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