpa and Manju Mukhia complete 20 and 10 years respectively with Helvetas-Bhutan.
The completion of every five years with Helvetas is celebrated among the Helvetas-Bhutan staff. This marks five years of fruitful teamwork, friendship and achievements.
Helvetas-Bhutan hosts the donor meeting (01-04-2010)
Helvetas-Bhutan hosts the donor meeting on 1st April. The highlight of the meeting was a presentation from the Bhutan Center for Media and Democracy (BCMD).
New members in the Helvetas-Bhutan family
Helvetas-Bhutan is happy to welcome three new members: Markus Wild, documentation specialist; Tenzin Kuenzang, intern; and Kunzang Dorji, Project Manager.
Support for Local Governance - training of locally elected leaders
As part of the Support for Local Governance (SLG) project, the project manager from GNHC (Sonam Yarphel) and Helvetas-Bhutan (Tashi and Jangchu) participated in the training of locally elected leaders in the two Gewogs of Tendu and Bara in Samtse. The training was part of a series in a larger capacity development programme which consists of three levels of training.
Helvetas-Bhutan Programme Review, (from 09-26.03.10)
Staring from the 9th of March 2010, Professor Wolf Linder and two national consultants, Dr. Pema Chophel and Mr. Kunzang Dorji, have started the review of the Helvetas Bhutan programme and the political framework conditions in Bhutan. The findings and recommendations from the review is expected to provide inputs to the management and Board of Directors of Helvetas in Switzerland to decide on future engagements in Bhutan.
______________________________________________________________________________
for archived documents click here