April 8, 2021

This past week, our partners at the Bhutan Water Partnership (BhWP) in Royal Society for Protection of Nature were busy consulting community members in Zhemgang and Paro to develop projects for providing climate-proof access to water to their communities.

In Zhemgang, the team visited a small community that consists of elderly nuns, people with disabilities, orphans, and low-income households. The partners identified a need for a new reservoir tank and pipeline to cater to the community’s growing population. In conversation with local leaders, they pinpointed a new site for the upgraded tank which will cater to at least 250 people when finished.

After identifying needs in Zhemgang, the team traveled to Paro to convene a project starter meeting with local government and agriculture extension officials. Together with community members, the group reviewed the upcoming Roof Rainwater Harvesting project on Integrated Water Resource Management. During the meeting, participants discussed the project and scheduled a socio-economic assessment timeline.

Both the new water tank and rainwater harvesting projects are recipients of the Bhutan Foundation’s small grants program.