Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy

23/09/2026

On this Blessed Rainy Day, the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy extends its warm wishes to all. As Thruebab reminds us to cleanse and begin anew, we reaffirm our commitment to building an informed and engaged society through media literacy, civic education and open public dialogue.

We wish everyone good health, peace and happiness.

22/09/2026

Coinciding with the International Day of Democracy, BCMD convened the Bhutan Democracy Forum 2026 under the broader theme of “Strengthening Inclusive Governance through Women’s Leadership.” The forum brought together 47 aspiring women candidates, including 15 current Local Government representatives and 32 aspiring women leaders, alongside representatives from civil society organisations, government agencies and development partners to bring the findings and recommendations of BCMD’s 2026 Needs Assessment on Women’s Participation in Local Governance directly to the institutions in a position to respond to them.

The Forum was graced by Hon’ble Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa, Minister for Education and Skills Development, as the Chief Guest. Members of Parliament, officials from relevant government agencies, CSOs, media and the German-Bhutan Himalaya Society also participated in the event.

The Forum created a space for women to share their experiences and challenges, including their aspirations on participating in the country’s democratic process, and in policy and decision-making processes. Discussions focused on key barriers to women’s participation, including campaign financing, the Functional Literacy Test (FLT), childcare and family responsibilities, mobility, and socio-cultural perceptions of women’s leadership. The panel discussions also served as a platform for women aspiring to participate in the 2027 local government elections to engage in an open discourse and understanding of the political journey at local level, thereby giving them the confidence and motivation to step up and contest as their community’s representative and voice in decision making.

Through three panel discussions, participants reflected on policy and legal frameworks, structural and financial barriers, and socio-cultural norms, highlighting the importance of creating an enabling environment for women to participate meaningfully in democratic processes. The Forum was supported by International IDEA

12/09/2026

Really meaningful to see one of our MDC stories reach a wider audience.

This story on bullying came directly from students who saw the issue around them and chose to investigate it through citizen journalism. It is exactly why we create these spaces: to help young people speak up about issues that matter to them and give their voices a platform.

This work is made possible through our Media and Democracy Clubs programme, funded by the European Union in partnership with DW Akademie.

Proud of the students for bringing this story forward, and grateful to BBS for highlighting it.

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴

For many students, bullying is something they see, experience or hear about, but rarely talk about openly. Now, students trained in citizen journalism are trying to change that. They are investigating issues affecting students, including bullying, and finding ways to give their peers a safer voice.

https://www.bbs.bt/246221/

11/09/2026

Today, months of work by our Media and Democracy Clubs came into one room.

Nine of our 10 Media and Democracy Clubs were established through this very project, giving students in schools across Bhutan a platform for citizen journalism for the first time. In April, over 300 students from these 10 clubs across Trongsa, Trashigang and Samtse put that platform to work, looking closely at their own communities and shaping their first story ideas. Hostel overcrowding. Waste management. Road safety. Digital access. Fair pricing and quality. Bullying. Real issues, investigated by young citizen journalists.

In May, 10 civil society organisations and 3 journalist mentors helped them sharpen those stories, turning first observations into verified evidence and grounded calls to action.

Today, at our September In-Person Showcase, it all came together. Our Chief Guest, the Hon'ble Deputy Chairperson of the National Council, joined Members of Parliament, government representatives, CSOs, media, and development partners for a Gallery Walk through 11 student-led stations, each one built around four simple parts: the issue, the evidence, the action, and the ask.

As the Hon'ble Deputy Chairperson of the National Council put it:
"That is why Media and Democracy Clubs are vital to our schools.
A school must teach academic subjects, but it must also shape responsible citizens. These clubs give students a dedicated space to observe, question, investigate, and take action.

To all the students gathered here from across Bhutan: be proud of what you have accomplished. You haven’t just participated in a school activity, you have taken vital steps toward becoming informed, responsible, and engaged citizens."

This is what the Media and Democracy Clubs are about. Young people showing up not as tomorrow's leaders, but as active citizens today.

Thank you to everyone who listened, asked questions, and stayed to talk about what happens next. The stories don't end when the Gallery Walk does.

MDC Story Development & Showcase Series 2026, organised by BCMD under the EU-funded Building Inclusive Democracy project, in partnership with DW Akademie

European Union in Thailand
DW Akademie
EU in India
DW Akademie Asia

09/09/2026

On the joyous occasion of the Third Birth Anniversary of Her Royal Highness Gyalsem Sonam Yangden Wangchuck, Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy joins the nation in offering our heartfelt felicitations and prayers for Her Royal Highness's good health, long life and happiness.

04/09/2026

Twenty-six representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs) completed a five-day Strategic Planning Training today. The training sessions were facilitated by Mr. Wangchuk Namgay and Mr. Ugyen Lhendup, resource persons with extensive experience in national and organisational strategic planning.

The training covered core areas of strategic planning, including organisational mandate, vision, mission and core values, SWOT analysis, Results-Based Management (RBM), the Logical Framework Approach (LFA), Theory of Change (ToC), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning (MERL), risk management, environmental and social safeguards, and financing and resource mobilisation. Participants engaged in individual and group exercises, including reviewing their organisations’ vision and mission statements, developing LFA/RBM matrices and Theory of Change models, and consolidating these into working draft Strategic Plans. Organisations presented their draft to the plenary for peer and facilitator feedback.

Participants expressed the timeliness of the programme as the training enabled building capacity and understanding on the components of a sustainable strategic plan for some, while for those without a clear strategic plan, the participating officials developed their draft plans. The training was organised by the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) under the project titled “Building Inclusive Democracy: Civil Society, Parliamentarians, Media and Youth Strengthen Good Governance in Bhutan, supported by the European Union (EU), BMZ and Deutsche Welle Akademie (DWA).
European Union in Thailand
DW Akademie
DW Akademie Asia
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)

01/09/2026

BCMD, in partnership with National Commission for Women and Children - NCWC, Bhutan and EUTA, has completed a nationwide series of capacity-building training to prepare aspiring women leaders for the Functional Literacy and Possession of Skills Test (FLT) ahead of the Fourth Local Government Elections 2027. The three-day trainings were held in Mongar, Tsirang (two batches) and, WangduePhodrang, reaching a total of 118 participants.

With the FLT now incorporating a digital assessment, the training focused on official correspondence, agreement writing, and foundational digital skills, aligned to the criteria set by the Election Commission of Bhutan.

The intervention is situated within a persistent representation gap. Of the nearly 3,700 candidates registered for the 2027 Local Government Elections, just over 650 are women.

Moving forward, BCMD will continue to strengthen the capacities of aspiring women leaders in effective communication and public speaking, manifesto development, campaign planning, effective use of social media for community outreach, and community voter education and awareness programmes, supporting candidates through the full electoral cycle.

This project is supported by UNDP Bhutan and the European Union under the project Strengthening People-Centric and Inclusive Access to Justice.
European Union in ThailandEuropean CommissionEU in India
UN Bhutan

31/08/2026

The Strategic Planning Training for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Bhutan began today. Over the next five days, officials from twenty-one CSOs will explore strategic planning approaches and analytical tools to strengthen their organisational direction, planning, monitoring and evaluation processes, and long-term sustainability.

The training focuses on developing realistic, participatory and results-oriented Strategic Plans aligned with organisational mandates, stakeholder needs, national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants will engage in practical exercises covering Vision, Mission and Core Values, SWOT analysis, Results-Based Management (RBM), Logical Framework Approach (LFA), Theory of Change (ToC), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Monitoring and Evaluation, risk management, and resource mobilisation.

The training aims to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to translate their organisational aspirations into clear, actionable and sustainable Strategic Plans. By enhancing their institutional and strategic planning capacities, the training will enable CSOs to become more effective and sustainable organisations, better positioned to contribute to nation-building, complement government interventions, address community needs, and advance inclusive and sustainable development in Bhutan.

This Training Programme is part of the ongoing project, “Building Inclusive Democracy: Civil Society, Parliamentarians, Media, and Youth Strengthen Good Governance in Bhutan,” supported by the European Union (EU), BMZ and Deutsche Welle Akademie (DWA)
European Union in Thailand
DW Akademie
DW Akademie Asia
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)

16/08/2026

16/08/2026