The first Bhutan-ICIMOD Coordination Committee meeting was held on February 7, 2025, in Thimphu, chaired by the Hon’ble Secretary of the Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources (MoENR). The meeting brought together key implementing partners of ICIMOD in Bhutan to review ongoing initiatives, share programme highlights, gather strategic feedback, and plan for 2025.
While Bhutan and ICIMOD have enjoyed a 40-year partnership, a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on March 5, 2024, to further strengthen long-term collaboration. The Chairperson commended ICIMOD’s engagement with Bhutanese agencies and emphasized the importance of strategic guidance, efficiency, and ownership in implementing activities.
Dr. Tashi Dorji, Country Focal representing ICIMOD, reaffirmed ICIMOD’s commitment to supporting Bhutan’s development efforts and highlighted the Coordination Committee’s critical role in ensuring the success of joint initiatives.
Key decisions from the meeting included restructuring the Committee at the executive level and scheduling biannual meetings for planning and review. A working group, led by the Chief of the Policy & Planning Division (MoENR), will be formed to oversee progress and address challenges before presenting them to the Committee for guidance.
Additionally, the National Land Commission Secretariat will lead the development and integration of the Decision Support System, ensuring accessibility through a common platform and database. Meanwhile, MoENR’s Policy & Planning Division will serve as the central repository for all reports and information related to Bhutan-ICIMOD engagement.
