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UN extends USD 2.175 million to better rural lives

21 March 2008

Thimphu: The first elected government will, according to the draft 10th plan, place poverty alleviation as its overarching goal in the coming five years.

In line with the focus, the UN system in Bhutan has committed USD 2.175 (approximately Nu. 85 million) to support the government to tackle some of the challenges the country faces in achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015 and uphold poverty reduction.

To this effect, an agreement was signed between the Secretary of the Gross National Happiness Commission (previously Planning Commission), Karma Tshiteem and the representatives of UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNV and WFP on 19 March.

Called the UN Human Security Fund Project, the focus will be to achieve five objectives.

First, to improve primary education for rural children.

Second, will provide clean drinking water, latrine and kitchens with fuel efficient stoves to improve school sanitation and environment in selected rural schools.

Third, will provide non-formal education, village skills training and establish of a network of 10 Integrated Community Development Centres to increase knowledge skills and income of rural poor households.

Fourth, will enhance outreach of micro finance services for the rural household, particularly women.

And finally, will aim to increase small business, jobs, and self-employment to reduce unemployment and enhanced capacity of civil society organisations in supporting vulnerable populations and promoting gender equality.

The project will trigger off immediately and is expected to be completed in 30 months.

The government is also committed to achieve the MDGs by 2015 and has devoted about 25 percent of its development budget to the social sector to provide access to free education and basic health services. However, challenges still exist in addressing rural poverty, illiteracy, school enrolment, maternal health, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.

The GNH Secretary, Karma Tshiteem said the Human Security fund project will have a direct bearing on the rural communities and would help transform the economy. He added that pilot projects will also be undertaken to ensure a successful implementation.

According to the UN system in Bhutan, “the joint UN project will empower and increase the level of human security of vulnerable people particularly women and children 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 programme will be implemented with partners comprised of six ministries, the Bhutan Development Finance Corporation and non-government organisations.

The fund amount comes from the UN Trust Fund for Human Security, a global fund to help needy countries.

By Sonam Pelden
 

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