About the Authority

The Civil Society Organizations Act of Bhutan was legislated on 20th June 2007 during the 87th Session of the then National Assembly of Bhutan, essentially to promote the establishment and growth of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in order to strengthen civil society, promote social welfare and improve the conditions and quality of life in Bhutan.

Under the directives received from the government, the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs spearheaded the formation of the CSO Authority on 20th March 2009 as the regulatory agency to implement the CSO Act, and the Secretariat was established in 2010. The Act was amended in 2022 by the 7th Session of the Third Parliament of Bhutan.

Mandate

The Authority is responsible for the following functions.

• Facilitate communication between Civil Society Organisations and the Government, particularly in advising the Government about the general activities and roles of CSOs.
• Encourage and facilitate CSOs to inform, promote, connect and strengthen individual Civil Society Organisations.
• Review and approve all applications for registration of CSOs which satisfy the requirements of the Act.
• Approve the accreditation of foreign CSOs within the provisions of the laws of Bhutan and of the Act.
• Monitor the activities of CSOs to ensure their compliance with the Act, with their own Articles of Association or Charters, and with the purposes for which they were established.
• Liaise with other agencies of the Government and interested parties, and exercise the other powers and responsibilities prescribed in the Civil Society Organizations Act and these regulations.
• Institute inquiries against CSOs not in compliance with the Act or any other law of the country, and remove from the list of registered CSOs any organisation in violation of the laws of Bhutan or of any country in which it operates.

Vision

To create a vibrant and trusted civil society that promotes the values of Gross National Happiness.

Mission

To promote and facilitate good governance in the civil society and ensure compliance with the regulatory framework.

Core values

Independence, accountability, transparency, responsiveness and integrity.

Composition of the Authority

For the purpose of Section 9 of the CSO (Amendment) Act 2022, the Authority comprises a representative in an executive position from each of the following.

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Gross National Happiness Commission
• Department of Law and Order
• Representatives for the CSOs
• Director of the Authority (Member Secretary)