Far apart and close together ISBN 978-3-9523611-1-5 ISBN 978-3-9523611-1-5

200 pp, 305 x 235 mm, hardcover
224 photographs and illustrations
with DVD “Gross National Happiness in Bhutan”

CHF 69 / € 45
CHF 59 / € 38 each for 7 copies or more
plus packing / postal fees

Concessional rate
for approved book sellers 25%

Helvetas Shops
In Switzerland: save CHF 10 for packing and postal fee if you buy at Helvetas shops.
The Society will donate CHF 5 per book to Helvetas.

Bonus for Society members
until end of December 2008: CHF 5

Contents (pdf)
Preview chapter
"Transitions in Cooperation" (pdf)

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Historic moments in Bhutan
The Wangchuck dynasty, in an exemplary manner, has guided Bhutan into the modern world. And beyond that into democracy, following a popular vote with a stunning participation. Bhutan is well prepared, its development on sound footing.
This book follows the route of development since 1950, focussing primarily on Swiss assistance.

Transitions in Cooperation
The personal friendship between a Swiss businessman and his wife, his daughter, the King and the Queen were the driving force to start with. The transition to Helvetas via the Foundation Pro Bhutan proved essential to deliver the assistance professionally.

Gross National Happiness
Prime Minister Jigme Y. Thinley is presenting the unique vision of GNH and its salient features. His article sheds some light on how GNH is transformed into strategical and practical issues.

Far apart and close together
Switzerland and Bhutan share many historical and socio-economic features, quite surprisingly. And modern development has brought them closer. This chapter highlights key-indicators, and facts and figures reflecting this. It helps also to get a better understanding of and a broader view on some of the major achievements in Bhutan.

Strategic lines in development
The guiding working principles adopted over time are presented.

Development Programmes
The focus of the Swiss assistance towards Bhutan's development has been on poverty alleviation in the rural area. Making best use of natural renewable resources was the mission of Helvetas. Sponsoring research, training and formal education with an early view on good practices and governance, as well as basic infrastructures were key activities. Thus, most of the pro-ject activities have long since been managed by Bhutanese in the following lines: Renewable Natural Resources Development
Forestry
Education and Culture
Public Health
Rural Infrastructure
Small Enterprise Development
Groundwork for Good Governance

Initiatives and Impacts / Challenges ahead
Many authors, foremost Bhutanese, have contributed to this book. It sheds some quite critical light on questions like why, where, whom, what the process of cooperation between Bhutan and Switzerland was. On the verge of the last phase of development assistance it highlights some crucial challenges ahead. The book gives an insight into structural changes as well as on the resulting outputs. It emphasizes the human resource development. The building of the civil society and the role of the media is outlined.

The book
The Society Switzerland-Bhutan and its sister organisation, the Friendship Association Bhutan-Switzerland, proudly present the book to the Royal Family and the People of Bhutan during the Centenary festivity. The book, written in English with brief German and French summaries, caters not only to an international audience, but also to the youth of Bhutan, to foreign development agencies, to decision makers. Most of its content has been contributed by Bhutanese writers and photographers of many walks of life and politics. Without the generous assistance of Helvetas, Swiss Development Cooperation, the family von Schulthess and the members of the Society it would have remained a dream.