About ICIMOD

Bhutan

The Royal Government of Bhutan is one of the founding members of ICIMOD, along with seven other member states. Bhutan has been a partner of ICIMOD since its inception and has been helping to meet its major objectives of poverty alleviation and environmental conservation in the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Bhutan contributes core support to ICIMOD, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF) as the designated nodal agency. The incumbent Secretary of the MoAF formally represents Bhutan on the ICIMOD Board of Governors. Bhutan and ICIMOD has been working in the area of capacity building, institutional strengthening, internships, research and demonstration, and regional and international workshops and conferences, among other activities. ICIMOD`s partner institutions in Bhutan include government agencies, development agencies, academic and research institutions, universities, NGOs and private sector. The formal letter of agreements for ICIMOD programs is routed and approved through the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) in close coordination with MoAF.

Country Nodal Agency

Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu

Country Focal Point

Tashi Dorji
Livelihood Specialist: Conservation and Development
ICIMOD

Regional Programmes engaged in Bhutan

Regional Programme 1: Adaptation to Change
Enhance resilience and support adaptation of vulnerable mountain communities and ecosystems, especially to climate change.

Himalica

Regional Programme 2: Transboundary Landscapes
Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources (biodiversity, rangelands, farming systems, forests, wetlands and watersheds) in landscapes defined by ecosystems rather than administrative boundaries

Regional Programme 3: River Basins
Economic and social benefits derived from water resources in an equitable manner while conserving and, where necessary, restoring freshwater ecosystems.

HYCOS

Regional Programme 4: Cryosphere and Atmosphere
Regional cryosphere knowledge hub to collate and share knowledge of partners working in the region, and to build capacity to study the cryosphere.

Atmosphere

Cryosphere

Regional Programme 5: Mountain Environment Regional Information System (MENRIS)
Enable use of information and knowledge for policies and practices through support from a regional information system in the HKH region.

SERVIR HKH

Partners in Bhutan

Strategic and Policy Partner:
Partners in this category support development and formulation of mountain-specific development strategies, policies and legislation. These key partners include focal ministries, national and regional organisations, and global partners, and the partnerships are usually formalized through a MoU.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan - Nodal Agency
Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI)
Department of Hydro-met Services (DHMS), Ministry of Economic Affairs
Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC)
National Environment Commission (NEC)
National Land Commission (NLC)
The Council for Renewable Natural Resources Research of Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
Ugyen Wangchuk Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWICE)

Implementation Partner:
Partners in this category include operational partners and research partners. They support regional programme implementation either individually in the RMCs or through the consortium of partners, usually formalized through a LoA with financial obligations.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan - Nodal Agency
Bhutan Media and Communications Institute (BMCI)
Center for Climate Change and Spatial Infrastructure (CCCSI), Sherubtse College Trashigang
Department of Hydro-met Services (DHMS), Ministry of Economic Affairs
Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC)
National Environment Commission (NEC)
National Land Commission (NLC)
Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN)
Royal University of Bhutan (RUB)

Knowledge Partners and Network:
Partners in this category include universities and academic institutions; regional and global network organisations; science partners and thematic networks; institutions engaged in advocacy, outreach, knowledge sharing and exchange and dissemination including media organisations and publication houses.