The National Statistics Bureau (NSB) of Bhutan, in partnership with the UN system in Bhutan, officially launched BhutanInfo on 3 December 2009 in Thimphu. BhutanInfo is a database tool for advocacy and monitoring of socio-economic development goals for Bhutan. It is a customized version of DevInfo, a tool for organizing, storing and presenting data in a uniform way to facilitate data sharing among government agencies, international and other development partners. BhutanInfo is a dissemination tool with features to produce tables, graphs and maps for inclusion in reports, presentations and advocacy materials.
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According to Mr. Sangay Dorji, BhutanInfo Project Manager, NSB, BhutanInfo was developed with technical and financial support primarily from UNICEF. The current database incorporates the framework for the 10th Five Year Plan, the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), SAARC Development Goals (SDGs), Vision 2020 goals and the MDGs. There are currently 620 basic indicators available which are further disaggregated, comprising a total of 1626 indicators. The database, which
is the first comprehensive national database, supports geographical disaggregation to the gewog level, while data are available up to the Dzongkhag level. In total, the current database has 16,262 data values and incorporates the most recent maps up to the gewog level. General users do not require any skills or knowledge of GIS software or other mapping tools to generate thematic maps using the available dataset.
The national database will be maintained by the
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NSB and will be periodically updated based on the availability of new datasets as well as the needs and directives from planners and decision makers like the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC). The NSB, in collaboration with relevant agencies like the GNHC, will work towards the institutionalization of BhutanInfo within government organizations. The NSB has already decided to maintain its dzongkhag and gewog profile data using the BhutanInfo platform. The Dzongkhag Statistical Officers (DSO) will be responsible to maintain their respective dzongkhag databases with periodic updates. Individual sectors, ministries and agencies will be supported by the NSB, with assistance from UNICEF and the UN in terms of capacity building and technical support. User training for all sectors, NGOs and development partners will be rolled out by the NSB with support of the UN system.
Information and data in the era of globalization is important for programming and project management and also for monitoring and evaluation of development plans. A nationally owned and harmonized cross-sectoral information management system that generates quality data is an important step in achieving the MDGs and in institutionalizing their use at the time of policy, strategy and programme formulation. As such, BhutanInfo is expected to contribute to greater MDG awareness and knowledge at the country level among a wide range of stakeholders.
Source: Press release, “Launching BhutanInfo,” UNICEF Bhutan, 2 December 2009.
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