Day 1 Highlights (12 August 2025):

The Bhutan Media Foundation (BMF), with funding from UNESCO and support from the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) and the Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property (DoMCIIP), kicked off an exciting two-day capacity-building workshop today on August 12, 2025 in Paro. The programme brought together 35 civil servants from 28 government agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office, ministries, constitutional bodies, autonomous agencies, and local governments.
The workshop aims to introduce Bhutanese civil servants to the transformative power of Generative AI in governance. Its key objectives are to:
-Introduce the fundamentals of GenAI and its relevance in governance
-Equip civil servants with skills to responsibly and effectively use AI tools
-Understand regulatory, ethical, and data privacy considerations
-Explore how AI can enhance public service delivery in Bhutan
-Promote innovation and digital transformation in the civil service
-Foster Media and Information Literacy (MIL) to critically assess AI-generated content and promote informed public communication.

The workshop opened with a welcome address from the BMF Executive Director, who highlighted the growing importance of GenAI in both personal and professional contexts. This was followed by opening remarks from Mr. Sangay Tenzin, Programme Officer at DoMCIIP, whose support was instrumental in making this initiative possible in Bhutan.

Session Highlights from Day 1

1. Bhutan’s Digital Transformation Journey : Mr. Tenzin Namgyel, Deputy Chief ICT Officer at the GovTech Agency, shared the evolution of digital communication in Bhutan and outlined GovTech’s roles, initiatives, and future plans.

2. Introduction to GenAI: Technical Fundamentals and Use Cases in Government – Dr. Surabhi Pandey, Professor at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi, introduced participants to AI fundamentals and potential applications in government. The session also included a group activity where participants identified public sector challenges and brainstormed AI-driven solutions.

3. Why MIL Matters in an AI World: The session opened with a virtual presentation from Mr. Olivier Van Bockstael from UNESCO HQ, France, focusing on the importance of MIL and strategies for integrating it into national programmes. Dr. Surabhi Pandey then expanded on how literacy enables individuals to engage with AI critically and responsibly.
By the end of Day 1, participants had gained valuable insights into how AI can enhance public service delivery, policymaking, and communication. The interactive group work fostered practical problem-solving and encouraged innovative thinking for Bhutan’s public sector transformation.