FY2024 Bhutan Country Opinion Survey Report

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the World Bank Group's activities in Bhutan Core Insights - The World Bank Group (WBG) is perceived as increasingly effective and relevant in Bhutan, with significant improvements in stakeholder perceptions compared to previous years [28][38][55] - Stakeholders emphasize the need for the WBG to strengthen collaboration with local entities and enhance private sector engagement to foster economic growth [26][66][113] Summary by Sections Objectives - The survey aimed to understand stakeholder perceptions of the WBG, focusing on familiarity, effectiveness, alignment with development priorities, and communication preferences [7][8] Methodology Overview - Conducted from November 2023 to January 2024, the survey had a 51% response rate with 155 participants, primarily from Bhutan [9][203] Overall Context - Bhutan's small economy limits business opportunities, necessitating increased exports and multi-economic activities. The WBG could support private sector growth through low-interest loans and international business connections [20] Familiarity with the World Bank Group - Familiarity with the WBG remained stable at a mean rating of 6.0, with higher familiarity among those collaborating with the WBG [22][24] Overall Attitudes Toward the World Bank Group - Stakeholders expressed a desire for the WBG to enhance collaboration with local stakeholders and promote private sector engagement [26][27] Improvement Across Key Performance Indicators - Ratings across key indicators have improved significantly, with private sector respondents rating the WBG's relevance at a mean of 8.3 [28][41] World Bank Group's Support for Development Areas - Stakeholders identified digital development, private sector development, and climate change as top priorities for WBG resources [67][68] Effectiveness of WBG's Sectoral Support - The WBG's work in health and public sector governance received high effectiveness ratings, while digital and private sector development were rated lower [68][73] Communication and Outreach - Events and direct contact were preferred channels for receiving information from the WBG, with social media also being significant [131][133] Future Role of the World Bank Group in Bhutan - Stakeholders emphasized the importance of building local capacity and diversifying the economy through targeted investments [113][121]