The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The United Nations (UN) in Bhutan launched its Annual Results Report 2018 on Friday at the UN House.
This report documents how the UN has mobilized and disbursed USD 15.1 million to support Bhutan’s national development priorities through the Delivering As One approach in 2018.
Resident Coordinator of United Nations to Bhutan, Gerald Daly said the report is to tell the people of Bhutan that what UN in Bhutan have been doing and is being accountable to the people of Bhutan.
Officials from different organizations of the UN highlighted the achievements.
Dungkar Drukpa from World Food Programme (WFP) said WFP has supported school children across the country in addition to providing technical assistance in capacity building in nutrition, food fortification, monitoring and reporting. WFP also started one new area which emergency preparedness and response planning.
Assistant Resident Representative of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Chadho Tenzin said the organization has implemented 6 projects. One of the focus areas is strengthening the capacity of the RNR sector. FAO supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests in enhancing rice productivity with focus on technology and also proper drying and storage of maize. The organization also helped in developing a project on rice intensification.
The organization is also working on the USD 10 mn Green Planet Fund grants and is also implementing a project on food security and agricultural productivity.
Dr. Vandana Joshi of UNICEF said they are working with the government and that UNICEF is for every child. The organization covers the child related areas.
WHO Representative Dr. Rui said WHO has been able to establish a Health Emergency Center.
WHO has developed guidelines for clinical and public health purposes including Hepatitis. WHO will continue to work on several areas including Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to shape up the policy and further translate into actions to reduce the burden of the NCDs.
Deputy Representative of UNDP, Juergen Nagler said in partnership with GNHC, they have helped to put over 80,000 hectares of forest under sustainable forest management practices which has helped some 600 households in Punakha, Trongsa, Tsirang and Haa to access irrigation water. With the partnership NEC and the Phuentsholing Thromde, UNDP has supported to mitigate landslides in Phuentsholing.
A new project with the GNHC and MoIC is 300 Electric vehicles Taxis Project. The organization is also working on fostering youth entrepreneurship.
Assistant Resident Representative of UNFPA, Yeshey Dorji said the organization has supported the MoH to get the reproductive health strategy revised. In partnership with WHO and UNICEF it will operationalize the strategies to move forward to eliminate cervical cancers in the country. UNFPA also provides a life skills based comprehensive sexuality education in schools.
The report highlights three major milestones in 2018.These are the successful implementation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) One Program for 2014-2018, the signing of the UN Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF) 2019-2023 and a review of Bhutan’s progress through the Voluntary National Review (VNR) on implementing the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development to the High Level Political Forum (HLPF).
