July 2: Bhutan and Denmark signed a new agreement for support towards good governance on Monday, June 30.

Under the agreement the Danish government will be giving 50 million Danish Kroner to the royal government to support good governance.

The agreement was signed by the Secretary of Gross National Happiness Commission Karma Tshiteem and the head of Liaison Office of Denmark in Thimphu Mr. Henrik A Nielsen.


A news release from the GNH Commission says the new agreement will be composed of three components. Under the first component 14 million Danish Kroner will be used to strengthen the capacity of democratic governance institutions in Bhutan and support the Land Commission to facilitate development of a revised and improved land policy based on an updated cadastral registration. It will also be used to enhance access to justice by constructing a new court building in Trashigang.

The second component will be used for the joint local governance support programme which will also be supported by other development partners like UNDP, UNCDF and SDC, Austria, and JICA. Denmark will allocate 25 million kroner to the programme. It is the largest part of the Good Governance support programme.

Under the third component, 5 million Danish Kroner will go to non state actors like the civil society organizations and Non governmental organizations. It is aimed at widening democracy and ensuring enhanced popular participation.