The Training, Advocacy and Networking program aims to increase the development of an active civil society in targeted rural administrative regions of Mongolia. Currently operating in Uvurhangai and Dundgobi aimags, this project is funded from September 2003 - March 2009.

Location

• Years 1 to 3: Two Gobi aimags – Uvurhangai and Dundgobi
• Years 3 to 5: Three additional aimags – to be determined

Goal

To increase development of an active civil society in targeted rural administrative regions of Mongolia

Objectives

• Increase support of citizen oversight of public services and citizen involvement in the policy process
• Increase impact and sustainability of rural society activists and organizations
• Increase citizen’s awareness of and involvement in civil society activities

Funding Period

September 2003 – March 2009

Focus

• Supporting collaboration between civil society organizations and local government that increases civic participation
• Supporting civil society organizations to mobilize community resources in innovative ways for improved organizational sustainability and impact
• Supporting informal civil society associations to develop and benefit from indigenous organizational capacity building expertise
• Promoting awareness of and involvement in community driven activism and social entrepreneurship

Activities

• Organizational assessments and planning for civil society organizations
• Capacity building for civil society organizations based on individualized organizational development plans
• Training of trainers for local experts, including how to market training to local civil society and governmental organizations
• Targeted grants and technical assistance to promote social entrepreneurs among civil society organizations
• Assistance to civil society organizations to increase civic participation levels in their communities through household assessment methods
• Capacity building for civil society organizations, government and businesses in target geographic areas to establish transparent procurement mechanisms

• Increased community participation in local council meetings by 40%
• Helped Civil Society Organizations (CSO) to pool resources and implement joint projects
• Initiated the tender of public services to CSOs for the first time, by facilitating local government and CSO joint service planning
• Helped form the first Civil Society Associations