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TRIP REPORT ON TRAINING OF ENGINEERS AND ARTISANS IN TRASHIYANGTSE
UNDER THE UNDP CAPACITY BUILDING IN DISASTER AND CLIMATE RESILIENT
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Project Brief
The project aims to: a) Strengthen capacity of local engineers and artisans, and increase
awareness of rural house-owners on traditional safe construction practices; b) Conduct detailed
study of rural housing typologies and demonstrate safe features in construction of specific
types of houses; c) Develop methodologies to assess vulnerability of different types of rural
houses; and d) Knowledge and information sharing through exchange of information and
experiences among different stakeholders, dissemination of accumulated body of knowledge
and networking with regional experts.
Project Details
Project No: 00083777
Implementing Partner: Department of Engineering Services, MoWHS
Budget/Source of Funding: USD 150, 000/USAID
Project Objectives
The primary objective of the project is to enhance capacities and develop skills in disaster and
climate-resilient construction that would directly contribute to meeting some of the immediate
priorities of Recovery and Reconstruction. The programme would focus on some of the key DRR
areas for the promotion of disaster-safe housing as identified in the National Recovery and
Reconstruction Plan 2011-2016.
Trip Objectives
To monitor the progress of the training on safe construction practices at Trashiyangtse.
Team Members
1. Mr. Michael Ernst, South Asia Regional Advisor, USAID, Bangkok
2. Mr. Nawaraj Chhetri, Project Support Officer, UNDP, Thimphu
3. Mr. Pemba Dorji, Driver, UNDP, Thimphu
Tour Period
November 24th
– 29th
, 2013
Tour Report
The Project targets to build capacity of local engineers and artisans in earthquake-safe
construction. A core team was formed in MoWHS who were responsible for coming up with
manuals for safe construction practices and training the local engineers and artisans in
Dzongkhags identified by the Department of Engineering Services, MoWHS.
Mr. Michael Ernst, the South Asia Regional Advisor, USAID from Bangkok visited Bhutan to
monitor the progress of the project, in particular - capacity building training for local engineers
and artisans conducted at Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag.
Meeting with Dasho Dzongda (Head of the Dzongkhag Administration)
The District Engineer (DE) had fixed an appointment with Dasho Dzongda to brief him on the
activities carried out under this project in Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag.
Dasho expressed his appreciation for supporting an important and pertinent area as Bhutan is
prone to such disasters.
The following issues were highlighted by Dasho:
Briefed on Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag in general
He expressed that such kind of support is required in future as well
Mentioned that there is strong support from Local Government for successful
completion of the project
Need to build capacity both at the National as well as District level
The policy makers, engineers, masons and house owners need to be aware of safe
construction practices
Have been encouraging both men and women to equally participate in capacity
building training
The training was divided into two groups (one for Engineers and one for Artisans and sub-
district heads) with different levels of theory presented. The manual was also prepared
differently (In English for Engineers and in Dzongkha for Artisans) keeping in mind the target
audience. However, the practical construction techniques session was done by dividing the
participants into two mixed groups of engineers, artisans and sub-district heads. Note: local
sub-district (locally referred to as “Geog”) leaders were included with the Artisans as they are
ideally positioned to advocate for safe building practices within their jurisdictions.
The following were the resource persons from the Department of Engineering Services,
MoWHS:
1. Ms. Dago Zangmo, Project Manager leading the Engineers group
2. Mr. Om Nath Giri, Engineer leading the masons group
3. Ms. Chencho Om, Mason for practical demonstration
Dago Zangmo presenting to Engineers Artisans group with Local Leaders
This project is identified for gender mainstreaming under UNDP’s Energy, Environment and DM
unit. Therefore, in order to encourage women participation, it was agreed to issue the basic
tool kits to women artisans.
One of the women participants receiving tools from Michael Ernst
The training was conducted for four days from 25th
– 29th
November 2013. It was attended by
47 participants from Eight Gewogs and staff of dzongkhag engineering services, Tashiyangtse.
Out of 47 participants, 8 were engineers (4 women) & 13 dzongkhags’ technicians (2 women),
08 Gewog Gups (local leaders) from different Gewogs including 18 village artisans.
The training was divided into two sessions. Firstly the presentation was made by the resource
persons responsible for each group for one and half days. Then the group was divided into two
groups comprising of both engineers and artisans for practical session for remaining two and
half days, where they were provided hands-on training to construct foundation and walls for
both mud and stone masonry.
The presentation made by the resource persons included the following areas:
1. Background on seismology
2. Site selection for construction
3. Mud Mortar
4. Stone Masonry
5. Cement-Mortar Stone-Masonry
6. Type of faults and counter measures
The following picture shows the participants during the practical session.
Participants leveling the ground Women mason trainer with women engineer
The participants took great interests in learning these new techniques in disaster resilient
construction. Mr. Ugyen Norbu, District Engineer, Trashiyangtse mentioned that “this is a very
appropriate and relevant training which is being conducted for the first time in the
Dzongkhag”. The Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogdue (Highest decision making body in the
Dzongkhag) Chairman, Mr. Cheku added that “such trainings would help minimize risks during
the disasters”.
Mr. Dorji Dakpa one of the participants pointed out that “he acquired new skills through this
training program” and when asked if he would teach others he said “he would definitely try to
advocate and teach others on safe construction practices”.
The training program was a great success in terms of creating awareness on disaster resilient
construction and building capacity of engineers and artisans. All the participants took this
training very positively.
The following initiatives taken during this program were very effective and a similar approach
could be adopted in other training programs:
1. Training manual for both Engineers and Artisans. The participants really appreciated
having a training manual in both languages, and Mr. Ugyen said this is the first training
program that came with a training manual
2. Involvement of local leaders as they have the convening and convincing power in their
locality
3. Involving the Dzongkhag Administration as it has lot of positive impact in terms of
creating mass awareness and enforcement
Training Manuals
Way Forward
1. Create a database of Engineers and Artisans in the Dzongkhag, tracking those who have
been trained in these techniques, and the need for additional training
2. Explore the possibility of certifying trained artisans
3. Explore the possibility of including these techniques as part of the curriculum in Colleges
and Institutes in Bhutan
4. Develop a proposal for continued support for resilient construction training in areas that
are not supported by other donor agencies. This should be done as soon as possible to
secure necessary funding.
5. Further efforts to create awareness on safe construction practices
6. Expand project coverage to Develop competency of other Engineers and Artisans not
covered during the training
7. Develop guidelines for other construction practices
8. Develop synergy with other guidelines like green building guidelines and energy
efficiency, etc., instead of having a non-integrated approach