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Bhutan and the United Nations Organisation

Bhutan joined the United Nations Organisation in 1972, and became formally known to the rest of the international community. Becoming a member of the UN had four main impacts on Bhutan. The impacts being that the UN:

1. Provided "a new window to the world"

2. Allowed Bhutan access to the new programs of aid and development

3. Boosted Bhutan diplomacy

4. Clarified its relationship with India, and established its sovereignty in the international community.

Joining the UN opened the doors to many kinds of assistance through the UN agencies. In a 1973 agreement with the UNDP(United Nations Development Programme) US$3.3 million was promised to Bhutan over the next three years. At the same time the UNICEF(United Nations Children's Fund), the World Food Programme(WFP) and other UN agencies committed US$6 million for development projects in Bhutan. Over the years through UN agencies have proven helpful in the development process, through both technical and financial assistance.

The UN agencies in Bhutan now cover 37% of non- Indian aid. During the Sixth Five Year Plan, foreign assistance, including the UN agencies amounted to 27.5% of the foreign aid. In the Seventh Five Year Plan, UN multilateral agencies amounted to US $ 52.6 million out of the total foreign assistance of US $ 262.3 million.

Other UN agencies such as the FAO, WHO, UNESCO et al have been involved in Development programs,over the years, from which Bhutan has benefited a great deal and continues to do. The UNHCR has been playing a major part in the resolution of the Nepal-Bhutan problem in the recent years.