The Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) has introduced a pilot Talent Management Framework (TMF) designed to nurture high-potential civil servants and prepare them for leadership positions. The initiative aims to strengthen Bhutan’s civil service by creating a reliable pipeline of skilled professionals aligned with the country’s long-term development goals.
Addressing Workforce Gaps
The TMF is intended to tackle two critical challenges: retaining specialized skills and equipping the civil service to keep pace with rapid technological change. By aligning talent development with the objectives of the 13th Plan, the framework focuses on ensuring that agencies have the expertise needed for digital transformation and ethical governance.
Pilot Implementation
The program is being tested at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and GovTech, two agencies where the demand for technical expertise and strong leadership is especially acute. Lessons from this pilot phase will be used to refine the model before expanding it across the wider civil service.
Tools for Identifying Talent
Central to the TMF are performance dashboards, competency frameworks, and leadership capability assessments that help identify high-potential employees (HiPos). Once identified, these individuals receive targeted development opportunities such as stretch assignments, coaching, and succession planning, all designed to accelerate their readiness for leadership roles.
Shared Accountability
Each participating agency will establish dedicated committees to oversee talent pipelines, making HiPo development a shared responsibility and part of institutional accountability. This ensures that leadership preparation is not an isolated exercise but integrated into the core functioning of agencies.
Supporting National Goals
By building a strong cadre of capable leaders and specialists, the TMF supports the 13th Plan’s emphasis on digital transformation and ethics in governance. A consistent approach to developing civil servants is expected to close workforce gaps, improve retention of critical skills, and ensure the sustainability of Bhutan’s civil service.
If successful, the RCSC plans to roll out the framework across the entire civil service, ensuring that agencies at all levels have access to a steady supply of capable leaders who can navigate the country’s evolving governance and development landscape.
