Dec-13 Vol. 13-27

JICA schemes Grant Aid

Loan

Technical Cooperation Projects

Training Programmes

Development Studies

Emergency Disaster Relief

Follow-up Cooperation

Volunteers Program

JICA members in Bhutan as of December 2013

JICA office staff: 17

(8 internationals; 9 nationals)

Experts: 6

Senior Volunteers: 16

JOCVs: 28

JICA target areas in Bhutan

Agriculture and Rural development

Infrastructure development

Local governance

Social services development

(health, education and IT)

Ms. Yumiko Asakuma, Chief Representative of the JICA Bhutan Office visited JICA assisted agriculture development programs in the eastern region from November 24 to 28, 2013 accompanied by JICA Experts, counterparts from RNR RDC Wengkhar and Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector.

The six eastern dzongkhags of Samdrup Jongkhar, Pemagatshel, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Mongar and Lhuntse fall under the project for Horticulture Research and Development (HRDP) started in March 2010. Reviewing the results of the Agriculture Research and Extension Support Project, the current project is focusing on development of horticulture including trial marketing sites, strengthen farmers’ associations, prepare teaching materials, implement training at the RNRRDC-Wengkhar, facilitate farmer to farmer extension, develop production system for seed and seedlings and select nursery farmers for strengthening production of seeds and seedlings.

A One-Stop-Farmers’-Shop was constructed at Orong under Samdrup Jongkhar, for farm business. The shop was established under the HRDP on a cost sharing mechanism with labour contribution from the Community and managed by a 31 member farmers group - Orong Vegetable Production and Marketing Group. Technical Assistance and marketing supports were also provided by the Regional Agriculture Marketing Office at Mongar. Ms. Asakuma and Dasho Goling Tshering, Dzongda of Samdrup Jongkhar jointly inaugurated the shop on Nov 26, 2013 admist a gathering of local agriculture officials and farmers. While on the tour, the Chief also visited the Private Nurseries at Mongnang Khola near Khaling (Trashigang) and Mixed fruit Orchards at Morong (Samdrupjongkhar), and Rongthong (Trashigang) and Yurbi (Lhuentse) established under the Technical Cooperation Project – HRDP. A 2 km Chumeygang – Yurbi Power Tiller Track constructed by HRDP JICA was also inaugurated by the Chief Representative.

In Phuntshothang under Samdrupcholing Dungkhag, the Chief Representative and Dasho Goling Tshering, Dzongdag of Samdrup Jongkhar attended the Inauguration of the Farm Machinery Support Centre (FMSC) Phunsthothang organized by the Agriculture Ma-chinery Centre (AMC), Paro and Regional Agriculture Machinery Centre, Khangma. The FMSC Phunthsothang established by utilizing the counterpart fund from project “Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers” by AMC, in collaboration with Dzonkhag, Dungkhag and Geog Administration will now be able to provide sales, repair and maintenance services for the four geogs of Phunsthothang, Samrang, Martshala and Pemathang benefiting some 1,385 households on these geogs. The opening of the centre will also be able to provide services to the ongoing Agriculture Machinery Hiring Services initiated by the Dept of Agriculture

Chief Representative JICA Bhutan Office visits Samdrupjongkhar, Pemagatshel and Lhuentse to observe JICA assisted Agriculture Programs

JICA Bhutan Newsletter is a monthly newsletter published by the JICA Bhutan Office and updated electronically on the JICA Bhutan website. It serves to better link all JICA Bhutan partners by offering briefs and current news on different sectors of JICA and the RGoB. It is for information purposes only and is not an official document. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of JICA. To join our e-mail based subscription, please contact at <bt_oso_rep@jica.go.jp>. Your comments and feedback are welcome.

This is already the end of the third year since the Local Governance and Decen-tralization Project Phase 3 (LGDP3) started in March 2011. The 3rd Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) has been conducted on December 20, 2013 chaired by Depart-ment of Local Governance, MoHCA, with participation from Gross National Happi-ness Commission, Ministry of Finance and Royal Institue of Management. Professor Kawai, one of the members of the Project Support Committee also attended the JCC and refreshed his understanding on the progress of the project.

The discussion during the JCC heated up when the sustainability of the capacity development of Local functionaries are touched upon. Integrated Capacity Building Plan (ICBP) has been developed with the support of the LGDP 2 and 3, which is the action plan of the Capacity Development Strategy. The need of such minimum train-

ing package for the LG functionaries both appointed and elected, is recognized by all JCC members, especially when the Constitution and LG Act clearly identify the authority at the very ground. However, sustainability of ICBP will be deteriorated when budget is not secured either at the Central level or at Dzongkhag / Gewog levels towards this aim.

Since the development of package with 10 minimum courses has been carefully done with significant inputs by DLG, projects, Dzong-khags and Gewogs, we sincerely hope that RGoB will take a positive decision for the sustainable capacity building activities at local level.

The International Volunteer Day (IVD) is celebrated annually on the 5th of December by millions of people who volunteer to make the world a better place.

This year the programme was largely organized by youth volunteers from different youth-led and volunteer involving organizations in cooperation with the Department of Youth and Sports in the Ministry of Education. The event was coordinated by United Nations Vol-unteers (UNV), and supported by Australian Government’s Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). And the global theme was youth volunteerism with the slogan “Young. Global. Active.”

On December 5, 2013, Tarayana Foundation, Civil Societies Organization (CSO) Authority and JICA Bhutan Office signed the Minutes of the Meeting on the new project under the JICA Partnership Program (JPP) regarding the “Social Inclusion Project for Differently-abled Citizens”. The Project, funded by JICA will be implemented by Tarayana Foundation, with the technical support from Japanese NPO Bussi-En for the period of three years from January 2014 to December 2016. While Tarayana Foundation will take the lead on the project implementation, Draktsho Vocational Training and Ability Bhutan Society also involve in the project activities. With all stakeholders, social inclusion principle will be introduced, products prepared by the differently-abled people are promoted, and community understanding of the differently-abled people will be deepened. Bussi-En has extensive experienceence in promoting differently-abled people in Japan, therefore, it is expected that the Bhutanese agencies will be benefited through exposure visits in Japan and trainings in Bhutan.

Newsletter Team

Kinley Dorji, Chief Program OfficerKrishna Subba Admin Officer Chenga Lham, PR Officer

For more information

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)P.O. Box 217, Doy-bum Lam, Above Memorial Chorten,Thimphu, Bhutan

Tel: (975) 2-322030, 323218, 328074, 324571,324463Fax: (975) 2-323089Website: <http://www.jica.go.jp/bhutan/index.html>

www.Facebook.com/JICABhutan

Signing of the new JICA Partnership Program (JPP)

3rd Joint Coordination Committee Meeting of LGDP3

JICA supported the celebration of youth volunteerism in Thimphu