Bhutan Transparency Initiative (BTI) was founded in April 2013 by Ms. Pema Lhamo (Former Member of National Council- Zhemgang, 1st Parliament of Bhutan), Tashi Namgay (Founder and Executive Director, Bhutan Kidney Foundation), Mr. Passang Dorji (President of Journalist Association of Bhutan) and Mr. Kuenga Lhuendrup (Dy Director, Royal Textile Museum) to establish a reference institution to reduce corruption in Bhutan.

The organization was granted the official status of Civil Society Status CSO on the 10th of November 2014. The organization will work towards promoting transparency, integrity and accountability in Bhutan through the provision of policy-oriented research, development of training tools and facilitation of policy dialogues.

Corruption continues to negatively impact all sectors in any country, especially the poor and vulnerable, distorts fair distribution of the national wealth and diverts public resources intended for the poor and vulnerable in the hands of a few, undermines development efforts which result in further victimizing those that are already socially and economically disadvantaged. We know we cannot ignore and turn our backs on the issues. Therefore, we must do something as individuals, as groups and as a movement for the sake of all, especially for our future generations.

While there are still great challenges ahead in the fight against corruption and eliminating corruption is not an easy job and involves great risks, with time and unrelenting commitments Bhutan shall be able to eliminate corruption. As we look toward the future, there is a new perception and trends to open up a wider political environment and space for better engagement and collaboration between the state and the non-state actors to tackle corruption issues in the country.

Further we are blessed with the highest level of commitment from the Golden Throne itself to act against corruption as is explicit from the royal statement: “With the rapid pace of economic development in our country, there have been changes in the thinking of the people with the influence of self-interest leading to corrupt practices taking place in both the government and the private sector. If appropriate steps are not taken now to stop this trend, it will lead to very serious problems in the future, for both the government and the people, in our country with a very small population. In this regard, it is the responsibility of every Bhutanese to act against corruption in our country”

His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo, Royal Decree issued on 31st December 2005