Left to right: Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD; Honorable Minister Lyonpo Gem Tshering, MoENR; and Mr Karma Tshering, Secretary, MoENR, Bhutan. Photo courtesy: MoENR, Bhutan

Thimphu, Bhutan – March 5, 2024

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have entered into a long-term collaboration and cooperation through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, at the MoENR headquarter in Thimphu.

The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) is one of the founding members of ICIMOD since its establishment in 1983. Previously, ICIMOD collaborated with RGoB through periodic Memoranda of Understanding, engaging with the erstwhile Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest (MoAF). After the civil service reforms of 2022, ICIMOD now enters a new phase of collaboration with the MoENR, establishing MoENR as the nodal agency for ICIMOD’s activities in Bhutan.

The signing of this MoU signifies a strategic partnership between MoENR and ICIMOD to deepen and strengthen ICIMOD’s portfolio in Bhutan. With ICIMOD’s new strategy 2030: Moving Mountains, and the 5th Medium-Term Action Plan (MTAP V), spanning 2023 to 2026, the collaboration aims to align with Bhutan’s development agenda, fostering targeted and impactful contributions to national priorities. Strengthening Regional Member Countries’ (RMC) engagement stands as a cornerstone of ICIMOD’s strategy, endorsed by the Board of Governors of the eight regional member countries.

The MoU was signed between Mr. Karma Tshering, Secretary, MoENR and Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD in the presence of Honourable Minister of MoENR, Lyonpo Gem Tshering.

“The MoU represents our mutual commitment to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive meaningful progress. We look forward to a successful partnership that will contribute to the greater good of our society and the environment,” said Honourable Minister of MoeNR, Lyonpo Gem Tshering.

“We are delighted to formalize our collaboration with ICIMOD through this MOU,” said Mr. Karma Tshering, Secretary of the MoENR. “This partnership reflects our commitment to leveraging ICIMOD’s expertise and resources to advance sustainable development initiatives in Bhutan.”

“ICIMOD, as a leading regional and intergovernmental knowledge center, emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation and knowledge exchange. Our partnership with MoENR underlines our dedication to addressing environmental challenges and fostering socio-economic resilience in the region,” commented ICIMOD’s Director General, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho.

The MoU sets the stage for enhanced collaboration in critical areas such as reducing climate and environmental risks, shaping resilient mountain economies, and enabling sustainable regional mechanisms. The ceremony also saw the establishment and the formalization of the Bhutan-ICIMOD Coordination Committee and the Bhutan Country Desk, through which the partnership aims to streamline efforts and maximize impact.

This agreement exemplifies the shared commitment of MoENR and ICIMOD to drive positive change in Bhutan and the broader Hindu Kush Himalaya region.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Neraz Tuladhar (Raz), Media Officer
Email: media@icimod.org

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