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News Update: Tashi Wangmo - young leader from Bhutan

UNDEF has previously reported on Asia Young Leaders in Governance (AYLG) initiative's efforts to train young leaders of the Asia region in democratic governance processes. The following article reports the success story of Tashi Wangmo, who participated in the UNDEF funded project. As member of the National Council, she will contribute to future steps on Bhutan's path to democracy.

On the morning of 28th January 2008, Tashi Wangmo was at the meeting discussing strategies to strengthen the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system in light of addressing growing youth unemployment in the country. Amidst the discussion with her colleagues, Tashi got a much unexpected call from the Secretary to His Majesty, the King. She immediately excused herself and rushed to the Dzong (the seat of the central administration) where the office of the King’s Secretary is housed. Breezing through a series of waiting rooms and what seemed like a long time later she realized that she was going to be granted an audience with the King! Overwhelmed with excitement, Tashi was led into a room only to find herself bowing before the young and dynamic King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

In December 2006, ahead of the 2008 parliamentary elections, the former monarch announced his abdication and Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck succeeded his father. The King, preferring to live a simple lifestyle, sat an ordinary table with three guest chairs facing him. Tashi poised herself on one of the chairs and moments later was informed that she had been selected by the King as one of his five eminent members to the National Council! Overwhelmed with emotion, Tashi’s eyes glistened with the joy and honor that had just been bestowed on her. Committed to giving opportunities to young leaders, the King stated, “"Tomorrow’s citizens and their leaders must be nurtured. Young people must be made a part of the important decisions of the nation. They must play a part in determining the future that they will live in.”
Tashi is a Leadership Fellow as well as a Leadership Trainer of the Asia Young Leaders in Governance (AYLG) project that supports building the leadership values and capacities of young leaders towards further enhancing their knowledge and skills in their various areas of expertise and influence and in turn strengthening democratic governance processes in the region.
The King had studied Tashi’s hard work and dedication to her professional life for almost two long years. He had observed her first on a national TV talk show where she was advocating for youth issues. Humbled and deeply honored Tashi pledged her services to the King and her country. In her words, “It’s such a great honour to be one of the five appointees of His Majesty, the King to the National Council. I shall never forget this momentous event of my life!
The fact that the National Council is a part of the highest legislative body in the country, I have both an opportunity as well as the responsibility to shape my country’s future in the most desired one by way of framing the right policies and legislations. In view of that the AYLG programme will have gone a long way in equipping me with the essential tools to serve my country as a better leader – I am so grateful to the whole team of AYLG from the UNDP! Please keep going!”
The announcement of Tashi’s nomination to the National Council was made official on 28th March 2008.

Bhutan is undergoing a transformation from an absolute monarchy to a parliamentary democracy. Two rounds of National Parliamentary Mock elections were held in March and April of 2007 as a dress rehearsal for the general elections later this March. The yellow party won, hands down, in the mock elections with 40 percent of the Bhutanese people voting. General elections were held on 24th March 2008. The National Council (Senate or Upper House) elections were held for the first time ever in December 2007. The National Council constitutes a total of 25 members with 20 members elected by the people from the 20 districts and 5 members handpicked by the King. These five members act as His representatives in the Council. The National Assembly (Lower House) has 47 members.

Prior to her appointment, Tashi Wangmo was a Chief Planning Officer at the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources in the Royal Government of Bhutan. She was responsible for developing and coordinating implementation of policies and programmes concerning employment, labour administration, and vocational skills development. She previously worked as a Planning Officer at the National Technical Training Authority, responsible for overseeing all activities of vocational education and training in the country. Tashi started her career as an Assistant engineer at the Civil Aviation Division, Ministry of Information and Communications of the Royal Government of Bhutan in 1999. She completed her Masters Degree in Public Policy from the National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan, and a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wollongong, Australia.

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