1. Institutionalizing Impact Evaluation: South Asian Perspective - Bhutan’s Perspective Karma Galleg, Gross National Happiness Commission March, 2009

2. Country background A small Himalayan country located between India & China A small Himalayan country located between India & China Area - 38,394 sq.km Area - 38,394 sq.km Population – 634,982 Population – 634,982 GDP per capita(US$) - 4,800 (2008) GDP per capita(US$) - 4,800 (2008) HDI Ranking – 131 out of 179 countries (2008) HDI Ranking – 131 out of 179 countries (2008) Government – Constitutional Monarchy Government – Constitutional Monarchy

3. Evaluation System in Bhutan GNH Commission (erstwhile Planning Commission) is the central coordinating agency for development planning and monitoring in Bhutan GNH Commission (erstwhile Planning Commission) is the central coordinating agency for development planning and monitoring in Bhutan Monitoring and evaluation is the key mandate of GNHC Monitoring and evaluation is the key mandate of GNHC GNHC developed National M&E System to institute systematic mechanism for tracking plans and programs GNHC developed National M&E System to institute systematic mechanism for tracking plans and programs M&E Guidelines drafted & will be operational from 2009 onwards M&E Guidelines drafted & will be operational from 2009 onwards

4. Institutional Set-up for M&E

5. Status of Impact Evaluation in Bhutan Limited demand for impact evaluations by policy makers Limited demand for impact evaluations by policy makers Demand for impact evaluation mainly driven by international donors Demand for impact evaluation mainly driven by international donors Low level of participation by research institutes, civil society organizations, private sector in impact evaluations Low level of participation by research institutes, civil society organizations, private sector in impact evaluations Limited capacity even at national level (GNHC) for impact evaluations Limited capacity even at national level (GNHC) for impact evaluations

6. Opportunities & strategies for promoting impact evaluation GNH Commission as the central policy and planning agency is well placed to create demand by the policy makers GNH Commission as the central policy and planning agency is well placed to create demand by the policy makers A separate Research and Evaluation Division created in GNHC to commission evaluations and frame evaluation guidelines including impact evaluations A separate Research and Evaluation Division created in GNHC to commission evaluations and frame evaluation guidelines including impact evaluations Develop network with regional and international evaluation networks and associations Develop network with regional and international evaluation networks and associations Good support from development partners in developing institutional capacity and mechanism in promoting impact evaluations Good support from development partners in developing institutional capacity and mechanism in promoting impact evaluations

7. Conducted nation-wide impact assessment of rural development (RRDIA 2007) Conducted nation-wide impact assessment of rural development (RRDIA 2007) Conducted capacity development outcome evaluation of Danish supported organizations in Bhutan in partnership with Danish Evaluation Department (2006) Conducted capacity development outcome evaluation of Danish supported organizations in Bhutan in partnership with Danish Evaluation Department (2006) Terminal Review of 9 th Five Year Planned in 2009 Terminal Review of 9 th Five Year Planned in 2009 Few impact evaluations on selected themes and development priorities proposed as a part of Terminal Review Few impact evaluations on selected themes and development priorities proposed as a part of Terminal Review