October 25: Austria has agreed to give Nu. 31.5 million to the Royal Government to support Good Governance. The fund will become operational from July next year.

An agreement to this effect was signed at the Tashichhodzong yesterday.

It was signed by the Secretary of the Gross National Happiness Commission Karma Tshiteem and the Resident Coordinator of Austrian Coordination Office for Development Cooperation Mr Christian Mazal.

The money will be used for capacity development of local government personnel and elected local government leaders including training on their roles and responsibilities, administrative procedures, planning and budgeting systems, financial management and management concepts and gender.

It will also be used for capacity development of local governments in implementing the annual block grants facility, strategic planning, and results based management, reporting, monitoring and evaluations procedures and systems.

A news release from GNH commission says the local government support programme is in line with the objectives and targets set in the royal government’s draft 10th five year plan to realize good governance principles as an enabling environment for poverty reduction.