Partnership for Social Accountability, Mongolia
In 2009, ANSA-EAP started its missions in Mongolia to explore cooperation and partnerships. It is positioned primarily as provider of a learning-in-action program for both civil society and government.
This development follows the recommendations of the mission undertaken in April 2009 to study the entry process in Mongolia. The contact points of that mission were the World Bank, the consultation workshop with 20 civil society organizations, and the visit to three government ministries (education, mineral resources and energy, health). It reported the following: (a) WB sees the value of a triangulated approach (government, CSO and private sector, especially in the extractive industry issues), and the conduct of a learning programme on such approach; (b) civil society is concerned with low trust of government and civil society to each other, weak coalition-building efforts, and the need for capacity-building on new social accountability concepts and methods; and (c) the government has some efforts resembling social accountability and is receptive to cooperate in a learning programme.
The accomplishment of the first mission was pursued further in the second mission on October 2009 when the eight-member Conveners Group of Mongolia was officially formed as the Partnership for Social Accountability Network (PfSAN). DEMO was designated as the Coordinating Organization and Ms. Undral Gombodorj was elected as Network Fellow. Thereafter, various activities were undertaken to strengthen the in-country network and promote the advocacy for social accountability in various fronts. These include:
- Participation of Mongolian delegates to the “Open Doors: Regional Forum on Procurement Monitoring”. Sponsored by ANSA-EA, it exposed the Mongolian partners to regional social accountability efforts on procurement monitoring.
- Videoconference on social accountability to heighten awareness and interest among the Mongolian stakeholders. Co-sponsored by ANSA-EAP and WB Mongolia, it was meant to address the relatively young and undeveloped environment for social accountability in the country.
- PfSAN’s participation in “Civil Society Development Forum” and public launching. The Civil Society Day every January was an opportunity to introduce the partnership and its social accountability advocacy.
- ANSA-EAP approved the PfSAN’s proposal to conduct “Mapping of Social Accountability Practices in Mongolia.” This will set the baseline for understanding the practices and practitioners of social accountability in the country.
- Formation of Procurement sub-network as a special social accountability interest. Fifteen local organizations joined this sub-network and will collectively work to constructively engage with government institutions in improving procurement processes from planning to contracting to implementation.
- Consultation and sharing with the youth sector on how they can be involved in social accountability.
- Strategic Planning for the PfSAN (Mongolia Conveners Group) to establish a long-term plan and program. This sets the direction and priorities of the group as it pursues social accountability in the country.
- Establishing partnerships with key stakeholders, such as governments and development institutions. This includes attending regular monthly meetings between the Government and the Civil Society Council and building close relations with donors, such as World Bank, UNDP, and Mercy Corpse International.
By and large, ANSA-EAP has established active presence in Mongolia through the consolidated efforts of its in-country group, the Partnership for Social Accountability. The Mongolian partners are evidently showing high interest and strong will to keep the social accountability advocacy moving and there is high probability that future interventions will be successful and beneficial to both the citizens and government.
Related Articles
Mongolia Social Accountability Learning-in-Action Program
The Mongolia Social Accountability Scorecard
