FAO Bhutan commits USD 83 million for 2024-2028 towards sustainable agrifood systems transformation

The Food and Agriculture Organization in Bhutan’s Country Programming Framework 2024-2028, a strategic document that enhances the collaborative efforts between the FAO and the Royal Government of Bhutan, has set an ambitious goal of mobilizing approximately USD 83 million.

Currently, FAO Bhutan has secured around USD 16 million, with an additional USD 42 million in the pipeline. Furthermore, about USD 25 million is currently under soft commitment.

Aligned with FAO's thematic and technical expertise, this framework was developed through a process of inclusivity and collaboration, and it embodies the convergence of national priorities, regional imperatives, and global agenda.

It reflects FAO’s commitment to support Bhutan's agriculture, livestock, food systems, environment, and climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in alignment with the 13th Five Year Plan (FYP) and the UNSDCF (2024-2028). It encompasses the transformation of agrifood systems, sustainable natural resources management, inclusive rural transformation, and resilience building.

CPF sets out four priority areas as follows:

CPF Priority area 1: Sustainable agrifood systems transformation: accelerating investment, entrepreneurship, product development, and employment in high value agrifood value chains for international markets including through the sustainable use of natural resources.

CPF Priority area 2: Food Security, Safety, and nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart agriculture.

CPF priority area 3: Sustainable natural resources management, climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, and disaster risk management and preparedness.

CPF Priority area 4: Evidence-based agrifood systems planning and programming at national and local levels.

At the launch on May 15, the Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, congratulated the FAO Bhutan office and thanked the FAO Representative for Bhutan and Nepal Mr Ken Shimizu for this ambitious document that aligns well with the Government’s 13^th Five-Year-Plan.

The FAO Representative said that this very ambitious target is crucial in our collaborative commitments and collective engagement. “FAO is committed to this partnership, and together, I am confident that this can be achieved.”