PEMA TSHOMO
Haa
A recent validation workshop held in Haa, funded by the Asia Foundation and organized by the Bhutan Transparency Initiative (BTI), revealed positive developments in the implementation of the Bhutan Civil Society Organization Accountability Standards (BCAS) 2023.
The workshop assessed the impact of the standards on the internal mechanisms of CSOs in Bhutan and identified areas for further improvement.
While the BCAS program is still in its early stages, the initial assessment conducted in 2023 indicated that a significant number of CSOs required support in achieving compliance. Almost 59 percent of the 46 CSOs who participated scored below 50 percent.
However, the recent validation workshop highlighted a remarkable improvement. Only 5.1 percent of the 39 participating CSOs scored below 50 percent, with over 89 percent achieving scores above 50 percent. Notably, some CSOs even achieved perfect scores.
The two-day interactive session has been attended by 27 CSOs, 4 justice sectors, one construction consultant, and 5 media houses.
The BTI, established with the mission of promoting transparency and accountability in Bhutan, played a crucial role in developing and implementing the BCAS alongside the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Civil Society Organization Authority (CSOA). Dr. Rinzin Rinzin, Executive Director of BTI, highlighted areas where CSOs continue to face challenges, such as gender and communication policies.
He said, “BTI is committed to providing training and support for the CSOs, especially those who failed to maintain minimum scores. So, through that, we have planned to address these shortcomings and raise the average score to over 80 percent within the next year.”
The workshop also addressed concerns raised by participants regarding the assessment criteria. The BTI clarified that a score of zero indicates a non-submission of documents, while a score of one signifies an endorsed policy without implementation evidence. The importance of achieving the minimum benchmark scores was emphasized, as non-compliance could potentially lead to penalties.
The ACC representative echoed the need for continued training and guidance support for CSOs. The ACC’s collaboration with BTI and CSOA in formulating the BCAS standards was commended for strengthening Bhutan’s civil society sector. This initiative aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and public trust in CSOs, ultimately leading to improved performance and credibility.
Further, addressing a participant’s concern about document filing procedures, an ACC representative provided a detailed timeline for the process. The representative clarified that 30 June is the deadline for submitting the self-assessment sheet along with verification methods and 1 July the public access to the system officially begins. On 25 July the final report will be issued and in October physical rectification of any identified issues is expected to be completed.
The BCAS 2023 outlines a set of minimum governance practices that all registered CSOs in Bhutan must strive to adopt within a three-year timeframe. These measures will encompass transparency in daily operations, responsive decision-making, effective leadership, and responsible resource management. The CSOA is responsible for monitoring the annual progress of BCAS adoption and sharing these reports with the ACC.
The collaboration between the ACC, BTI, and CSOA demonstrates a collective effort to equip CSOs with the necessary tools and guidance to achieve the highest standards of governance. As CSOs continue to embrace these standards, they can solidify their reputation as trustworthy and effective agents of positive change in Bhutan.
