A Norwegian NGO called “Progreso Foundation” initiated the ICDP developments in Bhutan. This was possible thanks to their contacts in the country, who were seeking for programmes that could enhance the understanding of child development and provide psychosocial support for children in Bhutan.
Later on, an agreement was signed between the Department of Public Health and Allied Health Sciences, the Faculty of Nursing and Public Health (FNPH) and ICDP Norway, at the beginning of 2024. It was decided that an ICDP pilot project should be implemented as a first step in evaluating whether the ICDP programme could be relevant to the country. The pilot was funded by Progreso Foundation and HimalPartners in Norway.
The first ICDP workshop was held in Paro, from 26 -28, November, 2024. There were 23 participants connected to the Faculty of Nursing and Public Health (FNPH), National Medical Services (NMS), and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD). The primary objective was to start the process of ICDP training that would lead to the certification of participants as ICDP facilitators. International trainers, Ingeborg Egebjerg and May Aanundsen conducted the training. The workshop served as a platform for participants to explore key aspects of child development within the local context, and through a series of interactive activities, presentations, and group discussions, the training aimed to enhance the competencies of child care providers and promote more meaningful and empathetic engagement with children.
The second ICDP facilitator level training took place in Wangdue Phodrang, from 18-20, March, 2025. Due to unavoidable circumstances, two participants from the ECCD group were unable to attend. Consequently, 21 participants enrolled in the training and eventually completed the training. Following the second ICDP training, nine groups were formed, each conducting eight professional caregiver training sessions.
The certification workshop took place in June 2025. The training was very successful as can be seen from the comments by trained caregivers and facilitators.
The Faculty of Nursing and Public Health (FNPH) is in process of establishing partnership with ICDP and they will be responsible for ICDP developments in Bhutan.