Bhutan

Joint Support Programme: Capacity Development for Mainstreaming Environment, Climate Change and Poverty Concerns in Policies, Plans and Programmes

This Joint Support Programme on Capacity Development for Mainstreaming Environment, Climate Change and Poverty Concerns in Policies, Plans and Programmes aims to develop the capacity of local governments (Dzongkhags and Gewogs) to manage the environment, natural resources, and the effects of climate change. It intends to do this within the overarching 10^th Five-Year Plan goal of alleviating poverty and the crosscutting development theme of environment.

The aim of the Joint Support Programme is to contribute to the reduction of poverty in Bhutan, which is of highest priority to the RGoB. The development objective of the Joint Support Programme is: "sustainable development planning and implementation are undertaken at national and local levels that contribute to: alleviation of climate change impacts; conservation, protection and sustainable use of natural resources; and poverty reduction".

The expected outcomes of the Joint Support Programme are included in the immediate objectives: "1) strengthened national level capacity that facilitates national and local level five-year planning and implementation by mainstreaming environment, climate change and poverty concerns in policies, plans and programmes; and 2) strengthened local level capacity to formulate and implement five-year development plans and annual plans in which environment, climate change and poverty concerns are mainstreamed".

The Joint Support Programme grant is made up of a contribution of DKK 20 million from Denmark, and approximately USD 860,000 from UNDP/UNEP.  The programme duration is four years (2010 - 2013). The implementation of Joint Support Programme is coordinated by the Development Cooperation Division (DCD) together with the Plan Monitoring Coordination Division (PMCD) and Local Development Division (LDD) of the GNHC Secretariat. Implementation of the two outcomes will be the responsibility of different agencies, under the overall supervision of a Programme Management Group, to be serviced by DCD, PMCD and LDD.

Following a preparatory phase (October 2007-April 2008), the first phase of the Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI) in Bhutan started in July 2008 and was completed in December 2009. Phase 1 focused on creating awareness on the importance of addressing poverty-environment linkages especially to address rural poverty in Bhutan. Over the course of Phase 1, the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) -Bhutan's development planning commissions - assumed a central role in integrating pro-poor environmental considerations in planning processes both at the central and local level.

Following up on the PEI Project, the PEI Phase II "Joint Support programme for Capacity Development in Mainstreaming Environment, Climate Change and Poverty concerns in Policies, Plans and Programmes" was designed in collaboration with the Government of Denmark (DANIDA).

The Joint Support Programme has been conceived to address the environment, climate change and associated poverty concerns as expressed in the Government's 10^th Five Year Plan (2008-2013) and to use the experience gained to help prepare the 11^th Five Year Plan beginning around mid 2011. In specific, the Programme will support:

• Capacity development of central and local government individuals and institutions and local councillors
• Preparation of guidelines that can sustain the mainstreaming process.

The main thrust of the Programme's capacity development interventions will be based on national institutions as training providers and in-service training. The private sector and civil society will also be targeted to enhance their engagement in environmental management.

UNDAF Outcome	1: By 2012, opportunities for generation of income and employment increased in targeted poor areas. 5: By 2012, national capacity for environmental sustainability and disaster management strengthened.
CT Outcome	1.2.2: Capacity of relevant agencies and affected communities enhanced to address the environment-poverty nexus. 5.1.1: Capacity of national and local authorities/agencies to mainstream environmental concerns strengthened. 5.1.2: Environment mainstreaming tools developed. 5.1.3: National capacity and tools to address cross-cutting/current issues related to environment.
CT Output	1.2: Food security among small holder farmers and other vulnerable groups in targeted rural areas enhanced. 5.1: National capacity to address current environmental challenges and mainstream environmental concerns into policies, plans and programs enhanced.
Project Location	Central and Eastern Region
Project Duration	January 2010 - December 2013
Budget Outlay	USD 4,130,000
Link to Workplan	Click on the icon to download