Posted on 2/18/2009

Early in January, 250 copies of the final report on the June 2008 Mongolian parliamentary election from the Asia Pacific Development Partnership’s Observation Mission was printed and delivered by the International Republican Institute (IRI) to concerned members of Parliament, Mongolia’s  General Election Commission, donors, NGOs, political parties, and others.

The GoM’s Tender Evaluation Committee for construction and operation of the proposed and urgently needed Combined Heating/Power Plant #5 for the capital city met mid January to open and determine the adequacy of bids. There were 20 expressions of interest but only one bid was received by the deadline.  The new Fostering an Inclusive Environment for the Disabled (FIELD) Project started-up in January.  FIELD is being implementing by Mercy Corps over a two year period and is funded by USAID/W’s Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Bureau (DCHA).   

Mr. Dennis Sharma, Regional Development Officer from the USAID/W Asia Bureau’s East Asia Affairs Office, visited Mongolia during 26-29 January 2009 to become familiar with USAID Mongolia’s project portfolio. Besides UB, Mr. Sharma traveled to Darkhan to visit GER project sites/beneficiaries and to meet with the Aimag Chief Justice and court staff that have received assistance from USAID’s Judicial Reform Project.

The USAID Representative returned in early January from training in Washington and annual leave in the Midwest.   USAID Mongolia’s Senior Program Manager, Jeffrey Goodson, was on well earned annual leave during the month.  Lastly, the Mission continues to recruit a Mongolian economics specialist for its staff to replace Ms. Oyunbileg Tseveen who recently immigrated to Calgary, Canada with her family.