Ms. Spirli reiterated SDC's commitment to contribute to strengthen good governance in Mongolia, among others through the continuation of the Civic Engagement Project (CEP). Ms. Spirli also used the meeting to present the key elements of the new cooperation strategy with Mongolia until 2021, which will be effective from 2018.
The President expressed his gratitude for the SDC’s cooperation and support for Mongolian democracy. He further expressed his support not only for governance and democracy but also for green economy and development of new technologies to address climate change issues. He noted the importance of sharing the Mongolian experience in the region.
Within the framework of the second phase of the Governance and Decentralisation Programme (GDP II), SDC supported the implementation of the Civic Engagement Project (CEP). Under the leadership of the President and his office, CEP sought to strengthen legislative framework for citizen engagement in Mongolia.
With technical support from the Centre of Democratic Studies in Aarau (ZDA), SDC supported Mongolia’s efforts in introducing new instruments for people’s participation in public affairs and has made an important contribution in addressing the overlooked right of citizens to directly participate in state affairs. CEP has also worked to raise public awareness about available opportunities of engaging with the state and to strengthen the capacity of civil servants to engage with citizens.
A legal baseline assessment was elaborated, which identified constraints for effective participation of citizens despite legal provisions to include them in decision making processes. They are often general, overlapping, or contradictory and have weak enforcing mechanisms. The matters are also complicated by insufficient knowledge about and practical experience with citizen engagement mechanisms within government bureaucracies, CSOs and citizens.
The Civic Engagement Project will be continued with stronger focus on supporting the effective implementation of existing provisions for civic engagement, raising awareness and capacities, and improving opportunities to make the government to be responsive to citizens’ needs and to include the citizens in making decision for their community and their well-being. This effort will continue until the end of 2018.
