Bhutan

Cabinet of Bhutan Approves UNDP Supported National Human Resource Development Policy

30 January 2011 Bhutan's first National Human Resource Development (NHRD) Policy developed with financial and technical assistance provided by UNDP was recently approved by the Cabinet on 26^th January 2011. 

The NHRD policy lays down the guidelines for civil servants and employees of public and private sectors. The need for a consolidated human resource development policy at the national level according to the Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi, the Minister for Labour and Human Resources was important because of the lack of one single agency designated for the coordination and guiding of human resource development in the country. "The NHRD policy is framed to develop a knowledge based society with citizens of high employability, entrepreneurship and productivity" said the Minister as quoted in the Bhutan Times local paper.

The policy accords the highest priority and focus on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) which is considered as a means to ensure productive employment, economic security and personal well-being for Bhutan's growing population according to the Minister.

It also supports the promotion of world class HRD institutions by strengthening existing institutions and setting up new ones enabling the country to develop and maintain a competent and knowledge human resource that is globally competitive.

The Ministry of Labor and Human Resources, as the apex national agency will be primarily responsible for providing overall policy directions and guidelines on national human resource development.

UNDP works with the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources in developing human resource development policies and programmes that are geared towards the employment generation and pro-poor growth through the promotion of MSMEs.