Climate resilience begins with strong local institutions and capable people. Equipping local governments with the knowledge, skills and tools to plan, finance, implement and monitor climate adaptation initiatives is essential to ensuring that climate action responds to the needs and realities of communities.
From 28 September to 4 October 2026, a capacity-building Programme was conducted in Paro, Phuentsholing, Punakha, Gelephu, Bumthang and Trashigang under the Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Engagement of Local Governments (CARE-LG) Project. The training focused on strengthening the capacity of local government officials in planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of climate change adaptation projects.
The Programme was coordinated by the Department of Local Governance and Disaster Management (DLGDM) in collaboration with the CARE-LG Project Management Unit (PMU), with support from the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTF) in its role as a Direct Access Entity (DAE) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
A total of 398 local government officials participated in the training, including Gups, Mangmis, Gewog Administrative Officers, Agriculture Extension Officers and Livestock Extension Officers. Among the participants, 85 were women, reflecting the importance of promoting inclusive participation in local climate action.
The training placed particular emphasis on strengthening the link between climate risks and vulnerabilities, planning and budgeting, implementation, and monitoring of adaptation interventions. By strengthening these capacities at the Gewog level, local governments will be better positioned to identify locally relevant climate risks, prioritise appropriate adaptation measures, allocate resources, implement interventions effectively and track results.
Through this collaborative effort, CARE-LG is investing not only in climate adaptation interventions, but also in the people, institutions and systems that will sustain climate action at the local level. Strengthened Gewog-level capacity can help ensure that climate adaptation is integrated into local planning and development and translated into practical solutions that contribute to more resilient communities across Bhutan