As the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) celebrates 39 years of its conservation journey, it marks a defining moment in its history being accredited as the 39th National Implementing Entity (NIE) by the Adaptation Fund.

Adaptation Fund has officially accredited RSPN as its 39th National Implementing Entity (NIE)  under the Direct Access modality. This landmark recognition strengthens Bhutan’s capacity to directly access and manage international climate finance, further empowering locally led climate adaptation and resilience efforts across the country.The milestone represents a defining moment for Bhutan, opening new pathways to scale up community-driven climate solutions and resilience-building initiatives nationwide.

With this achievement, Bhutan makes history as the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to have two accredited NIEs, alongside the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTFEC). Bhutan also becomes the third country globally after Kenya and Senegal to have two NIEs accredited under the Adaptation Fund framework. This milestone injects renewed momentum into Bhutan’s climate action journey, significantly strengthening national systems to design and deliver impactful adaptation projects in response to emerging and escalating climate risks. The achievement is the result of strong collaboration between RSPN, the Adaptation Fund, and the Royal Government of Bhutan, supported by the dedicated efforts of the RSPN team and partners working at the forefront of conservation and climate resilience.

“This accreditation marks an important step in advancing Bhutan’s climate resilience and national priorities,” said Mr.Wangchuk Namgay, Director, Department of Program Coordination and Climate Change at RSPN. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our team and the strong support of the AF and the Royal Government of Bhutan. We are committed to delivering impactful, community-driven adaptation solutions.”

“This milestone reflects the strength of the direct access approach and the role of strong national institutions in leading climate action,” said Mikko Ollikainen, Head of the Adaptation Fund. “Having two NIEs in Bhutan further strengthens their national capacity in adaptation. RSPN’s commitment throughout a rigorous accreditation process shows true country ownership, and we are pleased to welcome them to the Adaptation Fund community. We are also pleased to see new NIEs accessing resources through the Fund’s streamlined accreditation process, which creates important opportunities for smaller states that may otherwise face barriers to accessing climate finance.” Source- Adaptation Fund’s website

RSPN extends its sincere gratitude to the Adaptation Fund for its trust, guidance, and partnership. This recognition further strengthens Bhutan’s commitment to advancing locally led, community-driven climate adaptation and enhancing resilience on the ground. Looking ahead, RSPN remains committed to working closely with partners to translate climate finance into meaningful impact for ecosystems and communities, ensuring long-term benefits for future generations.

RSPN also expresses its sincere appreciation to the Designated Authority, Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan, for its continued guidance and support throughout the accreditation process.

Click here to read the official announcement from the Adaptation Fund- https://sl1nk.com/mzxfh3a

The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), organized a three-day workshop on the Harmonization of Climate and Environmental Laws from September 24–26 in Paro.

This workshop brought together national stakeholders and international legal and environmental consultants to explore the integration of global best practices into Bhutan’s legislative framework. The sessions focused on aligning domestic climate and environmental laws with international standards, enhancing legal coherence, and strengthening institutional capacity to address emerging environmental challenges.

Participants engaged in expert-led discussions, case studies, and collaborative exercises aimed at fostering a unified and forward-looking approach to environmental governance.

This workshop is part of ongoing project ‘𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲-𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀’ funded by Green Climate Fund.

The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), in its role as the Delivery Partner to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), has taken a major step forward in advancing Climate Finance Readiness in Bhutan. On July 30th,2025 RSPN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four esteemed national institutions and they are Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF), Tarayana Foundation, Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, and SELWA as part of the ongoing implementation of the GCF Readiness Project.

This strategic collaboration falls under Output 2 of the Readiness project, which focuses on “Relevant stakeholders engaged and trained to support planning, programming, and implementation of GCF-funded activities.” Through this partnership, the project aims to build institutional capacity and strengthen Bhutan’s ability to access and effectively utilize climate finance.

The collaboration will focus on three key areas:

• Enhancing stakeholder awareness and coordination on climate finance and GCF processes
• Strengthening legal and governance frameworks to support national climate resilience
• Empowering grassroots and youth engagement in climate action through education and community mobilization 

The MoU signing ceremony represents a critical milestone in Bhutan’s efforts to build a more inclusive and sustainable climate response. By bringing together diverse actors from civil society, legal institutions, and youth organizations, the project ensures that climate action in Bhutan is both equitable and impactful.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to enhancing Bhutan’s climate readiness,” said the RSPN focal person. “Together, we are paving the way for informed, inclusive, and transformative climate solutions.”

The Green Climate Fund’s Readiness Programme is designed to enhance the capacity of countries like Bhutan to engage with the GCF and implement Climate-resilient initiatives. Today’s MoU reaffirms Bhutan’s vision of a greener future rooted in collaboration across policy, community, and education sectors.

The Royal Society for Protection of Nature ( RSPN) acting as the Delivery Partner for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Programme, successfully convened a workshop to finalize the Gap Assessment Report aimed at enhancing Bhutan’s capacity to plan, program, and implement GCF-funded climate initiatives.

The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including Government Agencies, Executing Entities,and Civil Society Organizations representatives. The participants reviewed and validated findings from the Gap Assessment, which identifies critical areas for strengthening institutional systems, technical expertise, and collaborative networks.

This initiative aligns with one of the key outputs of the GCF Readiness Fund: ensuring that relevant country stakeholders have the capacity and systems in place to effectively support climate-resilient development. The finalized report will serve as a strategic roadmap for future capacity-building efforts and targeted interventions under GCF programming.

The Second PSC Meeting for the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Program was successfully held at the White-bellied Heron Conservation Centre, Changchey, Tsirang Dzongkhag. The meeting saw participation from a diverse group of stakeholders, including members from the The Bhutan Youth Development Fund, Tarayana Foundation, Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan and #SELWA.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed the progress of the ongoing projects under the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Program. This included a comprehensive assessment of the achievements, challenges, and any deviations from the planned activities.

A significant portion of the discussions focused on on strengthening institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning frameworks to support long-term climate action. The members also reviewed the financial status of the projects, including budget allocations, expenditures, and any financial challenges faced during the implementation.

The meeting underscored the importance of continued collaboration and effective management to achieve the project’s goals.

The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) as a Delivery Partner to the Green Climate Fund(GCF) is implementing the Readiness and Preparatory Support Program with the objective of strengthening its capacity to access financing for climate-resilient initiatives and to enhance climate data and services in Bhutan. As part of this effort, RSPN is developing strategic frameworks through studies and research. The outputs from the study will provide better understanding of the socio-economic, ecological, and climate situation in the study areas but will also be utilized in formulating climate resilient interventions.

To kickstart this initiative, a national stakeholder meeting on Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) study was conducted at RSPN Head Office, Thimphu earlier today. The objective of this meeting is to introduce the proposed study approach and methodology and to solicit feedback and comments.

RSPN extends its gratitude to all the stakeholders for their participation and continued support to this important initiative!

A project inception meeting was held today providing contextual background on the approved Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, BTN-RS-006 project under Green Climate Fund (GCF). 

The meeting outlined the sequence of project implementation process assuring collective responsibility among various agencies identified to implement it.The meeting was participated by relevant stakeholders for the project that include government officials and Civil Society Organizations. 

RSPN Bhutan as a Delivery Partner to GCF coordinates the overall implementation of the project. RSPN is grateful to NDA and DAE for the necessary support. This project will end in 2026. We are grateful to NDA, DAE and other partners for utmost support for the kickstart of this project. We also extend our gratitude to GCF secretariat and UNOPS  for their continued support.

Today, our 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸-𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 in Phobjikha had the pleasure of hosting the Green Climate Fund delegates and national officials. We are thrilled to have shared our passion for environmental sustainability with the delegates and look forward to continuing our endeavor for a greener future together!

The center established in 2001 plays a crucial role in promoting our joint conservation efforts and enhance awareness and knowledge about the #Cranes, ecotourism programs, local flora, fauna, and the enrich culture of our community.

Today, RSPN turns over a new leaf for #ClimateAction as the Executive Director of the RSPN Bhutan signed a Grant Support Agreement worth USD One Million in support of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme (RPSP) : ‘𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲-𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀’.

The two-year Readiness project is aimed to increase Bhutan’s access to climate finance by improving the availability and access to robust and credible climate information and data through stakeholder coordination, and technical capacity building to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) commitments and needs.

We extend our appreciation to the National Designated Authority-Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan, GCF and UNOPS for your continued support and guidance.

Bhutan is currently in the process of developing a new National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan(NBSAP) document in accordance with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and through an alignment with the national priorities. RSPN is representing as one of the Technical Working Group members collaborating with the National Biodiversity Centre and Department of Environment and Climate Change, and other organizations under the Royal Government of Bhutan in formulating this new NBSAP.

To build a holistic approach and set a shared understanding of new NBSAP Targets, RSPN organized consultation workshops with the relevant organizations today. The workshop is aimed for building the capacity of individual organizations towards national vision on biodiversity conservation and as well as to strengthen ownership over the NBSAP document. The workshop will also ease mainstreaming biodiversity into the organization’s plan.

The consultation workshop saw lengthy discussion among the stakeholders in taking the new NBSAP as an important national document to consider as a mechanism in balancing the conservation of biodiversity and the livelihood of communities. The discussion also observed the due importance in considering private partnership to implement some of the NBSAP targets, and respective organizations taking role to fulfill the targets.

Regarding Resource Mobilization, stakeholders present strongly feel the financing organization like Global Environmental Facility should give priority to fund the implementation of action plans of NBSAP.

With the hope to see this new NBSAP as transformative biodiversity governance, participants wish the formulation of new NBSAP a successful pathway.