UNDAF outcome 1: To halve poverty by 2013
Despite impressive progress at the national level, about 23% of the population still lives below the poverty line (Nu.1096.94 per person/month) which indicates that income inequality is a major challenge in the country. Localized chronic food insecurity is found mainly among landless farmers and wage earners and seasonal food shortages remain a concern for many families mainly during pre-harvest season. Therefore, these incidences highlight the need for targeted poverty interventions. The draft Tenth Plan of the Government aims at reducing the percentage of people below the poverty line to 15% by the end of 2013.
There is a need for a comprehensive policy for private sector development to realize the sector’s full potential for national development.
The UN poverty and data theme group collaborates with partners such as the Ministry of Economic Affairs, National Statistical Bureau, Centre for Bhutan Studies, the GNH Commission, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs and the Handicraft Association of Bhutan to address these challenges. The focus of this partnership is on:
- Improving access to socioeconomic services in targeted rural areas
- Enhancing food security among smallholder farmers & vulnerable groups
- Strengthen the national capacity development to respond to economic constraints and vulnerabilities
- Develop community-based micro-, small- and medium sized enterprises
The theme group works applies a pro-poor, gender-sensitive & youth-oriented approach when programming activities together with its partners
Workplans 2010:
- Labour market and employment
- Cultural industries
- Food Security through Improved Home Gardens
- Community Development and Pro-Poor Local Governance
- Planning and Monitoring for Poverty Reduction
- Development of MSMEs and Employment Generation
- Rural Income and Livelihoods
- Microlead