Thimphu, Bhutan – The Journalists’ Association of Bhutan (JAB), with technical support from Green Bhutan Corporation Limited (GBCL), has successfully finalized the project titled “Development of a Comprehensive Strategy for Highland Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative (COMDEKS).”
The draft report on the COMDEKS strategy was submitted to the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the United Nations Development Programme-Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Programme (UNDP-GEF-SGP) in Bhutan on October 9, 2024, for review and feedback. According to JAB’s Executive Director, Rinzin Wangchuk, the team also presented the report to the NSC and incorporated their feedback into the final document. Subsequently, the National Coordinator of UNDP’s GEF-SGP Bhutan forwarded the report to Ms. Rissa Edoo, Partnerships, Knowledge Management, and Communication Specialist at UNDP Headquarters in New York.
“I received the final feedback from the COMDEKS focal point, who expressed her appreciation for the strategy and the significant effort invested. She has officially approved the document, and congratulations are in order for that,” stated National Coordinator Ugyen Lhendup in an email to JAB in November 2024.
The project was officially completed with the final payment made on February 3, 2025.
Project Background
The NSC of the UNDP-GEF-SGP of Bhutan has identified the Highland region as a priority for urgent interventions. This area is vital for the livelihoods of its inhabitants, who depend on livestock, non-wood forest products (NWFPs), and agriculture. The Highland ecosystem is fragile, characterized by limited arable land and harsh climatic conditions, and it is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including endangered species. Traditionally, Highland communities have practiced sustainable land use and natural resource management, with a strong emphasis on conservation. However, climate change poses significant risks to both local ecosystems and the communities’ way of life.
To tackle this challenge, the GEF-SGP, implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the Royal Government of Bhutan, invited registered Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to submit project proposals for developing a COMDEKS strategy in August 2024. JAB submitted its proposal and was awarded the project with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with UNDP on September 10, 2024.
The strategy aimed at enhancing the social, economic, and ecological resilience of Bhutan’s highland areas was developed through an inclusive participatory process involving all relevant stakeholders and partners. This initiative was led by Rinzin Wangchuk, Executive Director of JAB, and Karma Jigme Temphel, Chief Executive Officer of GBCL, who drew upon their extensive experience in community-based development projects.
Based on the strategy developed by JAB, the UNDP office subsequently called for proposals to implement the COMDEKS strategy.