Globe International NGO has launched a new project called “Increasing Citizen’s Access to Information to Promote Transparency and Integrity in Mongolia”
2012/12/10

Globe International NGO has launched a new project called “Increasing Citizen’s Access to Information to Promote Transparency and Integrity in Mongolia” funded by United Nations Democracy Fund. The project will be implemented in the next two years (December 2012, November 2014)

The project aims to foster democratic and accountable governance that truly serves the public.

Project objective is to promote transparency and integrity at national and sub-national levels in Mongolia, using the newly adopted FOI law, through building capacities among citizens, local NGOs, local government, and media, in accessing and disclosing public information, and monitoring transparency and integrity of public bodies.

The project has three outcomes:

1)  Increased awareness of citizens of their right to access public information, and enhanced capacity to hold local governments to account for transparency and integrity of public administration, in the 20 project soums of 8 aimags
2) Enhanced capacity of local governments to publicly disclose information and respond to citizen information requests, in the 20 project soums of 8 aimags
3) Increased capacity of national and local media to monitor transparency and integrity of public bodies and to support citizens in holding local governments to account.

The project employs a strategy that utilizes the new legal framework on transparency and access to information, raises awareness among public and government officials about their rights and duties regarding public information and creates capacity for public monitoring and evaluation of government services. The project will help to create mechanisms that monitor and evaluate the performance of public delivery services at the local level, and will provide the public with a means to hold government officials accountable. Training in investigative journalism, and a national media campaign will raise awareness among government officials, the public and journalists about issues surrounding transparency and integrity of public administrative service. Public disclosure by local governments and their ability to respond to information requests from citizens will be promoted through new information dissemination channels.

Project Activities

- Comprehensive baseline survey conducted for the 20 project soums./No baseline data on awareness of the local communities on their right to access information and the FOI law, or on the types and scale of the problems affecting transparency and integrity in the public services in the 20 project soums/

- Guidebook, audios, videos, and DVDs disseminated via trainings, and to project stakeholders (NGOs, NFDEC, local governments, media). Promoted through GI website, Youtube, Facebook, e-mail list, and SMS system, and disseminated via new public information dissemination channels developed during project. Positive feedback received on quality and utility of IEC materials.

- 400 local citizens trained on access to information and FOI law (20 workshops, 2 days, 20 participants each)

- 100 local citizens capable of monitoring transparency and public service performance (20 trainings, 2 days, 5 participants each; 3 phases of monitoring in 20 soums)

- 400 local public officials trained on the FOI law and their duties under the law (20 trainings, 2 days, 20 participants each)

- Public information dissemination channels in place in the 20 project soums (information boards, public websites, SMS services, IT training for soum administrators)

- Mechanisms to enhance accountability, transparency and integrity developed in consultation with local communities and in place in 20 soums (1 procedure and 1 transparency action plan adopted per soum, 3 community roundtables per soum)

- Enhanced capacity of 20 Ulaanbaatar journalists in using the FOI law for investigative reporting 50 mentoring workshops

- 60 provincial journalists trained in basic investigative journalism skills (3 regional trainings, 2 days, 20 participants each)

- “Media for Transparency” campaign conducted on the right to access public information and its role in government transparency and integrity (2 phases, 20 media outlets)