To further strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Local Government functionaries, the Royal Institute of Management (RIM) will provide a month-long mandatory capacity development programs to all elected Gups and Mangmis starting from 2022. In order to formalise these efforts, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Royal Institute of Management and the Department of Local Governance in Thimphu today.
With the motive to institutionalise a regular and a mandatory training program for all elected local government functionaries, the RIM and the Department of Local Governance (DLG) has been working on the comprehensive training needs analysis since last year.
“The concerns the DLG has is, how far the local government can effectively implement the plans and programs in phases, how far they can make optimum utilisation of the available resources and how far they can deliver the quality and timely services to the people. To address these issues, we think that developing capacities of the LG functionaries is of paramount importance,” said Sonam Tshenley, the Deputy Chief Program Officer with DLG under the Home Ministry.
According to the DLG, not many local government functionaries like Gup and Mangmis have attended the capacity development training so far.
“The DLG has been organising various training for the local government functionaries. But as per my understanding, it was not really a structured course for them. So now, we in collaboration with the DLG, we are developing a structured course,” said Sonam Peljor, a Lecturer at the RIM.
Moreover, the capacity building initiative is also expected to avoid conflicts between local leaders and the Gewog Administrative Officers.
For now, working on the detailed training needs analysis, training developers have listed 21 different important training programs for the course.
“Through our analysis, we have identified a total of 21 training but these are likely to change after the consultations with the stakeholders. But most of the important things we are looking at is some of the leadership skills. We are also looking at the development of skills like computer skills and management skills. Moreover, we are also looking into the adaptation of the rules and regulations of the government,” he added.
Likewise, training on planning and prioritisation, budgeting, procurement management, human resources management, office management and conflict management are also some of the important training which will be made available through the course.
Meanwhile, training for other functionaries like Tshogpas, Gaydrungs and Gewog Administrative Officers shall be conducted in the next phase of the program.
Passang Dorji
