Human Rights, Local Democracy and Development at Bag level in Mongolia (1997-1999)

 

Background

Since 1990 radical economic and political changes have lead Mongolia from an authoritarian regime to a state of democracy with full participation in the global economy. This development has resulted in an increase in unemployment, deterioration of social services and increased poverty, therefore also social issues are at stake. Furthermore, a certain degree of decentralization of economic and political powers to local governments has been initiated in order to make the government more efficient and responsive to local needs. In line with these reforms, the territorial and administrative units of Mongolia have been given substantial responsibilities and functions in recent years. However, neither technical preparation nor adequate financial resources have been provided to facilitate this process taking place in the local administrations known as Aimags, Sums and Bags, which are headed by governors appointed by the central administration. The Khurals represent the local population, however local initiative and participation at the Bag level needs substantive reinforcement.

The population of Mongolia is highly dispersed and the majority of rural communities are nomads. In this context the process of decentralization is an important opportunity for the authorities to seek to match their needs with local needs. Reinforcing the process of democratisation and supporting the governmentsí efforts to decentralize are central to furthering good governance in Mongolia.  

Summary

The decentralisation process in Mongolia has revealed an urgent need to strengthen the skills of local authorities and local communities in exercising democratic governance and observing human rights. The khurals are weak in exercising their influence and there is need for financial resources to carry out the social and economic responsibilities of the territorial and administrative units. Various initiatives conducted by UNDP address governance problems in Mongolia, however this Unesco-Danida project "Human Rights, Local Democracy and Development at Bag Level"  is the first project on Human Rights to reach a grass roots level in Mongolia.

Partners

The project focuses on the establishment of links with UNDP and its activities on governance and the OHCHR in their elaboration of a national plan of action on human rights education. The project is funded by DANIDA and UNESCO provides the intellectual and technical assistance required.

Activities

12 training workshops on human rights and democratic governance with participants from 36 Bags have been undertaken in the Aimags of Dundgovi, Hovd, Huvsgul, Overhangai, Sukhbaatar, and Tuv . A participatory approach including questionnaires and a random survey, have revealed the local needs and problems in terms of human rights and democratic governance. The following areas have thus been identified by the Bag communities as key issues to be addressed:   
Keeping in mind everyday circumstances in rural Mongolia, all training has been based on international human rights standards with a view to raising awareness among participants and to instructing them in the active implementation of these standards.  In order to facilitate training, a human rights handbook and other training materials in Mongolian and English have been compiled for the workshops.         
Added to this, training workshops on how to formulate and implement micro projects have been carried out - among others - with the active participation of exposed groups such as youth, women, unemployed and disabled persons. This has resulted in more than 100 micro project proposals that have been worded jointly by the local communities and authorities. These proposals address the previously identified needs and they contain elements to strengthen the implementation of human rights and local democracy.

Expected Impacts

This pilot- experience undertaken in rural areas should lead to the formulation of needs and possible solutions - in the form of micro projects - by the Bags as well as encourage action by national and international agencies on local development and decentralization. In order to ensure its sustainability this project has been developed within in the framework of the Mongolian Governance and Economic Transition Programme (GET) as carried out in co-operation with UNDP.      
Experience

So far more than 1000 individuals, local authorities, civil servants and community-members from 36 Bags have participated in the workshops. The result speaks for itself in that the micro projects address the concerns, problems and needs identified by the local communities and authorities in a concrete manner and they include elements on actively implementing human rights and democracy at Bag level.    
An ad hoc committee comprising different actors involved in human rights and local development in Mongolia has met in March 1998 in order to consider and select micro-project proposals to be financed under the project. It is foreseen  that app. USD 3,000 will be granted to each Bag with a view to carrying out selected micro-projects.    
It has been difficult to ensure the participation of herdsmen, particularly those from the remotest areas of the Bags, consequently the time schedule of the project has been adapted to the seasonal work of the herders as well as to the Mongolian festive seasons in order to facilitate their participation.       
The project has so far been successful in meeting its objectives the participatory approach in formulating the project and identifying relevant issues as well as the keen interest shown by the local communities and authorities are central to this result.     
Future activities

The micro-projects will be implemented at Bag level by the communities. A tailor-made monitoring and evaluation system, aimed at ensuring democratic practice in the process of management and  implementation of the micro-projects will be carried out.      

A proposal based on this experience will be prepared and selected micro projects will be proposed for funding by other national and international agencies.