CHF International's mission is to be a catalyst for long-lasting positive change in low- and moderate-income communities around the world, helping them to improve their social, economic and environmental conditions. In Mongolia, CHF is implementing a Business Development and Employment Services Program, which also has a strong association development component.

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Academy for Educational Development

The Academy for Educational Development (AED), founded in 1961, is an independent, nonprofit service organization that is committed to solving critical social problems in the United States and throughout the world through education, research, training, social marketing, policy analysis, and innovative program design and management. AED operates programs under grants and contracts for government and international agencies, educational institutions, foundations, and corporations. Since its founding, AED has grown to a staff of 1000 and has conducted projects throughout the United States and in more than 100 countries worldwide.

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Contact the Mission

USAID/Mongolia
P.O. Box 1021
Ulaanbaatar-13
MONGOLIA
Phone: 976-11-312390
Fax: 976-11-310440
Email the Mission

December 2008

Growing Entrepreneurs Rapidly (GER) Initiative

CHF International
www.chfmongolia.org

In December, GER helped to improve or expand 95 businesses, created 28 start-up businesses, and generated a total of 99 new jobs. Also this month, the GER Initiative matched 40 ger area residents to jobs.

Financial Services

GER facilitated 23 loans, valued at $20,049 with local partner banks and three USDA funded Capital Augmentation Fund (CAF) loans valued at $1,707 were disbursed through local banks.

Training and Consulting Services

GER conducted 87 trainings with 41 participating clients and 88 consultations were provided to 77 clients. This month GER provided five Service Packages including: the Market Linkage Package in Bayangol, the New Loan Client Package in Ulgii and Choibalsan, the Start-Up Business Package in Darkhan, and the Organized Business Package in Choibalsan. The total number of participants for the Service Packages was 31. Both new and ongoing clients attended the trainings and learned the importance of planning their business activities beforehand, controlling the cash flow wisely, keeping accurate records, calculating the cost of and setting the correct price for produced goods, as well as many other skills necessary for them to successfully manage their businesses.

As the holiday season approached, many restaurants have been busy preparing for a large number of reservations for New Year parties. Therefore, demand has been high for learning about and serving special dishes for customers among restaurant business owners. On December 11th, GER provided a one-day vocational training for cooks and chefs in Baganuur. A total of seven clients from local restaurants took part, learning how to make ten different types of salads and dishes from the training conducted by a professional consultant, Ms. Davaachimeg from Ulaanbaatar.

Information Services

GER provided 250 information services to 166 clients during the month of December. One information meeting was held for 40 clients as well as two meetings with Government Administrative Officials.

Bayangol Business Development Center (BDC) organized a meeting to give the clients information about smoke-free and fully burned types of new fuel, and modern stove and heating systems. Mr. Munkhbat, Air Quality Officer from Ulaanbaatar's Environmental Department; Mrs. Nergui from Ger Stove NGO; Iser Tuur LLC; and Shidet Gal LLC participated in the meeting and introduced their organizations' activities and products. The meeting had the following goals:

Within the framework of the government policy to decrease air pollution, to strengthen the collaboration opportunities of Government organizations with the private sector and NGOs;
Provide essential environmental quality and conservation information to GER clients; and
Identify potential clients interested in serving as dealers for the products of the above mentioned companies.

Beginning December 6th, Ulgii Business Advisors have been participating in a weekly radio show named “Business Corner” on local radio FM104.5. The show broadcasts every Saturday for 30 minutes. During the show a certain advisor talks about a certain service and the audience calls or sends messages with questions for the advisor. The first show was about Development Solutions (DS), GER and general services, the second was about training and consultancy services and the last one was about employment services. Since the start of the show, twenty-four clients came to the branch office after listening to the program and twelve of them received services.

Employment Services

GER matched 40 clients to jobs and six clients entered vocational training programs. Eight employment trainings were held for eight clients. A total of 99 jobs were generated. GER matched fewer numbers of clients to the jobs when compared with previous months due to the following reasons: many mining and construction companies that GER works with have started to reduce the workforce due to depressed economic conditions. About 60% of past jobs matched by GER have been with construction companies and these companies cut many jobs in December because of the international financial crisis, depressed commodity prices, and a decrease in real estate sales.

A total of 49 clients graduated from various vocational trainings ranging from cook to knitter at GER’s partner vocational training centers such as Abuka, Shine Garts and UB carpet. In this month DS has signed collaboration agreements with three vocational training centers: Khairkhan – plumber and decorator, Lemur – electrician and Mongolian Builders' Association's Project, Training and Information Center – decorator and carpenter.

Linkages and Trade Fairs

GER facilitated linkages between businesses worth approximately $7,886 this month.

On December 5th and 6th a “Christmas & New Year” trade fair was organized at the “Le Bistro,” French restaurant. A total of 23 GER handicraft clients demonstrated their own handicraft products to many foreign visitors and made sales worth approximately $1,491. The clients were advised on participating successfully in trade fairs, improving their products' packaging, product quality and making unique and distinguished products.

On December 12th and 13th, GER in cooperation with Darkhan-Uul aimag’s and Darkhan soum's Governor's Offices and the Aimag's Women's Federation organized a “Handicraft Brand Product” trade fair. The purpose of the trade fair was to create opportunities for handicraft clients and organizations to meet and learn from each other, introduce their products to the market, expand their sales channels, increase job placements, and to select the “Handicraft Brand Product” of the Darkhan-Uul aimag. A total of 38 handicraft businesses, 14 of them GER clients, participated in the trade fair and the total client sales amounted to $1,300 with an additional $2,846 in future work orders.

Two new relationships were established at the branch level in Sukhbaatar Aimag including the Boorchi LLC – car wash service and the MobiCom Corporation – mobile phone operator. Both companies were interested in supporting GER clients and gave orders for workers' uniforms and Christmas gift bags valued at $1,300.

Business Groups Development

GER worked with 98 active groups this month. No new groups were established nor did any group disband. In Baganuur two GER clients and one GER business group "Narlag" participated in the trade fair "The Best Product – 2008" organized by the Baganuur District Governor Office. The goal of the trade fair was to introduce the local producers' best products to the public and the "Narlag" group received the "Best Product – 2008 Award" with its handmade felt socks.