Throughout September 2026, officials from the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA) and the Department of Surface Transport (DoST), Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport,  successfully achieved iRAP accreditation through a road safety capacity-building initiative delivered by iRAP in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asia-Pacific Road Safety Observatory (APRSO), with support from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR). 

The accreditation follows the successful completion of specialist training, practical exercises, and assessment requirements, building on a three-day workshop held in Bhutan and supported by ongoing technical guidance from international road safety experts. 

The programme combined online and in-person training with practical fieldwork, enabling participants to apply their learning in a real-world setting. Participants progressed through Coding accreditation before advancing to Survey, Analysis, and Reporting accreditations, using a road corridor survey project to develop and demonstrate their skills throughout the process.

By achieving iRAP accreditation, these officials have joined a global network of road safety practitioners equipped to apply internationally recognized tools and approaches to improve the safety performance of road infrastructure. Their achievement represents an important step in strengthening Bhutan's in-country road safety expertise and institutional capacity. 

As Bhutan continues to advance safer and more resilient transport systems, developing local technical capability remains essential. The newly accredited officials will help support road safety assessments, inform infrastructure investments, and contribute to ongoing efforts to reduce road deaths and serious injuries across the country. 

This milestone highlights the value of sustained investment in professional development and international collaboration, helping ensure that road safety expertise is embedded within the institutions responsible for planning, managing, and improving Bhutan's road network.