In a bold move to redefine Bhutan’s civil service landscape, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has announced the launch of an annual competition aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among government agencies. The initiative seeks to celebrate high-achieving departments and inspire a shift away from conventional bureaucratic norms.
Spearheaded by the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), the program is a central component of ongoing reforms designed to cultivate a dynamic, future-ready public workforce. At its core is Zhiyog Droezom, a newly conceptualized forum which serves as a platform to honor outstanding accomplishments, facilitate discussion, and encourage the sharing of new ideas across the civil service.
Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Tobgay underscored the need for the civil service to evolve in step with global trends. “Our civil servants are the backbone of the nation. By nurturing an entrepreneurial culture, we not only modernize our systems but also inspire our youth and secure our future,” he noted.
A key partner in this transformation is the Harvard Kennedy School, which is collaborating with the RCSC to provide advanced training and capacity-building courses for Bhutanese civil servants. This international partnership is expected to enhance leadership skills, strategic thinking, and innovative practices within government institutions.
These efforts come as part of a larger vision to fully revamp Bhutan’s public sector by 2028, a year set to mark several historic milestones for the Kingdom. The reforms aim not just to improve service delivery, but to foster a results-oriented ethos while empowering civil servants to take initiative and drive positive change.
As Bhutan moves toward becoming a more innovative and responsive nation, the eyes of the youth are watching — perhaps ready to join a new wave of entrepreneurial public leaders shaping the country’s path forward.
