February e-news
Child-Friendly Local Governance
A three-day Training of Trainers on promoting young people’s engagement in local governance began yesterday with the participation of thirteen Media and Democracy Club Coordinators and student leaders from four schools in Samtse Dzongkhag. The programme is designed to support the BCMD’s strategic objective of strengthening Media and Democracy Clubs within schools as sustainable mechanisms for civic education and democratic engagement. The programme seeks to support young people’s meaningful participation in local government processes and foster a mutually beneficial, constructive and sustained engagement between youth and local government leaders- so that community and gewog development plans are inclusive and responsive and also address the needs of children and young people.
The training situates youth participation within Bhutan’s broader governance and development framework. Participants examined the evolution of the Five-Year Plans, with particular attention to the transition from activity-based planning to a results-based approach. The sessions further explored how the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan operationalises the national vision of a Happy, Prosperous and Secure Bhutan through the four national cluster-based approach and the local government key result areas, aiming to fulfil development priorities and needs at the local level.
Building on this context, the programme examined the structure, mandates, and functions of local governments, alongside the planning cycle at Gewog and Dzongkhag levels. These sessions emphasised how Media and Democracy Clubs could serve as entry points for equipping children and young people with the knowledge, skills, confidence and understanding required to meaningfully participate in planning, consultation, and decision-making processes in their communities, thereby playing an active role in determining the positive change they want to see in their community.
The programme is supported by UNICEF Bhutan under the project titled ‘Promoting Young People’s Engagement in Community Development’.
Annual CSO Summit & Fourth Quarterly Meet
The Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD), in partnership with the Civil Society Organisation Authority (CSOA) and the elected Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Representative, convened the Annual CSO Summit of 2026 in Paro on 10th February. The first day brought together representatives from 46 CSOs joined by government agencies, and CSOA to reflect on the evolving role of civil society in Bhutan’s democratic and development process. The opening sessions set the tone for dialogue and collaboration, emphasising the importance of a strong, credible, and accountable civil society sector.
Presentations by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Department of Revenue and Customs (DRC), Royal Audit Authority (RAA) and the CSOA focused on ethics, integrity, and anti-corruption measures, the new tax law and GST implications for CSOs and its operations, financial management and auditing requirements, and updates on the Bhutan Civil Society Assessment System (BCAS), respectively. These sessions underscored the centrality of transparency, accountability, and institutional sustainability in strengthening public trust and enabling CSOs to effectively contribute to national development. The platform also provides a space for CSOs to raise questions and clarify doubts around the topics presented by the relevant agencies.
The Summit is a joint undertaking of DWA, BCMD, Helvetas and Bhutan Transparency Initiative with financial support from the European Union (EU) and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development ( BMZ).
47 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) convened in Paro on 11 February for the Fourth Quarterly Meeting, united around a shared purpose: strengthening and sustaining the civil society sector as one of the key development actors.
Led by the CSO Representative to the CSO Authority (CSOA), the gathering created an open platform to address sector-wide priorities, exchange critical updates, and deliberate on pressing challenges and emerging opportunities shaping the work of the civil society sector.
The morning session focused on sector sustainability, collaboration, and operational realities. Participants discussed improving grant implementation and reporting processes, clarifying administrative and compliance requirements, and addressing concerns around penalties, registration renewal processes, taxation, and endowment funds. There was a strong call for collective action, enhancing coordination across thematic groups, aligning efforts with national priorities, and deepening understanding of social enterprise models. Participants agreed to consolidate key issues to enable structured, solution-oriented dialogue moving forward.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to action. Participants worked collaboratively to refine priorities, sharpen recommendations, and articulate a unified set of concerns to be presented to the CSO Authority to achieve an outcome that is clear and actionable, and one that reflects a unified voice for the sector.
This quarterly meeting is a joint undertaking of the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD), DW Akademie, Helvetas Bhutan, and the Bhutan Transparency Initiative (BTI), with financial support from the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
On the final day of the Annual CSO Summit on 12th February 2026, CSOs engaged in a high-level dialogue with the Hon’ble Home Minister, Chairperson of the CSOA, highlighting governance updates, the Nu. 300 million GOI-PTA support, and key challenges, including GST exemptions and sustainability. The morning session concluded with the launch of the Guidelines for Biannual Meetings and the Annual CSO Summit, marking a milestone in strengthening collaboration between the Government and civil society.
In the afternoon CSO–Government Meet, CSOs presented critical challenges to the government and Office of the Cabinet Affairs and Strategic Coordination, calling for a streamlined PTA grant process with standard reporting templates and improved coordination. The discussion also underscored the need for a unified sustainability strategy aligned with the 13th FYP, enhanced collaboration with ministries on environment, climate, and animal welfare, and a more coordinated platform to amplify the collective voice of civil society.
This project is a joint undertaking of the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy, DW Akademie, Helvetas Bhutan, and the Bhutan Transparency Initiative, with financial support from the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.