Factsheet
swiss agency for development and cooperation in mongolia
Urban Governance Project
January 2016
facts
Project name: Programme name:
SDc’s Strategic Goal:
Urban Governance Project Governance and Decentralisation Programme
The Urban Governance Project - SDC’s first major development cooperation initiative with Ulaanbaatar city - seeks to strengthen the capabilities of citizens and municipal governments for the improved delivery of public services and participatory budgeting for ger area residents in Ulaanbaatar. The project will contribute to improving the lives of these residents by supporting better access to prioritised services and the implementation of public investment projects that respond to their needs.
Rapid economic growth fuelled by the mining boom in 2011 has spurred significant rural-urban migration as employment opportunities and living conditions are perceived to be better in Ulaanbaatar. With a population of 1.36 million people, according to 2014 figures, almost half of the country's three million people live in the capital. Migrants from the countryside predominantly settle in ger districts, which have become sprawling unplanned neighbourhoods. Basic services such as running water and sewage are almost absent, and other services including schools, health centres and public transport are overburdened.
In addition to the challenge of delivering public services to the growing number of ger area residents, local governments
Background
Duration:
2015 – 2018
budget:
SDC: CHF 2,300,000
The Asia Foundation: CHF 190,374
target group:
local governments in Ulaanbaatar ger area residents
civil society organisations
target area:
33 khoroos across 9 districts of Ulaanbaatar
to contribute to equitable and sustainable social and economic development in mongolia
UrbAn GovernAnCe ProjeCT january 2016 1
in Ulaanbaatar are faced with the task of planning and implementing public investments in accordance with the Integrated Budget Law, which came into effect in 2013. The law has provided local authorities and citizens with the resources to address what they identify as their most pressing development needs through the creation of a Local Development Fund (LDF). However, gaps and shortcomings in the current planning and implementation of the LDF hinder this objective. Decisions on LDF allocations have to be made in consultation with local communities, however many citizens in ger areas are unaware of the LDF, and there are instances when their feedback is not reflected in final decisions. Inclusiveness will be promoted, so that nobody will be left behind.
Citizens in Ulaanbaatar's ger districts will be involved in deciding development matters important to their communities.
© i
m
otions (imotions.ch)
implemented by:
To contribute to more democratic, empowered and accountable local governance in Ulaanbaatar city
outcome
Ulaanbaatar city, district and khoroo governments will have improved capabilities to plan and deliver public services and investments in ger areas in a way that is responsive to citizens’ priorities.
activities and expected results
• participatory budgeting: Innovative civic
engagement measures will be piloted in ger area khoroos to foster more active and inclusive citizen participation in local planning and budgeting. This will be realised through the development of alternative participation mechanisms, including an e-government application, enhancing the transparency of LDF prioritisation, and improving relevant laws and policies.
• service delivery: Priority improvements
to local public service delivery in ger areas will be identified through innovative civic engagement measures and funded through a competitive grant. This will be realised through the use of community scorecards to identify required service improvements and the provision of small grants to service providers and khoroos for their realisation.
• citizen capacity strengthening: A
comprehensive programme will be developed and piloted to empower ger area residents in their interactions with city, district and khoroo governments. For
Implementation partners:
contacts:
Urban Governance Project
Ulaanbaatar City Governor’s Office open society forum
transparency international - mongolia
democracy education centre academic institutions
sky plaza Business centre, olympic street 12,
Khoroo 1, sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar, mongolia the asia foundation orient plaza, 3rd floor g.chagdarjav st. 9 central p.o. Box 1003 Ulaanbaatar 14210, mongolia p.o.Box 37, Ulaanbaatar 14210, mongolia tel: +976 11 331 422 fax: +976 11 331 420 e-mail: ulaanbaatar@eda.admin.ch web: www.swiss-cooperation.admin.ch /mongolia tel: (976-11) 330-524; 323-413 fax: (976-11) 311-497 e-mail: country.mongolia@asiafoundation.org web: asiafoundation.org 2
this, the project will develop a citizens’ guide to participation and will train local citizens to become peer trainers.
• government capacity strengthening: The
project will develop a pilot programme for city, district and khoroo governments to promote more participatory, transparent and accountable local governance in ger areas. The project will work with a team of urban governance experts from professional and educational organisations to develop module-based training programmes for municipal government staff at various levels.
• institutionalisation of
capacity-strengthening programmes: The project will select an educational institution to partner in institutionalisation of the capacity-strengthening programmes that will serve as a training hub beyond the lifespan of the project.
UrbAn GovernAnCe ProjeCT january 2016
Khoroo citizens are prioritizing Local Development Fund projects to be implemented in their communities.
Sanitation, water and toilets are pressing issues for residents of Ulaanbaatar’s ger districts.
© sdc / gdp © d .d avaanyam
Governance and Decentralisation Programme
sky plaza Business centre, floor #2, olympic street 12, Khoroo 1,
Ulaanbaatar, mongolia tel: +976 11 328 848 fax: +976 11 331 420 e-mail: ulaanbaatar@gdp.mn
Swiss Cooperation Office of the embassy of Switzerland
