25/07/2026
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ด๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Bhutan's growing efforts in the global wellbeing movement reached another significant milestone today with the announcement of the establishment of United Nations University (UNU) Hub on Wellbeing at The PEMA Secretariat, paving way for the formal establishment of UNU presence in the country in near future.
The announcement was made by the Vice-Rector of the United Nations University, Professor Xiaomeng Shen, at the closing ceremony of the five-day Workshop on the Wellbeing Alliance for Research, Policy and practice, jointly hosted by The PEMA Secretariat and UNU, thinktank for the United Nations in Thimphu.
Professor Shen also announced that Bhutan and UNU will jointly pilot an adapted Gross National Happiness (GNH) Framework beyond Bhutan's borders. Another major outcome of the workshop was the planned launch of the Wellbeing Alliance for Research, Policy and Practice, tentatively scheduled for November this year in Bhutan. The Alliance is envisioned as a global platform that brings together governments, universities, researchers and practitioners to generate evidence on mental health and wellbeing and strengthen its integration into public policy and international development discussions.
The landmark announcements follow five days of dialogue and knowledge exchange on themes ranging from indigenous perspectives on wellbeing and governance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and evidence-based policymaking. The workshop brought together researchers, policymakers and practitioners from Bhutan and across the world, reflecting a shared commitment to placing mental health and wellbeing at the centre of development.
โGross National Happiness taught us that the true purpose of development is to serve people,โ Dasho Dechen Wangmo, Head of The PEMA Secretariat said. โToday, as Bhutan prepares to launch the Well-being Alliance, we take the next step in that enduring vision, bringing together nations, institutions, and communities around a shared belief: that the greatest wealth of any society is the well-being of its people.โ
โAt this historic moment, we offer our deepest gratitude to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, whose extraordinary wisdom and foresight gave the world the timeless philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Long before the world began to question whether GDP alone could define progress, His Majesty reminded us that the true measure of a nation's success lies in the happiness and well-being of its people. His vision continues to inspire not only Bhutan but a growing global movement to place humanity and wellbeing at the heart of development.โ
For the PEMA Secretariat, Dasho said it was both a profound privilege and a solemn responsibility to carry this legacy forward.
โAs we plan to launch the Well-being Alliance this year , we do so with humility and hope- offering Gross National Happiness to the world as a guiding compass for the post-2030 global agenda, where mental health and well-being are recognized not as aspirations, but as the very foundation of human progress and enduring propsperity,โ she said.
Gracing the closing ceremony, the Honourable Prime Minister, Lyonchhen Dasho Tshering Tobgay, commended the organisers for convening the workshop at a pivotal moment when nations are increasingly seeking development models that prioritise people's quality of life.
He underscored the importance of building stronger bridges between academia and government, between data and decision-making, and between innovation and implementation. "If well-being is to guide public policy, it must also be supported by rigorous evidence, informed by sound research, and translated into practical solutions that improve people's everyday lives," the Prime Minister said.
He also welcomed the strong representation of perspectives from the Global South, noting that many societies have long recognised wellbeing as being deeply rooted in community, culture and harmony with nature.
"These experiences have much to contribute to shaping a more balanced and inclusive global development agenda," he said.
United Nations University - EHS
BBS
Kuensel
The Bhutanese
UNICEF
