Bhutan

Bringing IT to Youth
An International UN Volunteer (IUNV) IT Training Specialist from France served at the Youth Centre in Thimphu from November 2000 to November 2001. She advised and trained her counterparts on effective management systems and services of IT facilities; assisted in awareness-raising activities and assessed formal and informal training needs of both students and youth; assisted in the development and implementation of a training programme on Microsoft Office products and internet applications; and trained trainers in IT applications to become Youth Centre staff. Read more about her experience here, and read her address at the UN General Assembly in 2001 where she described her experiences as a UN Volunteer.

 

IT Training for Government Ministries
An International UN Volunteer LAN/WAN Specialist worked with LAN/WAN Administrators from the various departments of the Ministry of Finance, including Budget and Accounts, Revenue and Customs and Aid and Debt Management. The IUNV assessed training needs of administrators and implemented a training programme. The Volunteer also implemented data security mechanisms, provided basic training on the Internet and e-mail and demonstrated how these can be used to promote the objectives of the Ministry and its departments, and assisted in the creation of a MoF website containing information relevant to both the Ministry and the public.

Another IUNV LAN/WAN Specialist worked with the Ministry of Agriculture, assessing current network operations and developing a training program. This Volunteer also trained members of the Web Development Group in web design and content development for a MoA website and Intranet.

A further IUNV LAN/WAN specialist worked with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in particular in the departments of Tourism Authority, Division of Power and Division of Trade and Industry. This Volunteer assessed current network operations and developed a training program for LAN administrators. He also implemented data security mechanisms and advised and trained in the development and set-up of an information database management system

An IUNV Financial Management Training Specialist assisted at the Royal Institute of Management, working on national IT curriculum development and syllabus design for IT related training within the country. The Volunteer supported the Institute's priority objective of designing and delivering Computer Based Training (CBT) in all courses, especially in the area of financial and information management.

In addition, from 2002 to 2005, several International UN Volunteers joined in the endeavor to build up the new Bhutan ICT Policy and Strategy and have encouraged their counterparts in Bhutan’s ministries to participate actively as well. Two Japanese IUNVs trained Ministry of Communications staff to use the newly installed Local Area Network. A further IUNV from Australia assisted in drawing up an ICT act and exploring ICT legislation. With an IUNV colleague from Finland he also facilitated information exchange amongst the Planning Commission, the Department of Information Technology (DIT) and The Bhutan Post, thereby setting the ground for a more organized approach to ICT and data development at the district level. An additional Volunteer from the United Kingdom also worked with DIT to initiate a system for the national Dzongkha language to be made available in Linux.