This Discussion Paper is based on a series of consultations with key stakeholders including the Joint Task Force for Bhutan’s 14th Round Table Meeting. A scoping exercise was carried out towards the end of 2018 and early 2019 with relevant stakeholders, including the government, financial institutions, development partners, civil societies and entrepreneurs.
Bhutan’s TVET Sector Assessment had called for the need to improve TVET data management and its use for strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation in 2016. Still then, there is so much to improve in using feedback data to inform TVET reforms and development. Getting credible TVET data is difficult, let alone getting statistics (aggregated data). Two attempts to create a comprehensive TVET statistics did not materialise. Thus, this publication marks the success of producing the TVET statistical report for the first time in history of TVET. It is expected to provide the baseline information for strategic TVET development at the national and institutional level and in promoting TVET research.
18. TVET Statistics of Bhutan – In the quest for transforming TVET through data-informed approach.
This report presents the results of Bhutan’s key population size estimation exercise implemented from 13 November, 2019 to 31 January, 2020. The overarching purpose of the exercise is to provide rigorous data on key populations at risk for HIV in Bhutan to guide prevention and care policies and programs. Objective 1 is to estimate the number of high risk women (HRW), commercial sex workers (CSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women (TGW), and transgender men (TGM) in Bhutan. The population size estimates are for the national level and at the dzongkhag level according to where they reside, work, or otherwise could be found. Objective 2 is to map the hotspots, locations, and physical venues where these key populations congregate and can be reached. Objective 3 is to measure the HIV-related risk and preventive behaviors of these key populations. This summary presents the major findings pertaining to these objectives. Additional results, interpretations, strengths, and limitations are in the body of the report. An overview of the methods follows, with specific implementation notes accompanying each results section. Further details on the theoretical framework and methodologies are in the appended protocol.
During the WHO’s Joint External Evaluation mission, Bhutan’s capacities in 19 technical areas were evaluated through a peer-to-peer, collaborative process that brought Bhutanese subject matter experts together with members of the JEE team in a week of collaborative discussion and field visits. This process led to consensus on scores and priority actions in 19 technical areas. The assessors concluded that Bhutan’s commitment to building and/ or maintaining capacities to detect, assess, notify and respond to major public health events is genuine and strong, and enjoys high-level political commitment and support.
WHO. (2017). Joint External Evaluation of IHR Core Capacities of the Kingdom of Bhutan. 2017
The 2030 Agenda builds on earlier commitments, more recently the aspirations set out in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Millennium Declaration. In much of the period leading up to and through the MDGs’ target date, and in many parts of the world, progress in several areas that are also reflected in the SDGs has been strong. This is especially the case for income poverty, access to education and health services, and improved sources of clean water. In other areas progress has been steady but less marked, including on gender equality, nutrition and access to sanitation facilities. This document analyses challenges and opportunities in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
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Bhutan is a latecomer to the ICT space. The country is therefore well positioned to reap the advantages of a late starter in the technology space by not having any legacy systems, but having reliable access to electricity, access to relatively more cost effective technologies and opportunities for adoption of new (and open) standards.
The analysis of the current ICT capabilities landscape in Bhutan, coupled with feedback from industry and government institutions have shown that key e-commerce barriers could be broken down in four different areas:
To download the report please visit:
https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/dtlstict2017d1_en.pdf
The Global Sustainable Development Report is distinct from, and complementary to, the annual Sustainable Development Goals progress report prepared by the Secretary-General, which tracks progress across goals and targets using indicators from the global indicator framework. It does not produce new evidence; rather it capitalizes on existing knowledge across disciplines, through an “assessment of assessments”. It highlights state-of-the-art knowledge for transformations towards sustainable development and identifies concrete areas where rapid, transformational change is possible. The Report is not only a product but also a process for advancing collaboration among actors in science, Government, the private sector and civil society in all regions of the world towards identifying and realizing concrete pathways for transformation driven by evidence.
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Given that the protection of children and educational facilities is important, it is necessary to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in school settings. However, care must also be taken to avoid stigmatizing students and staff who may have been exposed to the virus.
COVID-19 does not differentiate among borders, ethnicities, disability status, age or gender. Education settings should continue to be welcoming, respectful, inclusive and supportive environments to all.
Measures taken by schools can prevent the entry and spread of COVID-19 by students and staff who may have been exposed to the virus, while minimizing disruption and protecting students and staff from discrimination.
UNICEF, WHO and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have developed guidance to provide clear and actionable guidance for safe operations through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in schools and other educational facilities.
To download the report please visit: https://uni.cf/33d3hSZ
A call to action to business leaders to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report shows how the next decade will be critical for companies to open 60 key market “hot spots,” tackle social, environmental challenges, and re-build trust with society.
You can find the document with the below link:
https://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/news_events/9.3/better-business-better-world.pdf
To address the issue of rural-urban migration and promote regionally balanced development, a Comprehensive National Development Plan (CNDP) for Bhutan 2030 was launched last year. The plan identifies various issues such as an increase in rural-urban migration, mainly from east to west contributes to labour shortage leading to increased fallow agricultural land and fragmentation of sociocultural values in rural areas.
Download the summary of the document: Comprehensive Development Plan for Bhutan 2030