Women’s Leadership Journeys in Bhutan: A longitudinal Study

Abstract

While much has been said and discussed about questions concerning Bhutanese electorate and increased participation of women in leadership roles, both in the national parliament as well as in the local governance, a lot of what is discussed, published and informed often comes in the form of general commentaries without practical projects. This study is a longitudinal design narrative of implementing this significant agenda seriously, through a real project with impact pathways and targets set. This was done in collaboration with people in professions that are engaged in helping and supporting women, such as, government institutions, research institutions, policy makers, parliamentarians, Civil Society Organizations, UN systems, International and National Non-Governmental Organizations, Election Commission of Bhutan, etc. The research question seeks answers to the serious decline in the number of women representatives both in National Council and National Assembly from the first elections in 2008 to the second elections in 2013. Will the local government elections in 2016 not repeat this scenario? Seeking what is to be done and how it is to be done.