The Resident Coordinator of UN Bhutan, Gerald Daly said, “based on past experiences, we need the primary failure of the capital markets in relation to sustainable development as one of misallocation of capital. In the words of the UN Secretary General, “the world has the resources to deliver, but they are not allocated where they are most needed,” at the National Workshop on Capital Market Development in Bhutan, organized by UNESCAP in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.
As part of ESCAP’s technical assistance to Bhutan, this national workshop aims to engage with the Ministry of Finance, various Government agencies, and key stakeholders to help facilitate the issuance of Bhutan’s first sovereign bonds. It will emphasize experiential learning and exchange of information with experts, institutional investors, and private sector investors.
The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) invites Civil Society Organizations to apply for project funding. Project proposals may be submitted online between 22 November to 22 November 2019 at https://www.un.org/democracyfund. Please visit https://www.un.org/democracy…/content/call-project-proposals for guidelines, FAQs and lessons learned for applicants.
The World Food Programme (WFP) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to support the Royal Government of Bhutan in the transition of school feeding to a National School Feeding and Nutrition Programme.
The project, which will be implemented over a period from 2019 to 2023 with US$4 million funding provided by KOICA, and aims to address the double burden of malnutrition by focusing on reduction of micro-nutrient deficiencies, as well as over-nutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) related to poor diets, alcohol, tobacco and lack of physical activity. NCDs are now responsible for 69% of the reported disease burden in the country.
In support of the project implementation, WFP, together with government partners, is introducing the Menu Optimizer Tool through an algorithm that calculates the most nutrition-rich menu at the lowest cost and with the highest proportion of local food. WFP will also launch a digital game-based learning platform to support more interactive and engaging nutrition and health education for schoolchildren.
To observe World AIDS Day, a storytelling session on the theme “My Story: Living Life with HIV,” is currently ongoing at Samtse. This side-event is organized by the UN in Bhutan in collaboration with Lhak Sam and Rainbow Bhutan: “Celebrating Diversity” and supported by UNAIDS.
The main objective of this event is to share stories of courage to inspire not only people living with HIV but everyone to work as a community to make a difference in the AIDS response.
Opening the event, the Health Minister, Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo, on the two new people living with HIV who went public today said, “their life is going to be different from today. Unless we work together, we will never achieve our aspirations. If we understand their problems and find solutions. The magnitude of an epidemic like this is more dangerous for a small society.”
“Communities around the world are at the heart of this response―helping people to claim their rights, promoting access to stigma-free health and social services, ensuring that services reach the most vulnerable and marginalized, and pressing to change laws that discriminate. As the theme of this year’s observance rightly highlights, communities make the difference.”- UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres:
Breaking the silence is the FIRST step to transforming the culture of gender-based violence. It’s time to SPEAK UP and BREAK the cycle of ABUSE!
Rape, a single word with devastating impact that spans decades, even generations. It destroys bodies and minds and puts peace in jeopardy. When left unpunished or trivialized, it creates a pervasive culture where sexual violence is normalized, women and girls are undervalued, and entire communities and nations are left fractured.
The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign will mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, under the theme, “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape”. Join us in galvanizing actions around the world to take a stand against sexual violence in all contexts and spark a global conversation about what it will take to prevent and end rape.
UN staff attended a one-day Leadership Development Program for Women. The workshop was designed to prepare UN women staff in all stages of their careers and align to the most relevant competencies for female leaders.
A two-day CSO Bhutan capacity building workshop based on applied learning principles was organized by the UN Bhutan in collaboration with Bhutan Foundation, Civil Society Organization Authority and partners from Australia. .