United Nations Volunteers (Bhutan)

About UNV Bhutan

What is UNV?
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme was set up as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly in 1970 under the general administration of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNV sends technically qualified men and women from developed and developing countries to provide critical skills needed in the developing world. In most years, between 7,000 and 8,000 UNV specialist are serving in developing countries around the world.

UNDP - UNDP Bhutan - UNV headquarters -

UNV in Bhutan

The first UNV specialists arrived in Bhutan in early 1980th. - a mechanic and an English teacher. Since then numerous UNV Specialists have served in Bhutan. Due to the acute manpower shortage in Bhutan at that time, the first phase UNV programme provided the necessary expertise in government posts, thus filling gaps in technical skills and know-how.

Currently 5 International Specialists are serving in Bhutan: ITC Specialist at Bhutan Post; Agricultural Economist at Agricultural Marketing Service, Ministry of Agriculture; Education Specialist at Youth Development Fund (YDF); under UNDP: Economist; Poverty and MDG Specialist; and UNV Programme Officer.

The role of UNV

As Bhutan’s skill base has developed, the need for high numbers of UNV volunteers has quite naturally fallen. Nevertheless, there are a number of areas where UNV volunteers can usefully share their skills with Bhutanese counterparts.

Bhutan played its part in celebrating 2001 as International Year of Volunteers, and each year on 5th December, in celebrating International Volunteer Day (IVD), and VIB website has launched. The Volunteers in Bhutan (VIB) Committee, consisting of representatives of 10 organisations as well as several individuals in Bhutan, aims to give recognition and support to the volunteer community in Bhutan.

Over the last quarter century, international UNV Specialists have provided Bhutan with essential professional expertise and training in a cost-effective manner. In its turn, Bhutanese UNV Specialists have been offering their expertise overseas also. UNV Specialists are widely recognized for their professionalism and dedication, ability to contribute technical know-how to the development process in Bhutan. UNV looks forward to continuing its close partnership with the Royal Government of Bhutan and its people. Bhutan is now increasingly reciprocating through having its own nationals serving as UNV volunteers overseas. As of January 2008, there are now more than 19 Bhutanese UNVs serving overseas, most of whom are in ex-conflict countries, such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nepal and others.