In a significant step toward strengthening climate and disaster resilience, Bhutan is drawing lessons from New Zealand to redesign and reinforce its public infrastructure systems. Inspired by the rebuilding efforts following the devastating Christchurch earthquake, Bhutanese engineers and planners are now applying global best practices to make their cities and institutions safer against future disasters.
A team of architects and engineers from Bhutan recently completed an intensive training programme in Christchurch, where they studied post-earthquake reconstruction strategies, structural safety assessments and modern retrofitting techniques. The initiative, supported by the United Nations Development Programme, focused on equipping professionals with practical skills in seismic evaluation, flood-resilient design and infrastructure strengthening.
The training marks a shift from traditional decision-making approaches often based on visual inspections or building age to more scientific and standardised methods. Bhutanese officials say this will enable better-informed decisions on whether structures should be repaired, retrofitted or rebuilt, significantly improving long-term safety outcomes.
Back home, the impact of this knowledge transfer is already visible. The trained team is currently working on a national effort to upgrade public infrastructure, including a project aimed at making 60 central schools more resilient to disasters by 2028. These upgrades involve a combination of demolition, remodelling and new construction, guided by technical assessments rather than assumptions.
The initiative is part of Bhutan’s broader development agenda, which emphasises safe, inclusive and climate-resilient infrastructure under its upcoming five-year plan. Authorities believe that strengthening buildings today will not only save lives during disasters but also reduce long-term maintenance and recovery costs.
To expand the impact nationwide, the trained professionals will act as “trainers of trainers,” passing on their expertise to more than 70 engineers, architects and planners across the country. This effort is expected to institutionalise risk-informed planning and improve the design and management of critical infrastructure.
The programme is being implemented under the Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Project, a partnership between the Royal Government of Bhutan, UNDP and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. With dedicated funding support, the project is also helping Bhutan strengthen urban resilience in key cities like Thimphu, Phuentsholing and Samtse.
Beyond buildings, the initiative includes improvements in early warning systems, stormwater management and urban planning, ensuring that resilience is built into the entire ecosystem of city infrastructure.
The Christchurch earthquake of 2011 remains a defining global example of how disaster can reshape planning philosophies. For Bhutan, adapting these lessons represents a proactive approach moving from reactive recovery to preventive resilience.
As climate risks and natural disasters intensify worldwide, Bhutan’s strategy highlights the growing importance of international collaboration and knowledge-sharing. By learning from past disasters elsewhere, countries can better prepare for the challenges ahead protecting both lives and livelihoods through smarter, safer infrastructure.