Supporting Good Governance and Digitalization

Brief on the EU Support Project

Implementer: DLGDM

Name of the Project: Supporting Good Governance and Digitalization in Bhutan’ (MIP 2021-2027).

Budget size: EUR 9.3 million

Target Sector: EUR 7 million for Local Governance sector and EUR 2.3 million for Education Sector

The Specific(s) Objective(s) (Outcomes) of this action are:

SO 1. Strengthened local governance and decentralisation.

SO 2. Strengthened gender mainstreaming including at local level.

SO 3. Strengthened digitalization of public services, especially education.

Induced Outputs:

o IO 1.1 contributing to Outcome 1: Improved efficiency of LGs in the delivery of services

o IO 1.2 contributing to Outcome 1: Decentralisation of administrative and fiscal authority, functions, and resources to LGs promoted.

o IO 1.3 contributing to Outcome 1: Strengthened capacities at national and LGs to leverage service delivery impact

o IO 2.1 contributing to Outcome 2: Women’s participation enhanced and gender-sensitive policies /plans/ programmes mainstreamed in LGs.

o IO 3.1 contributing to Outcome 3: Improved digital governance and policy environment towards quality inclusive education and skills with focus on women and girls.

Actions:

o Performance Based Climate Resilience Grants to Local Governments: 100 Gewogs supported in the last project ‘Capacity Development for Local Governments and Fiscal Decentralization’ (MIP 2014-2020. Target to scale to 205 Local Governments.

o Area-Based Potential Programmes- Target to initiate 10 projects

o Promote social accountability mechanisms- target to reach 80 Local Governments

o Community Engagement Platform- target to reach 40 Local Governments

o Women leadership development

Key Results:

o Promoting good local governance through formulation and promulgation of LG Bill, Revision of Local Government Rules and Regulations, and revision and development of protocols, manuals and guidelines for Local Governments.

o Enhancing the performance of LG functionaries through capacity development for 2343 functionaries including females on: leadership and management; local governance and development; gender in planning and governance; sensitization on LG Act and LGRR; leadership and governance; PBG mechanism; and themes identified in capacity development strategy.

o Enhancement of fiscal decentralisation through provision of Performance Based Grants Mechanism, 50 % capital grants allocated to Local Governments, and promotion of green and innovative business at the local level.

o Revision of Local Government Rules and Regulations

o Performance Based Grant mechanism and GECDP mainstreaming for 100 LGs

o Strengthening the functioning of the Chiwog Zomdu and Local Governance

o Implementation of the Acts, Rules, guidelines and protocols and its compliance

o Community Engagement Platforms

o Strengthening the Local Governance: DT, GT and Chiwog Zomdu

o Strengthen coordination mechanisms- Central Local Connect Programme