Bhutan trains women civil servants to lead gender-inclusive digital transformation

Some 30 HR Officers from various key government agencies attended the Women’s Digital Champions Training led by the RCSC in partnership with the UNDP. The two-day training was part of a broader partnership between the Royal Government of Bhutan and UNDP to accelerate inclusive public sector innovation through digital transformation. 

This training was supported by the ‘Inclusive and Future Smart: Transforming the Public Sector for Improved Service Delivery’ project, funded by the governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea via UNDP’s Global Funding Window for Governance, Peacebuilding, Crisis and Resilience Windows. As part of this initiative, the Gender Team and UNDP Bhutan are supporting the government of Bhutan in implementing the Plan of Action to Promote Gender Equality — focusing on increasing women’s leadership in the civil service and transforming human resource policies to advance gender equality. Key strategies include strengthening civil servants’ capacity to promote gender equality in public administration and advancing women’s leadership in digital innovation. 

Digital transformation is a key priority for Bhutan, not only in the 13th Five-Year Plan but also in the 21st Century Economic Roadmap, where it is recognised as a strategic enabler for good governance and economic growth. But we cannot achieve inclusive digital transformation without equal gender representation. Women remain underrepresented in the digital and technology space — in Bhutan and globally — and this cannot continue. Technology is shaping our future, and we must ensure women are not left behind. This training empowered Bhutanese women civil servants to lead digital transformation, spark innovation, and challenge the status quo. As HR Officers, you sit at the intersection of people and systems — your role is critical in driving inclusive, digital-first governance. Let’s ensure digital innovation works for everyone, not just a few.

Sonam Pelden Thaye, Director General of the Royal Civil Service Commission

In Bhutan, women hold only 38.34% in the technical services category in the public sector. In the private sector, too, men make up the vast majority of the digital workforce.  

According to UNDP’s Human Development Report 2025, women make up about one-third of researchers in science. Yet, women account for only 12% of AI researchers and 30% of the global AI workforce. 

A 2022 study on gender and climate revealed that only 11.6 per cent of the female respondents in the agriculture sector have access to climate-smart agriculture technology compared to 18.1 per cent of male respondents. 

And 2024 AI readiness assessment by the GovTech Agency and UNDP also revealed limited participation of women and other vulnerable groups in AI planning, design or decision-making. These disparities risk reinforcing gender biases in technology and limiting the potential of digital transformation to serve all citizens. 

As Bhutan embraces AI and digital innovation, we must focus on building systems where people and technology work together to meet real needs and development goals. This requires investing in the right skills and leadership — especially among women — to drive equitable change.

Khurshid Alam, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Bhutan

Led by UNDP’s global Digital Capacity Lab (DCL) and the Future Smart Initiative, the training focused on designing inclusive public services. It walked the participants through the benefits and risks of AI, including the growing concern around technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Participants identified key barriers and enablers for gender-inclusive digital policies and developed strategies to foster equitable digital access and participation. 

They were equipped with foundational knowledge of AI and online gender-based violence that will help them conceptualise impactful, citizen-focused interventions to leverage AI in fighting online gender-based violence. They will also co-develop action points to strengthen women’s leadership and participation in digital innovation.   

The initiative will contribute towards the RCCS’s efforts to bridge existing digital capability gaps and build a digitally literate public sector capable of designing, implementing and sustaining innovative public services.