Training, Advocacy and Networking (TAN) Project Update
Mercy Corps International

posted by Skip Waskin on Monday, March 27, 2005, 2:39AM

Community Mobilization. A "One Day in a Bagh" (ODB) event was held in Uvurhangai, bringing together around 400 residents of the 1st bagh (district) of Arvaikheer soum (county). During the event, bagh residents received information on the planned activities of the project, as well as information concerning the civil society organizations (CSOs) working in their aimag and the project-supported “Social Entrepreneur Support Initiative”.

The TAN Project has trained 60 CSO representatives and community leaders from Khentii, Dundgobi, Uvurhangai, Arhangai and Bulgan in conducting bagh-level needs assessments. Following the training, the community mobilizers undertook a needs assessment in the 4th bagh of Herlen soum in Khentii (150 residents) and the 1st bagh of Arvaikheer soum in Uvurhangai (105 residents). The mobilizers received feedback on their performance and discussed improvements in their methodology. As a result of the assessment in Khentii, the following priority issues were identified by the residents: waste management, clean water, access to public services, greater civic participation in decision-making, and the need for a children’s leisure center. As result of the assessment in Uvurhangai, the following priority issues were identified: alcohol abuse, unemployment, pre-schooling for children, and greater civic participation in decision-making.

CSO Network Capacity Building. Network meetings were convened in Arhangai (18 CSOs), Bulgan (20 CSOs), and Khentii (17 CSOs). Topics discussed included the network structure, overall goals and objectives, and annual plans. The CSO members developed annual meeting schedules, divided responsibilities for convening and facilitating network meetings, and identified network training needs.

Social Entrepreneur Support Initiative. In Uvurhangai, Mr. Ts. Lhagvadorj was recognized for his educational work among young people and soum residents on sound public management practices, civic participation in decision making, and civic rights and responsibilities. He set up two information gers in Khairkhandulaan soum and donated his own books and materials for public use.

Training, Advocacy and Networking (TAN) Project Update
Mercy Corps International

posted by Skip Waskin on Wednesday, March 1, 2005, 8:10PM

Grant Agreements Concluded: In Khentii, Arhangai, and Bulgan, the TAN Project concluded grant agreements with three local civil society organizations (CSOs) that will coordinate TAN’s activities in the new target aimags (provinces). In Arhangai, the project will work with the Education and Information Center; in Buglan and Khentii, the project will work with the Aimag branches of Women for Social Progress). TAN provides on-going assistance and guidance to CSO Coordinators to ensure quality implementation of the project in the target aimags.

Community Mobilization: To help CSOs build closer ties with their communities and become recognized community leaders, TAN focuses on community mobilization activities in selected baghs (districts) in the target aimags. As a first step, CSOs select a bagh and conduct an awareness raising event called "One Day in a Bagh" (ODB). In Dundgobi aimag, the ODB was conducted in the 2nd bagh of Saintsagaan soum involving around 230 residents of the bagh. In Bulgan aimag, ODB brought together 200 residents of the 3rd bagh of Bulgan soum. In Khentii aimag, around 150 residents of the 4th bagh of Herlen soum participated in the ODB event. During these events bagh residents received information on the planned activities of the project, information about CSOs working in their aimag and services provided by the State agencies such as the Social Welfare Department, Aimag Children’s Centre, and Health Care Department. TAN project staff assisted CSO Coordinators and CSOs in organizing these events. During the trip TAN project staff also met with the aimag authorities and representatives of aimag citizens khurals (local legislatures) to introduce the goals and objectives of the project.

CSO Network and Capacity Building: In Arhangai, Bulgan, and Khentii, TAN organized organizational assessment workshops for a total of 49 CSOs. During the workshop, 58 representatives of CSOs received an introduction to organizational development topics, including strategic planning, management systems and external relations, and planning techniques. As a result of the workshop, 40 CSOs assessed their organizational strengths and weaknesses and put together organizational development (OD) plans addressing their organizational needs. Eight or nine core CSOs will be selected in each of the new target aimags for targeted capacity building assistance based on the quality of their OD plans and their commitment to long-term organizational development. TAN’s annual plans for training and technical assistance will be developed based on the organizational development needs of core CSOs.

Social Entrepreneur Support Initiative: The TAN Project held individual interviews with short-listed candidates for the Social Entrepreneur Award 2006 in five target aimags. Five Social Entrepreneurs have been identified through the process. In Bulgan, one Social Entrepreneur Winner, Ms. Darysuren Davaasuren, was announced at the One Day in a Bagh event. She started working on a work plan to disseminate her innovative ideas in wool processing and felt production and promoting small business development among vulnerable groups. In Uvurhangai, Dundgobi, Khentii, and Arhangai, Social Entrepreneur Awards will be announced at bagh meetings.

Training, Advocacy and Networking (TAN) Project Update
Mercy Corps International

posted by Skip Waskin on Thursday, January 26, 2005, 4:17AM

TAN expands to three more aimags. Newly selected civil society organization (CSO) coordinators have started activities in Arkhangai, Khentii, and Bulgan aimags. During the Bagh (District) Governors meeting held in UB November 29-30, aimag coordinators gained a thorough understanding of the project, its experience in Dundgobi and Uvurhangai, and their role in supporting civil society.

Community Mobilization. The TAN Project focuses on community mobilization activities in selected baghs of the targeted aimags. One of the initial activities is to select a bagh and conduct an awareness raising event called, "One Day in a Bagh" (ODB). In Arkhangai Aimag, the project conducted an ODB on December 17 involving 560 citizens from the 2nd bagh of Erdenebulgan Soum (county). During this event, bagh citizens received information on the planned activities of the project, information about CSOs working in their aimag, and services provided by State agencies such as the Social Welfare department, Aimag Children’s Center, and the Health Department. During the trip, TAN staff also met with aimag authorities and representatives of the aimag Citizens Hural (the provincial legislature) to introduce the goals and objectives of the project.

CSO Network and Capacity Building. The TAN Project Officer went to Dundgobi Aimag to facilitate a self-evaluation exercise of the capacity building activities for five CSOs that were selected in each of these two aimags. In Dundgobi, the five CSOs received six types of training and designed plans to improve their services. The evaluation concluded that 70-80% of planned activities were completed. The remaining 20% are those activities that required larger financial resources.

Social Procurement. Currently, two CSOs in Uvurhangai have contracted services from local government departments. The Scouts Committee received MNT 250,000 (about $200) from the Aimag health authority to conduct a survey on oral and hand hygiene among pre-school and school age children. The Youth Union received MNT 300,000 (about $250) to conduct a campaign on prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS.