This document is the fourth Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) for Bhutan. It covers the
period 2014–2018, running alongside the period of the 11th Five Year Plan of the Royal
Government of Bhutan and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework
One Programme 2014–2018 for Bhutan. It serves to define the medium-term vision
and framework for the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) work in support of the
health sector in Bhutan.
The process for development of the CCS was initiated in late 2012. The process
involved documentary reviews, situational analysis and consultations with the Ministry of
Health, other Ministries, national agencies, bilateral donors and development partners,
United Nations agencies and programmes, the WHO Regional Office for South-East
Asia, and WHO headquarters. The strategic prioritization exercise for the CCS was
undertaken in parallel with that for the development of the national 11th Five Year
Plan and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework One Programme
2014–2018, in order to align the CCS with the national key result areas under the 11th
Five Year Plan, as well as the plans and priorities of the various United Nations partners.
The criteria used to identify the strategic areas of work were the current health
situation, burden and trends in disease; the needs of the country for WHO support;
internationally agreed instruments; the existence of evidence-based, cost-effective
interventions and opportunities for developing national capacity, promoting equity
and efficiency; and WHO’s comparative advantage and core functions. The process
was also guided by the ongoing WHO Reform Agenda and priorities identified under
the 12th General Programme of Work, 2014–2018. The key outcomes of this process
were identification of six strategic priorities, key objectives and strategic approaches
for each priority area.