Bhutan is undergoing a rapid change with the process of democratisation. In 2008, Bhutan will see four important events; coronation of new king, centenary, parliamentary government, and the launch of the 10th FYP with an envisaged outlay of Nu. 110 billion. Despite a reducing contribution of the RNR sector to the GDP – now standing at 23% -, this sector remains the most important one with 79% of the population living in rural areas. RNR alone employs more than 50% of the population. The challenge of rural urban migration is high. Although the RNR contribution to GDP is reducing relatively, the investment in the sector continues to increase in absolute terms. It aims at increasing productivity for food security. The increasing loans for modernising and for accessing the RNR sector have taxed Bhutanese reserves that stands at US$ 511.7 M against external loans of US$ 643 M with 63% of it from India. Bhutan’s forest cover of 60% is challenged by development; in 2005, 9,152 acres of forestland had been allotted to the construction of development infrastructure.
The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and more specifically the Council for Renewable Natural Resources Research of Bhutan (CoRRB) are operating four research centres in the country. This “Renewable Natural Resources Research System (RNR-RS)” has been conducting predominantly adaptive and applied research in agriculture, horticulture, livestock, farming systems and forestry. The Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), through Helvetas, has supported the RNR research system in different ways for more than a decade. RGoB and SDC agreed to conduct an end-of-phase joint external review of the system in March-April 2006. A two days workshop to plan the future of RNR research followed this review. In 2005, SDC’s management decided to phase out its bilateral support to Bhutan by the end of 2008, which also applies to the RNR research system support.
The planning event looked at the entire RNR research for the whole period of the 10th FYP, regardless of funding prospects by the Swiss donor. The outcome of this planning process served two purposes, a document feeding into the 10th FYP and a basis to design this final phase of the Swiss support to Bhutan’s RNR research. Therefore, the present proposal draws on this prioritisation, but also considers recommendations of the joint review mission of March/April 2006. The two years’ RNR-RS Support Project undertakes a few of the most important and relevant areas from this five years plan. It addresses the two outcomes explicitly; a) Research Management is enhanced making the system highly efficient and competent, and b) Capacity is improved and trans-sectoral and interdisciplinary issues are effectively addressed.
The goal of this support phase of two years, 2007-2008, is to contribute to make the RNR research system fit for pro-poor technology development and other challenges through strengthening the management and enhancing competences of the system. The objective is to consolidate the RNR research system in Bhutan that is fully managed by national authorities; it is sustainably financed for core activities and has the capacities to mobilize additional funding. It has the required management bodies, infrastructure, human resources and competences to implement relevant, impact-oriented research.
