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The finance minister said that the World Bank continues to support Bhutan
YK Poudel
While the World Bank has imposed an 18-month conditional non-debarment on the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) for breaching agreements in Bhutan’s Hydromet Services and Disaster Resilience Regional Project, the sanction will not affect Bhutan.
The World Bank imposed the sanctions on RIMES, effective January 16 last year, for violations that included inflated salaries and unauthorised replacement of key experts.
Established in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the RIMES is a regional organisation specialising in disaster risk management, and provides expertise in early warning systems and capacity building for disaster management.
The RIMES supports 22 member states and 26 collaborating countries, including Bhutan. The organisation focuses on improving disaster preparedness, forecasting accuracy, and climate resilience through scientific research, training, and technological support.
Finance Minister Lekey Dorji, at the meet-the-press yesterday, assured that the sanctions on RIMES would not affect Bhutan’s access to World Bank funding. “The World Bank had sanctioned RIMES and not the implementing agencies in the country. The sanction was because RIMES had replaced a key expert without obtaining prior approval during the project implemention period.”
The government agencies involved in the project include the Department of Disaster Management, the National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology, and the Department of Agriculture.
Despite the sanctions, Bhutan recently secured a significant climate resilience funding package. On December 11, 2024, the government signed the Bhutan Climate and Disaster Resilience Development Policy Financing agreement with the World Bank, valued at USD 40 million—USD 20 million as a credit facility and another USD 20 million as a grant.
“The fund will support the government in enhancing its technical and institutional capacity to manage the risk of climate change and natural disasters, including disease outbreaks and ensure immediate liquidity for disaster response,” said Finance Minister Lekey Dorji.
The project is a collaborative initiative between the World Bank, the RIMES, and the government, aimed at enhancing Bhutan’s capacity to monitor weather patterns, predict potential natural disasters, and build resilience.
Bhutan’s Hydromet Services and Disaster Resilience Regional Project 2016-21 with a total allocation of US dollar 2.69 million was financed by the trust-funded grants through the World Bank.
The project aimed to strengthen Bhutan’s capacity to monitor weather patterns, predict natural disasters, and build resilience against climate-related hazards such as floods and landslides.
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